Practical Acoustics of Instruments of the Violin Family

Non-mathematical, illustrated, for the string musician rather than the violin maker. A wealth of practical information on adjustment, strings, instrument and bow characteristics, historical perspective, etc.

CONTENIDO:

Introduction
1. A short historical survey
Early history
New directions; the family members
The violin family as an entity
2. Sound Production and Sound Perception
Tones and waves
Sound and sound perception
The ear is very selective
Structure of a tone
3. Anatomy and Vital Measurements of Members of the Violin Family
The sound body
Glue and varnish
Further completion of the instrument
Vital measurements within the violin family
4. The Vibrating String as a Physical Phenomenon
The Helmholtz movement of a string
How the player can influence the string vibration
Special aspects of tone formation: touch harmonics, "mute vibrations" and transients
5. Transmission via the Bridge to the Sound Body
The bridge as a static element in the stringing
The bridge as a resonator and as a frequency filter
Bridge and soundpost
The wolf tone
From bridge to endbutton
6. The Sound Body and the Radiation of Sound
Problems with the analysis of string sound
The response curve and other measuring data
Sound radiation by the body and factors influencing it
Directional sensitivity of sound radiation
7. The bow
A short history
Portrait of the present-day bow
The hair ribbon
The bow as a tool for the player
Bow, instrument, and player: a triad
8. Adjustment I: Bridge, Soundpost and Bass Bar
The importance of adjustment
An optimal bridge
Position of the soundpost
The bass bar
9. Adjustment II: Stringing and Supporting Accesories
The tailpiece and its attachment
Strings: some physical principles
The core material of strings
Fingerboard and pegs; supporting accesories
10. Sound and Magic; Old and New; Expensive and Cheap
Instrument and player; criteria for objetive analysis
The timbre or sound character
The responsiveness
Carrying power
Dynamic range
Homogeneity
Old age as a virtue; legends and perjudices
Literature cited
Index