Main description:

Principles of Musical Acoustics focuses on the basic principles in the science and technology of music. Musical examples and specific musical instruments demonstrate the principles. The book begins with a study of vibrations and waves, in that order. These topics constitute the basic physical properties of sound, one of two pillars supporting the science of musical acoustics. The second pillar is the human element, the physiological and psychological aspects of acoustical science. The perceptual topics include loudness, pitch, tone color, and localization of sound. With these two pillars in place, it is possible to go in a variety of directions. The book treats in turn, the topics of room acoustics, audio both analog and digital, broadcasting, and speech. It ends with chapters on the traditional musical instruments, organized by family.

The mathematical level of this book assumes that the reader is familiar with elementary algebra. Trigonometric functions, logarithms and powers also appear in the book, but computational techniques are included as these concepts are introduced, and there is further technical help in appendices.

Feature:

A concise musical acoustics book intended for undergraduates with a basic understanding of math and science

Discusses both the physics of sound, and the psychology and physiology of how humans perceive sound and music

Includes chapters on the tonal characteristics and physics of musical instruments

Includes end of chapter exercises and solutions

Appendices provide useful supplementary information on diverse topics such as standard piano tuning, the greek alphabet, notable composers, and trigonometric functions

Written by the author of the classic text "Signals, Sound, and Sensation"

Back cover:

Principles of Musical Acoustics focuses on the basic principles in the science and technology of music. Musical examples and specific musical instruments demonstrate the principles. The book begins with a study of vibrations and waves, in that order. These topics constitute the basic physical properties of sound, one of two pillars supporting the science of musical acoustics. The second pillar is the human element, the physiological and psychological aspects of acoustical science. The perceptual topics include loudness, pitch, tone color, and localization of sound. With these two pillars in place, it is possible to go in a variety of directions. The book treats in turn, the topics of room acoustics, audio both analog and digital, broadcasting, and speech. It ends with chapters on the traditional musical instruments, organized by family.

The mathematical level of this book assumes that the reader is familiar with elementary algebra. Trigonometric functions, logarithms and powers also appear in the book, but computational techniques are included as these concepts are introduced, and there is further technical help in appendices.

Contents:

Sound, Music, and Science.- Vibrations 1.- Vibrations 2.- Instrumentation.- Sound Waves.- Wave Properties.- Standing Waves.- Standing Waves in Pipes.- Fourier Analysis and Synthesis.- Sound Intensity.- The Auditory System.- Loudness Perception.- Pitch.- Localization of Sound.- Sound Environments.- Audio Transducers.- Distortion and Noise.- Audio Systems.- Loudspeakers.- Digital Audio.- Broadcasting.- Speech.- Brass Musical Instruments.- Woodwind Instruments.- String Instruments.- Percussion Instruments.- Electronic Music.