Acoustics; Attitude; Sound; Wood; Music; Controlled laboratories; Double-blind experiments; Fiber reinforced polymers; Sound Quality; Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous); Acoustics and Ultrasonics
Abstract :
[en] For centuries, wood, and more specifically spruce, has been the material of choice for violin top plates. Lately, carbon fiber instruments have entered the market. Some studies show that composite materials have potential advantages for making instruments [Damodaran, Lessard, and Babu, Acoust. Aust. 43, 117-122 (2015)]. However, no studies exist that evaluate violins made of different composite materials as judged by listeners. For this study, six prototype violins, differing only by the material of the top plate, were manufactured in a controlled laboratory setting. The six prototype violins were judged by experienced listeners in two double-blind experiments. In contrast to popular opinion that violins made from carbon have or lack a specific sound quality, the study provides insights in the diverse sounds and timbres violins from fiber-reinforced polymers can create. It allows an investigation of the links between the perception and the variations in material properties of the soundboards. Additionally, as neither players nor listeners are acquainted with these instruments, these results provide an interesting view on what type of qualities of violin-like sounds are preferred by listeners.
Disciplines :
Materials science & engineering
Author, co-author :
Duerinck, Tim; Instrument Making-School of Arts Gent Koninklijke Academie voor Schone Kunsten & Royal Conservatory, Nederpolder 26, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
Verberkmoes, Geerten; Instrument Making-School of Arts Gent Koninklijke Academie voor Schone Kunsten & Royal Conservatory, Nederpolder 26, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
Fritz, Claudia; Institut Jean le Rond d'Alembert, Sorbonne Université/Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, 4 Place Jussieu, 75005 Paris, France
Leman, Marc; Department of Art, Music and Theater Sciences, Ghent University, Sint-Pietersnieuwstraat 41, B4 9000 Ghent, Belgium
NIJS, Luc ; University of Luxembourg > Faculty of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences (FHSE) > Department of Education and Social Work (DESW) > Institute of Musicology and Arts ; Department of Art, Music and Theater Sciences, Ghent University, Sint-Pietersnieuwstraat 41, B4 9000 Ghent, Belgium
Kersemans, Mathias; Department of Materials, Textiles and Chemical Engineering, Ghent University, Technologiepark 46, B-9052 Zwijnaarde, Belgium
Van Paepegem, Wim; Department of Materials, Textiles and Chemical Engineering, Ghent University, Technologiepark 46, B-9052 Zwijnaarde, Belgium
External co-authors :
yes
Language :
English
Title :
Listener evaluations of violins made from composites.
We thank all musicians and listeners who took part in these experiments for their dedication and patience during the experiments. We thank FWO (Research Foundation Flanders Grant No. 1180217N) for funding this research and Ghent University and Hogent–School of Arts Ghent for providing logistic support. We would like to thank Matthieu Libeert for consulting throughout production of the composite parts using VARTM. Thanks also to Patrick Housen, who recorded the evaluation experiment. Thanks to Lineo for donating FLAXTAPETM that was used to make the UDFlax violin.
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