Musical sound : an introduction to the physics of music / by Michael J. Moravcsik ; foreword by Antal Dorati ; illustrations by Francesca Moravcsik.
| Author/creator | Moravcsik, Michael J. |
| Format | Book |
| Publication Info | New York, NY : Paragon House Publishers, ©1987. |
| Description | xxii, 316 pages : illustrations ; 25 cm |
| Subjects |
| Contents | Foreword / by Antal Dorati -- Why and how: an explanation for the reader -- Part I. The concepts of motion, vibration and waves. Prologue -- 1. About motion. Describing motion (Location ; Speed and velocity ; Acceleration) ; Understanding motion: force and energy (Force ; Energy ; Energy conversion) ; Summary -- 2. Periodic motion: vibration and oscillation. Location-time table ; Period and frequency ; Amplitude ; Plotting oscillations ; Shapes of oscillations ; "Adding" oscillations ; Nothing out of something ; More about adding oscillations ; Representing kinks ; Summary -- 3. Waves. Traveling waves ; Standing waves ; Transverse and longitudinal waves ; Characterizing waves: frequency and wavelength ; Relating frequency and wavelength by the speed of propagation ; Damped waves ; Waves at a boundary ; The waves we know ; Diffraction ; Summary -- Part II. The sound getting to you. 4. Propagation of sound waves. Loudness ; Scaling ; Dependence of sound energy on distance ; The speed of sound ; The sonic boom ; Speed of sound in different media ; The Doppler effect ; An analogy ; Another way to understand the Doppler effect ; Summary -- 5. Perception of sound. How the ear works ; Spatial location of sound ; Quantitative measures of loudness ; Beats ; Pitch perception ; Summary -- Part III. Specifics of musical sound. 6. Musical sound ; Supershort scale ; Short time scale ; Medium time scale ; Long time scale ; Very long time scale ; The stereo effect ; Summary -- 7. Pitch and musical scales. The simple fractions requirement ; Building the scale ; The equal footing requirement ; The compromise ; Summary -- |
| Contents | Part IV. Making music. 8. Musical instruments. The main components (Energy source ; Energy transmission ; The primary vibrator ; The resonant vibrator ; Characteristic frequencies of a vibrating system ; Being in resonance with a system ; Back to resonant vibrators ; The sound effuser) ; Instrument making: science or art? ; Science and technology (The interaction between science and technology ; Science and technology in instrument making) ; Summary -- 9. Wind instruments. The primary vibrator ; The Bernouilli effect (The Bernouilli effect in reed mouthpieces ; The Bernouilli effect in lip vibrations ; The Bernouilli effect in the edge effect) ; Summary of the various types of primary vibrators ; The resonant vibrator ; The practical problems with resonant vibrators ; The solutions (Solution 1. Include many tubes of different lengths ; Solution 2. Vary the length by interlocking pipes ; Solution 3. A switchyard with temporary extensions of length ; Solution 4. Place holes on the side of the tube) ; The effuser ; Summary -- 10. String instruments. The primary vibrator ; Frequency range for string instruments (As influenced by tension and weight) ; Frequency range for string instruments (As influenced by length ; Solution 1. Having many strings with differing lengths ; Solution 2. Pressing a finger on the string) ; Location of energy transfer ; The resonant vibrator of string instruments ; The sound effuser ; Summary -- 11. Percussion instruments. Energy source and energy transfer ; The primary vibrator ; The resonant vibrator ; Summary -- 12. The human voice. Two special features ; Energy input and the primary vibrator ; Voice, an "internal" instrument ; How you hear yourself ; Singing "over" the orchestra ; The helium-filled singer ; Vibrato ; Vowels ; Consonants ; Summary -- Part V. Consuming music. The environment for listening. What is the problem? ; Reflections ; Reverberation time ; Dependence on size ; Dependence on absorption coefficient ; A wall of several materials ; Air absorption ; What is a "flat" surface? ; Initial time delays ; Applications ; Is science successful in designing halls? ; Summary -- Chapter 14. The transmission and storage of sound. The objective ; Why not do it directly ; Changing sound into electric current and vice versa ; Converting electric current into electromagnetic waves ; Propagation of electromagnetic waves ; Carrier waves and their modulation ; Avoiding noise ; Amplification ; Methods of storing music ; Noise reduction ; Summary -- Epilogue -- Appendix A. Mathematics ; Appendix B. Formulas ; Appendix C. Annotated bibliography. |
| Abstract | Several experts in the field have verified that the information in the book remains constant; nothing has, or will, change in the basic science of musical sound. It explains the science of musical sound without the encumbrance of detailed mathematics. It will appeal to music lovers as well as students of music and students of physics. |
| Local note | Little-256246 |
| General note | A Solomon Press book. |
| Bibliography note | Includes bibliographical references (pages 271-273) and index. |
| LCCN | 86030278 |
| ISBN | 0913729396 |
| ISBN | 9780913729397 |
Availability
| Library | Location | Call Number | Status | Item Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Music | Closed Stacks - Ask at Circulation Desk | QC225.15 .M65 1987 | ✔ Available | Place Hold |