- Docente: Gianni Zanarini
- Credits: 5
- SSD: L-ART/07
- Language: Italian
- Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
- Campus: Bologna
- Corso: First cycle degree programme (L) in DAMS - Drama, Art and Music Studies (cod. 0343)
Learning outcomes
A good understanding of the physics of sound on which acoustic perception is based and which is involved in music. A general introduction to digital audio technology.
Course contents
The physics of sound and music. Vibrations of sound bodies. Waveform analysis. Pitch and frequency. Resolving complex sounds into simple sounds. Harmonic and non-harmonic sounds.
Vibrating strings. The fundamental modes of vibration. Vibrating bars and membranes. Sound tubes. The production of sound in tubes. Open and closed tubes.The singing voice.
The acoustic perception. The inner ear. The perception of pitch and intensity. Masking. Pitch ambiguity in complex sounds. The organization of auditory world. The construction of sound objects.
Timbre and recognition of sound objects. Timbre dimensions. Musical instruments and orchestra.
Room and auditorium acoustics.
Consonance: physics, perception and music.
Sound structure and musical scales. The principles for building musical scales. Musical scales and temperaments.
Acoustical and perceptual correlates of classical harmony. Harmony, timbre, texture.
Electronic and information technologies for digital audio processing and sound documents restoration.
Science, technology and music in the second half of twentieth century.
Readings/Bibliography
G.Zanarini, Il suono, in Enciclopedia della musica, Einaudi, Torino, 2002, vol. 2, pp. 5-23.
J.C.Risset, Il timbro, in Enciclopedia della musica, Einaudi, Torino, 2002, vol. 2, pp. 89-115.
A.Frova, La fisica nella musica, Zanichelli, Bologna, 1999 (for Humanities students only the first and second parts, or A.Frova, Armonia celeste e dodecafonia, BUR, Milano, 2006)
or
J.G.Roederer, The Physics and Psychophysics of Music, Berlin, Springer Verlag, 1995.
or
I.Johnston, Measured Tones, IOP, Bristol, 2003.
Teaching methods
Front lessons and computer practice
Assessment methods
Oral examination. English language allowed. For students attending the lessons there will be an optional written test.
Teaching tools
On-line computer processing of digital sound waveforms.
Office hours
See the website of Gianni Zanarini