Acoustics and the Performance of Music: Manual for Acousticians, Audio Engineers, Musicians, Architects and Musical Instrument Makers

ISBN-13: 9780387095165 / Angielski / Twarda / 2009 / 446 str.

Jurgen Meyer; Uwe Hansen

Opis

The objective of the book is to focus insights in the field of Acoustics of Musical Instruments, Room-Acoustics and Psycho-Acoustics on applications in musical performance. In this context, the directional dependence of sound radiation by musical instruments and the voice, as well as questions of concert hall design and room acoustical computer simulations and seating arrangements within the orchestra, or the positioning of microphones is a central issue. The presentation dispenses with mathematical details and prefers conceptual explanations and pictorial representations in order to make the interpretation of acoustical processes accessible to musicians. In this context the pictorial representations of directional characteristics are of particular interest. This translation corresponds to the latest (fifth) German edition (2004). Questions of orchestral arrangements have been revised. Since the first edition was published in 1978, this book has been completely revised and rewritten to include current research. This book is based largely on the Author's own research as well as decades of teaching experience in the field of audio engineering (Tonmeister). Noteworthy are also orchestral demonstrations both as conductor and presenter.

Recenzje

From the reviews of the fifth edition:

"The present book is a translation of the fifth German edition published in 2004. The translator, Uwe Hansen, deserves praise for the quality of his writing in the English language. ... Given the material in this text, orchestral musicians and conductors can ... appreciate how to use any given acoustical space most advantageously and acousticians and architects can optimize the spaces in which musical groups perform. ... The book will certainly benefit all those involved with musical performance." (Leo Beranek, International Journal of Acoustics and Vibration, Vol. 14 (2), 2009)

"The abundance of easy to understand graphic illustrations help the reader go through the relatively complex subjects. The writing is easy to read ... . The quality and quantity of illustrations (some of them color plates) are exceptional. ... A well written subject index helps find subjects of interest to the reader. There is also a composer-composition index at the end of the book. In summary, this is a highly recommended valuable book for professionals as well as for students interested in musical performance." (Alberto Behar, Noise Control Engineering Journal, Vol. 58 (5), September-October, 2010)

Spis treści

to Acoustics.- Structure of Musical Sound.- Tonal Characteristics of Musical Instruments.- Directional Characteristics.- Foundations of Room Acoustics.- Acoustical Properties of Old and New Performance Spaces.- Seating Arrangement in the Concert Hall.- Acoustic Considerations for Instrumentation and Playing Technique.- Acoustical Problems in the Opera House.

O autorze

Honors:

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

Blurb

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. Since the first edition was published in 1978, this book has been completely revised and rewritten to include current research. This translation corresponds to the latest (fifth) German edition (2004), which has become a standard reference work for audio engineers and scientists.

Acoustics and the Performance of Music addresses issues that are of interest to acousticians, orchestra performers and conductors, audio engineers, architects. Researchers and students of musical acoustics will also find this text valuable.