Acoustics and the Performance of Music

by Meyer, Jurgen

• ISBN13: 9780387095165
• ISBN10: 0387095160
• Edition: 5th
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2009-05-01
• Publisher: Springer Verlag

Summary

Acoustics and the Performance of Music connects scientific understandings of acoustics with practical applications to musical performance. Of central importance are the tonal characteristics of musical instruments and the singing voice including detailed representations of directional characteristics. Furthermore, room acoustical concerns related to concert halls and opera houses are considered. Based on this, suggestions are made for musical performance. Included are seating arrangements within the orchestra and adaptations of performance techniques to the performance environment. In the presentation we dispense with complicated mathematical connections and deliberately aim for conceptual explanations accessible to musicians, particularly for conductors. The graphical representations of the directional dependence of sound radiation by musical instruments and the singing voice are unique. The German edition has become a standard reference work for audio engineers and scientists.

Author Biography

Honors:Helmholtz-Medal of the German Acoustical Society (DEGA) 2004Medal of Honor of Verband Deutscher Tonmeister (VDT) 2004Fellow of the ASA

Table of Contents

Introduction to Acoustics	p. 1
Fundamental Physical Principles	p. 1
Sound Pressure	p. 1
Particle Velocity	p. 2
Sound Power	p. 3
Frequency	p. 4
The Speed of Sound	p. 4
Wavelength	p. 5
Characteristics of the Auditory System	p. 6
The Sensation of Loudness	p. 6
Masking	p. 10
Directional Characteristics	p. 13
Directional Hearing	p. 15
The Cocktail Party Effect	p. 16
Masking for the Musician	p. 18
Sensitivity to Changes in Frequency and Sound Pressure Level	p. 20
Structure of Musical Sound	p. 23
Introducing the Model	p. 23
Frequency-and Level: Structures	p. 26
The Harmonic Tone Structure of Sound Spectra	p. 26
The Frequency Range of Sound Spectra	p. 28
Formants	p. 30
The Effect of Individual Partials	p. 32
Frequency Width of Partials	p. 33
Noise Contributions	p. 33
Dynamics and the Sound Spectrum	p. 35
Dynamic Range and Sound Power	p. 36
Time Structures	p. 37
Deviations from a Steady Vibration Process	p. 37
The Starting Transient	p. 38
Inharmonic Components	p. 40
Decay of Resonating Systems	p. 42
Decay Time and Reverberation Time	p. 42
Fluctuations in the Quasistationary Part	p. 44
Tonal Characteristics of Musical Instruments	p. 45
Brass Instruments	p. 45
The French Horn	p. 45
The Trumpet	p. 53
The Trombone	p. 58
The Tuba	p. 62
Woodwind Instruments	p. 64
The Flute	p. 64
The Oboe	p. 70
The Clarinet	p. 74
The Bassoon	p. 79
String Instruments	p. 85
The Violin	p. 85
The Viola	p. 95
The Cello	p. 97
Double Bass	p. 100
The Piano	p. 103
Sound Spectra	p. 103
Dynamics	p. 105
Time Structure	p. 105
The Harpsichord	p. 111
Sound Spectra	p. 111
Dynamics	p. 112
Time Structure	p. 113
The Harp	p. 114
Sound Spectra	p. 114
Dynamics	p. 115
Time Structure	p. 115
Percussion Instruments	p. 116
Timpani	p. 116
The Bass Drum	p. 118
Snare Drum	p. 119
Gong	p. 120
Cymbals	p. 122
The Triangle	p. 122
The Singing Voice	p. 123
Sound Spectra	p. 123
Dynamics	p. 124
Time Structure	p. 125
Choral Singing	p. 127
Directional Characteristics	p. 129
Foundations of Directional Sound Radiation	p. 129
Directional Effects and Polar Diagrams	p. 129
Evaluation and Representation	p. 130
Brass Instruments	p. 133
The Trumpet	p. 133
The Trombone	p. 135
The Tuba	p. 136
The French Horn	p. 137
Woodwind Instruments	p. 140
The Flute	p. 140
The Oboe	p. 143
The Clarinet	p. 146
The Bassoon	p. 147
String Instruments	p. 148
General Considerations	p. 148
The Violin	p. 152
The Viola	p. 156
The Cello	p. 159
The Double Bass	p. 161
The Grand Piano	p. 163
Lid Open	p. 163
Lid Closed	p. 167
Lid Half Open	p. 167
Lid Removed	p. 168
The Harpsichord	p. 168
The Harp	p. 169
Percussion Instruments	p. 170
The Timpani	p. 170
The Drum	p. 172
Gongs	p. 173
The Singing Voice	p. 175
Color Plates Following Page	p. 178
Foundations of Room Acoustics	p. 179
Reflection and Refraction	p. 179
Reflection from a Flat Surface	p. 179
Reflection from Curved Surfaces	p. 180
Influence of the Wavelength	p. 182
Absorption	p. 186
Reverberation	p. 188
Direct Sound and Diffuse Field	p. 190
The Energy Density	p. 190
The Direct Sound	p. 192
Diffuse-Field Distance	p. 194
Temporal Structure of the Sound Field	p. 196
Acoustical Properties of Old and New Performance Spaces	p. 203
Concert Halls	p. 203
Tonal Requirements	p. 203
Reverberation Time and Hall Size	p. 205
Sound Field and Hall Shape	p. 215
Acoustic Conditions on the Stage	p. 224
The Location of the Conductor	p. 231
Opera Houses	p. 234
Reverberation Time and Room Size	p. 234
Direct Sound and Early Reflections	p. 238
Churches	p. 245
Chamber Music Halls	p. 250
Studios	p. 254
Special Purpose Rooms	p. 256
Open Air Stages	p. 258
Seating Arrangement in the Concert Hall	p. 263
Customary Positioning of Instrument Groups	p. 263
The Tonal Effect in the Hall	p. 273
String Instruments	p. 273
Woodwind Instruments	p. 294
Brass Instruments	p. 305
Timpani	p. 322
Grand Pianos	p. 325
Harps	p. 328
Combined Sound of the Orchestra	p. 328
Singing Voices	p. 343
Acoustic Considerations for Instrumentation and Playing Technique	p. 347
Strength of Ensembles	p. 347
Historical Development	p. 347
Adapting to the Hall	p. 350
Dynamics	p. 359
Performance Technique	p. 370
Articulation and Tone Presentation	p. 370
Vibrato	p. 377
Playing Positions of Wind Instruments	p. 380
Tempo and Room Acoustics	p. 384
Acoustical Problems in the Opera House	p. 389
Strength of the Orchestra	p. 389
Historical Development	p. 389
Sound Level in the Hall	p. 390
Sound Level in the Orchestra Pit	p. 393
Seating Arrangement in the Orchestra Pit	p. 394
Customary Arrangements of Instrument Groups	p. 394
The Tonal Effect in the Hall	p. 397
Balance between Singers and Orchestra	p. 403
Arrangement of Choirs and Music on Stage	p. 407
Musicians in the Scene	p. 407
Musicians behind the Scene	p. 410
Appendix Table for Angular Dependence of the Statistical Directivity Factor	p. 413
References	p. 415
Subject Index	p. 427
Author, Composer, and Composition Index	p. 435
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