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

Abstract

Among the studies of musical instruments, one important, sometime underestimated discipline, is represented by ethnomusicology. The acoustic analyses on ethnic musical instruments (M.I.) are much more infrequent if compared to those on classical M.I. This article deals with the vibro-acoustic analysis on one of the most unknown ethnic, Italian M.I., i.e., the carabattola (also called battola), which used to be played in Italy until the late 1960s during the Holy Thursday before Easter. The study includes modal analysis and Intensity of Acoustic Radiation measured on an original carabattola, which was played in the Romagna area until the early twentieth century. After a brief overview about the theory of acoustic and vibrational analysis on musical instruments, the Intensity of acoustic radiation and its correlation with modal analysis are recalled, based on previous studies. In the experimental part of the article, the measurements conducted on the carabattola are described. Afterwards, the results obtained both from modal analysis and IAR measurements are analyzed and compared with other measurements previously conducted on musical (particularly percussion) instruments and commented.

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

“…The previous measurements, conducted by one of the authors on a kettledrum, have demonstrated the perfect matching between theoretical and experimental modal patterns. These results were also obtained during measurements on other musical instruments, as in Carabattola [18].…”

Special Issue on Musical Instruments: Acoustics and Vibration

“…These outcomes give an idea of their behavior in response to increasing demand for knowledge of those musical instruments. The second paper describes the outcome of an experimental analysis carried out on a carabattola, a largely unknown ethnic Italian musical instrument, which used to be played in the Romagna region until the Second World War [4]. The analysis includes modal analysis and IAR measurements.…”

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

“…[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]. Sound radiation studies other than those of the musical instruments exist [28], [29].…”