First Year Seminars:

Music and the Mind & Music Mediated

The Acoustics of Music

Music Acoustics
I suspect that many people share the romantic sense that music is a product of numinous inspiration, and are apt to feel disheartened, even appalled, when it is fragmented and seemingly reduced to a matter of mere acoustics, of the physics and biology of sound and audition. I dont intend to apologize for a digression into the mathematics, physics and physiology of acoustic science by justifying it as an unavoidable introduction to the raw materials of music. It is much more interesting than that.
~ Philip Ball

What is SOUND?

Sound
If a tree were to fall on an uninhabited island, and no one were around to hear it, would it make a sound?

Sound: Definitions

A DISTURBANCE OF AIR MOLECULES THAT IMPINGES UPON THE EARDRUM.

Scientific def: Sound = Compression and rearefaction within a medium.

Whats a medium?

Sound Waves

Sound travels as a wave. Sound Waves can:

carry a little energy or a lot. be short or long. travel fast or slow.

All waves (Sound, light, X-ray), share basic characteristics: 1. amplitude 2. wavelength 3. frequency

Sound travels as a wave:

Compression

Decompression, expansion or rarefaction

Sound Waves

Basic characteristics: Amplitude: The higher the wave moves up-and-down as it vibrates,

the larger the amplitude of the resulting waves.

Sound Waves

Basic characteristics: Wavelength: Def.: The distance between two consecutive crests or troughs of a wave. The wavelength can be measured from point to point.

Sound Waves

Wavelength:

short wavelengths = High Frequencies long wavelengths = Low Frequencies

Sound Waves

Basic characteristics: Frequency: Def.: Number of complete waves, or complete cycles, per unit of time. Frequency is measured in hertz (Hz). Hz = # of Vibrations per second.

Sound waves: musical

? Music = what kind of sound waves? ? Noise = what kind of sound waves?

The factor that makes the difference between music and noise is called: _______________ ?

Sound waves: musical

? Music = what kind of sound waves?

Regular/Repeating

? Noise = what kind of sound waves?

Irregular

The factor that makes the difference between music and noise is called: periodicity

Sound waves: musical

Periodicity is the factor which

makes the difference between

~ Tone ~
vs

Noise

Sound waves: musical

High Pitch/short wavelength:

travel in STRAIGHT LINES will hit an obstacle (e.g. wall) and be reflected in another direction (bounce back); reflection (physics)

Sound waves: musical

Low pitch/long wavelength: will BEND when hitting an obstacle and keep going; refraction

4 Properties of Musical TONE

Scientific Term Definition Objective Term

Frequency

Amplitude Spectral Envelope Duration

# of cycles per second, measured in Hertz (Hz) Intensity Timbre

Pitch

Loudness Quality; Tone color Time

Length

Spectral Envelope/Timbre

Musical Sound, a.k.a tone: Complex periodic vibrations

The lowest, slowest and strongest frequency: Fundamental: F0 Frequencies over F0: Overtones, Harmonics*

*preferred term

Harmonics

Harmonics
Harmonics: Frequencies which occur at whole number multiples* of the Fundamental (F0); ex.: x1, x2, x3, etc. term: Consonance (con = with ; - sonance = sonar/sound) Partials: frequencies which occur above F0 but NOT at Whole number multiples* of the F0. term: Dissonance Dis- against; - sonance = sonar/sound

Overtones: 2 types

Harmonics Whole number multiples of the F0

Partials Not Whole number multiples of the F0 Interfere with sound, create roughness Noise

Harmonics

Harmonics are what give any musical instrument its particular timbre.
Timbre is an identifier: a sonic fingerprint, unique to each instrument.

Harmonics

Every musical intrument has some harmonics which are:

Emphasized- boosted- louder

and

Reduced attenuated - softer

This sonic fingerprint is called: spectral envelope

Clarinet A 440

Flute G 4

Human Voice (Singing)

Harmonics
Harmonics are: Frequencies which occur at whole number multiples* of the F0; ex.: x1, x2, x3, etc. This series of Frequencies is called the Harmonic Series.

Example: Low C = 130 Hz, where (at what frequency) should the harmonics occur?

Harmonic Series
C3 = 130 (F0 and H1 are the same) 2nd H = C4 = Hz? 3rd H = G4 = Hz? 4th H = C5 (middle C) = Hz? 5th H = E5 = Hz?

Harmonic Series
C3 = 130 (F0 and H1 are the same) 2nd H = C4 = 261 Hz 3rd H = G4 = 392 Hz 4th H = C5 (middle C) = 523 Hz 5th H = E5 = 659 Hz and so on

Harmonics: 2 types

Harmonics Whole number multiples of the F0

Partials Not Whole number multiples of the F0; Other Interfere with sound, create roughness Noise

Harmonics: Take-Home Message

The more HARMONICS in the tone, the more: Musical, pleasing, in tune IT SEEMS. The more partials in the tone, the more noisy, alarming (exciting!), out-of-tune it SEEMS.

Terms
Consonance Dissonance

Equal Temperament
The tuning system used in modern, Western music, in a 12 tone scale: Based on pure, mathematical ratios of only the octave and 5th intervals but not for the other intervals (2nd, 3rd, 4th, 6h and 7th)

Harmonics

The Amplitude of Harmonics often (not always) diminish in frequency (Hz) as they go higher
??: What does this mean re: loudness of harmonics?

The Amplitude of Harmonics diminish in frequency (Hz) as they go higher

Coupled Acoustics
1.
2. 3. 4.

Musical Instruments/ 3 Elements in Common Actuator Vibrator Resonater

3 Elements: VOICE
1. 2.

3.

Actuator: AIR Vibrator: VOCAL FOLDS Resonater: LARYNX, PHARYNX , AND ORAL CAVITY Laryngeal, pharyngeal, oral (or buccal)

3 Elements : Violin
1. 2.

3.

Actuator: bow Vibrator: string Resonater: body

3 Elements : Piano
1. 2.

3.

Actuator: hammer (finger) Vibrator: string Resonater: body

3 Elements : Clarinet
1. 2.

3.

Actuator: air (lips) Vibrator: reed Resonater: body

3 Elements : Trombone
1. 2.

3.

Actuator: lips Vibrator: lips Resonater: body

Resonance: Definitions
The amplification, reinforcement, or prolongation of vibration when another vibration of the same frequency is applied to it. Text: page 72) Merriam-Webster Dictionary:the intensification and enriching of a musical tone by supplementary vibration

(see also Glossary in Text)

Resonance: 2 Types
1. Forced (ak.a. conductive)

Depends upon direct, mechanical connection of actuator to vibrator

2. Free (a.k.a. sympathetic) Depends upon reflections of soundwaves within a void 3 conditions:
1.

2.
3.

Structure must be hollow Have enough space Have an opening for exit of soundwaves

Resonance: factors
What

type of resonator is the voice? Why? What kind of tube are we? Resonator = hollow space ? What/where are your hollow spaces?

Resonance Clarification: 3 main resonators:

1.
2. 3.

Pharynx
Larynx Oral cavity
(not mouth)

Resonance: factors

3 factors affect resonance: 1. Size 2. Shape 3. Texture

These factors affect all 4 properties of musical tone* (Some more than others). (REVIEW: WHAT ARE THE 4 PROPERTIES OF A MUSICAL TONE?)

4 Properties of Musical TONE

Scientific Term Definition Objective Term

Frequency

Amplitude Spectral Envelope Duration

# of cycles per second, measured in Hertz (Hz) Intensity Timbre

Pitch

Loudness Quality; Tone color Time

Length

Resonance: 3 factors
1.

Size
Affects Frequency & timbre; how/why? Voice: How might this relate to gender?

Shape

Affects Frequency & timbre

how/why?

Affects on Resonance of: Texture?

Venues

Pavarobotti