Gambang: The gamelan wooden xylophone (original) (raw)
Related papers
Classifying xylophone bar materials by perceptual, signal processing and wood anatomy analysis
Annals of Forest Science, 2006
Several different areas of expertise are required to analyse the acoustic qualities of wood. The practical experience of musical instrument makers is extremely valuable, especially with respect to selecting the most suitable wood species for different applications. Knowledge on the mechanics and anatomy of wood is also essential to determine the factors underlying the acoustic qualities of woods. In addition, music synthesis research on psychoacoustic issues can highlight perceptual attributes that account for the acoustic qualities of different woods. The present study was focused on 58 tropical wood species used in xylophone-type percussion instruments. Each wood was classified by an xylophone maker and on the basis of an analysis of radiated sound signals and these separate classifications were compared with the aim of determining key signal parameters that have an impact on the acoustic quality of wood. Relationships between perceptual classifications, signal parameters and wood anatomical characteristics were analyzed.
Sound quality assessment of wood for xylophone bars
The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 2007
Xylophone sounds produced by striking wooden bars with a mallet are strongly influenced by the mechanical properties of the wood species chosen by the xylophone maker. In this paper, we address the relationship between the sound quality based on the timbre attribute of impacted wooden bars and the physical parameters characterizing wood species. For this, a methodology is proposed that associates an analysis-synthesis process and a perceptual classification test. Sounds generated by impacting 59 wooden bars of different species but with the same geometry were recorded and classified by a renowned instrument maker. The sounds were further digitally processed and adjusted to the same pitch before being once again classified. The processing is based on a physical model ensuring the main characteristics of the wood are preserved during the sound transformation. Statistical analysis of both classifications showed the influence of the pitch in the xylophone maker judgement and pointed out the importance of two timbre descriptors: the frequency-dependent damping and the spectral bandwidth. These descriptors are linked with physical and anatomical characteristics of wood species, providing new clues in the choice of attractive wood species from a musical point of view.
Relationship between sound classification of xylophone-like bars and wood species properties
2006
In this paper, we propose a methodology associating an analysis-synthesis process and a perceptual classification test of impacted wooden bars to point out the relationship between sound quality and physical parameters characterizing wood species. Statistical analysis have made it possible to point out the influence of the pitch in the classification, and the importance of two timbre descriptors, i.e. the frequency dependent damping and the spectral bandwidth. These descriptors can be linked to physical and anatomical characteristics of wood species, leading to new clues in the choice of attractive wood species from a musical point of view.
Structural and acoustic properties of African padouk (Pterocarpus soyauxii) wood for xylophones
European Journal of Wood and Wood Products, 2015
The possibility of supplementing the subjective traditional assessment of wood quality for percussion instruments with reliable acoustic measurements was studied. Sawn boards of African padouk (Pterocarpus soyauxii Taub.) were selected in a timber yard and classified into five grades by using the dynamic combined specific modulus of elasticity. Then they were sawn into raw xylophone bars, which were afterwards traditionally graded by listening to the sound damping at flexural bending excitation and additionally by acoustic measurements. A high quality grade matching of xylophone bars and sawn boards was confirmed. Highly graded material was mostly quarter sawn with straight or moderately interlocked grain. The sound quality of raw xylophone bars was not influenced by the wood density. It negatively correlated with sound damping (tan d) and positively with the specific modulus of elasticity and with absolute and relative acoustic conversion efficiency. The audial grading of xylophone bars could be improved or substituted by relative acoustic conversion efficiency.
A comparison of string instruments based on wood properties: Biwa vs. cello
Acoustical Science and Technology, 2009
The Satsuma biwa and the cello are compared from the viewpoint of their wood properties. According to the wood classification diagram, the mulberry traditionally used for the biwa is very far from the Western criteria for the resonance woods such as sitka spruce and maple respectively used for the top and back plate of the cello. The structural responses of these instruments are investigated by measuring the driving-point mobility and the transmission mobility of the top plate. The cello is designed to stress the fundamental, while the biwa is constructed to sustain the higher harmonics that are generated by the ''sawari'' mechanisms applied to the nut and frets. Since the sawari tone yields a reverberating high-frequency emphasis, it is auditorily discriminated from the lower harmonics, which depend on the mode vibrations of the top plate and the bridge. In addition, the camphor-made biwa is compared with the mulberry-made biwa on their structural responses and the resulting sound spectrograms. The camphor wood is not an excellent substitute for the mulberry. Furthermore, the acoustical features of other Asian stringed instruments, where the paulownia and amboyna wood are used, are briefly discussed in relation to the playing style and musical taste.
Making wooden musical instruments An integration of different forms of knowledge
2016
Professional flute-players recently asked a Parisian flute maker to conceive a period Boehm flute with an open key system, similar to the one inaugurated in 1830. Jointly conducted by acousticians, musicologists and flute makers, the objective of the study is to conceive such a nineteenth century flute. In order to achieve this, our aim is to understand the historical and musical context of flute manufacture, the playing techniques developed by musicians, the acoustic responses of the instrument and the characteristics of the key mechanism. We will be using an interdisciplinary approach, combining musicology and acoustic studies. The former will be using historical documents and academic articles in order to establish a coherent overview of the flute making industry in France in nineteenth century; the latter will be using geometrical surveys, models of admittance and admittance measurements in order to determine the acoustic characteristics of the nineteenth century flute, to ident...
Modified Wood of Black Locust - Alternative to Honduran Rosewood in the Production of Xylophones
Acta Physica Polonica A, 2015
Traditionally, exotic hardwoods are used for the production of xylophone or concert marimba. Mainly the Honduran rosewood shows the optimal properties (high density, high modulus of elasticity, speed of sound, hardness, low damping) considering the required acoustic quality of the xylophone. The Honduran rosewood is listed in CITES Appendix II, therefore it is necessary to look for possibilities of its replacement by other wood species. However, the density, hardness and strength properties of the European wood species are rated less than Honduran rosewood. Therefore it is clear that there is a need to search for alternative of exotic wood. Our research indicates that the Honduran rosewood can be replaced by European wood species; however it is necessary to modify their properties. As convenient modication of domestic wood species appear: mechanical modication (densication), thermal modication or a combination of these two methods. Thus we can obtain wood with properties similar to the properties of exotic wood. The study presents the comparison of physical and acoustical characteristics of modied wood of Black locust with the characteristics of the Honduran rosewood. Also, the sound quality of xylophone made from Black locust wood before and after modication was investigated.
Annals of Forest Science, 2010
• Vène wood (Pterocarpus erinaceus Poir.) is currently the favorite wood for manufacture of xylophone in Mali. A dynamic analysis method with free boundary conditions, known as BING, was used to determine the main acoustic properties: specific dynamic modulus (E L /ρ), damping coefficient or internal friction (tan δ), sound radiation coefficient (SRC) and peak response (PR). • The aim was to investigate the acoustic properties of vène wood (1) along three radial locations (internal: IHW, median: MHW, external: EHW); (2) related to two geographic origins (Guinean and Soudanian areas); and (3) to investigate the effect of ring width (RW), basic density (D b ) and extractive content (EC) on these properties. • High correlations were shown between tanδ with E L /ρ and EC. tan δ decrease with increasing E L /ρ or EC. No significant difference of SRC was found between the geographic areas and the radial locations. No correlation between RW and acoustic properties was observed. E L , E L /ρ and PR were significantly higher for wood from the Guinean area than from the Soudanian area and also higher for EHW and MHW than for IHW. tan δ follows inverse trends. These results could explain why the Malian xylophone makers empirically use only the wood from EHW and MHW.