This chapter discusses the central physical phenomena involved in music. The aim is to provide an explanation of the related issues in an understandable level, without delving unnecessarily deep in the underlying mathematics. The chapter is divided in two main sections: musical sound sources and sound transmission to the observer. The first section starts from the definition of sound as wave mo...

The waveform of a simple sustained tone emitted from musical instruments such as a flute played by even the best musician is never exactly periodic. There is always some variation over time in the waveform of a single pitch that is characteristic of the instrument itself. In this paper, we employ the signal-coherence function introduced by Hinich [A statistical theory of signal coherence, J. Oc...

In this keynote, relations between psychoacoustics, sound quality, and music are discussed. In the domain of psychoacoustics, a Dynamic Loudness Model (DLM) is presented which can simulate loudness perception of sounds with strong temporal structure for both normal hearing persons and persons with (slight) hearing deficits. Recent results on the hearing sensation pitch strength will be presente...

Accurate modeling of the acoustic propagation in tubes varying cross section musical acoustics must include effects viscous and thermal boundary layers. Models viscothermal losses are classically written frequency domain. An approximate time-domain model is proposed which all physical parameters instrument, bore shape or wave celerity, explicit coefficients. The depends on absolute tabulated co...

The composition of a soundfield containing complex nearfield sources has interesting musical applications. A method is presented here using freefield expansions about exterior points of a harmonic multipole field. A derivation and verification are included. Binaural rendering is the natural method for displaying such soundfields. Some possible musical applications are discussed. INTRODUCTION Th...

By challenging the students to design and build a musical instrument, we teach the fundamentals of engineering design and acoustics, as well as introduce statics, dynamics, fluid mechanics, and vibrations to liberal arts students and first-year engineers. Using the instrument as a nonthreatening medium, students get a chance to do hands-on problem solving from the beginning of their college car...