Sound Characterization through Intensity of Acoustic Radiation Measurement: A Study of Persian Musical Instruments

Abstract

The physics of musical instruments often uses modal analysis as one of the most important methods for describing the behavior of sound chests and their acoustic radiation. However, some studies conducted in Europe (Wogram), Japan (Suzuki) and the United States (Giordano) underlined a very weak correlation between sound radiation and modal analysis. This mismatch required further research. The acoustic parameter intensity of acoustic radiation (IAR) is highly related to the mechanical vibration of the sound source. IAR was able to quantify the sound efficiency of musical instruments, and to relate sound radiation with modal analysis. This paper investigates IAR measured on three Persian stringed musical Instruments, namely the thar, si-thar and santoor. The analysis contributes to the knowledge of stringed musical instruments and sound propagation, since IAR is capable of linking the mechanical vibrations of soundboards with the sound generation of the musical instruments. The IAR results coming from the modal analysis carried out during the study of the instruments are reported herein.

The Carabattola—Vibroacoustical Analysis and Intensity of Acoustic Radiation (IAR)

“…The studies on the physics and acoustics of musical instrument that were carried out in the last 30 years normally regarded classical musical instruments, especially violins [1], piano [2,3], wind instrument [4], and other musical instruments. Only a few studies have analyzed other musical instruments [5]. This was due to the request of knowledge of the sound characteristics of those instruments from lutherie, industrial manufactory companies, researchers, curators, collectors, museums, historians, musicians, theatre companies and all parties involved with preservation and restoration of those important, valuable objects.…”

Special Issue on Musical Instruments: Acoustics and Vibration

“…The two papers by Tronchin et al [2,3] analyze completely different musical instruments. Starting from the definition of a new vibro-acoustical parameter called the intensity of acoustic radiation (IAR) [2], which was initially proposed for kettledrums, the studies were carried out to contribute to the knowledge of special and rare musical instruments.…”

“…Starting from the definition of a new vibro-acoustical parameter called the intensity of acoustic radiation (IAR) [2], which was initially proposed for kettledrums, the studies were carried out to contribute to the knowledge of special and rare musical instruments. The first paper reports the results of both the modal analysis and IAR measured in a thar, a sithar, and a santoor, three important Persian musical instruments [3]. These outcomes give an idea of their behavior in response to increasing demand for knowledge of those musical instruments.…”

Sound radiation patterns of the Sarasvati Veena and their relation with the modal behavior of its top plate

“…The effect of the body geometry and its modal behavior on the resulting radiation is analyzed for the western musical instruments like the clarinet, trombone, piano etc. [15]- [20]. The relation between the modal behavior and the sound radiation is also studied for Western musical instruments like thar, si−thar and Santoor [21], [22].…”