HISTORY OF ACOUSTICS INTRODUCTION SCIENTIFIC DEVELOPMENTS ACOUSTICAL APPLICATIONS INTRODUCTION

CLASSICAL PHILOSOPHICAL STATEMENTS HISTORY OF ACOUSTICS INTRODUCTION SCIENTIFIC DEVELOPMENTS CLASSICAL PHILOSOPHICAL STATEMENTS EARLY SCIENTIFIC DEVELOPMENTS MODERN ACOUSTICAL SCIENCE ACOUSTICAL APPLICATIONS ARISTOTLE (384-322 BC): “DE ANIMA” & “DE AUDILIBUS” HE HAD SOME NOTION THAT SOUND INVOLVED MOTION IN AIR, BUT IT IS DOUBTFUL WHETHER THE WAVE CONCEPT WAS GRASPED. CLASSICAL PHILOSOPHICAL STATEMENTS

CLASSICAL PHILOSOPHICAL STATEMENTS HISTORY OF ACOUSTICS INTRODUCTION SCIENTIFIC DEVELOPMENTS CLASSICAL PHILOSOPHICAL STATEMENTS EARLY SCIENTIFIC DEVELOPMENTS MODERN ACOUSTICAL SCIENCE ACOUSTICAL APPLICATIONS VITRUVIUS (C.25 BC): “DE ARCHITECTURA” & “TEN BOOKS OF ARCHITECTURE” CONCEPT OF SOUNDING VESSELS IN THEATER DESIGN. SITE ACOUSTICS. CLASSICAL PHILOSOPHICAL STATEMENTS

EARLY SCIENTIFIC DEVELOPMENTS HISTORY OF ACOUSTICS INTRODUCTION SCIENTIFIC DEVELOPMENTS CLASSICAL PHILOSOPHICAL STATEMENTS EARLY SCIENTIFIC DEVELOPMENTS MODERN ACOUSTICAL SCIENCE ACOUSTICAL APPLICATIONS BOETHIUS (AD 480-524): WROTE OF EARLY EXPERIMENTS IN ACOUSTICS THAT FORESHADOWED THE WAVE THEORY OF SOUND. EARLY SCIENTIFIC DEVELOPMENTS

EARLY SCIENTIFIC DEVELOPMENTS HISTORY OF ACOUSTICS INTRODUCTION SCIENTIFIC DEVELOPMENTS CLASSICAL PHILOSOPHICAL STATEMENTS EARLY SCIENTIFIC DEVELOPMENTS MODERN ACOUSTICAL SCIENCE ACOUSTICAL APPLICATIONS GALILEO (1564-1642): WROTE ON THE PHYSICS OF SOUND, INTRODUCING THE CONCEPT OF FREQUENCY. EARLY SCIENTIFIC DEVELOPMENTS

EARLY SCIENTIFIC DEVELOPMENTS HISTORY OF ACOUSTICS INTRODUCTION SCIENTIFIC DEVELOPMENTS CLASSICAL PHILOSOPHICAL STATEMENTS EARLY SCIENTIFIC DEVELOPMENTS MODERN ACOUSTICAL SCIENCE ACOUSTICAL APPLICATIONS ROBERT BOYLE (1627-1691): BELL-JAR EXPERIMENT, WHERE THE LEVEL OF SOUND PRODUCED BY RINGING A BELL WITHIN THE JAR DECREASES AS THE AIR IS PUMPED OUT, INDICATING A NEED FOR A MEDIUM FOR THE TRANSMISSION OF SOUND. EARLY SCIENTIFIC DEVELOPMENTS

EARLY SCIENTIFIC DEVELOPMENTS HISTORY OF ACOUSTICS INTRODUCTION SCIENTIFIC DEVELOPMENTS CLASSICAL PHILOSOPHICAL STATEMENTS EARLY SCIENTIFIC DEVELOPMENTS MODERN ACOUSTICAL SCIENCE ACOUSTICAL APPLICATIONS SIR ISAAC NEWTON (1653-1742): MADE THE FIRST ATTEMPT AT A THEORETICAL DERIVATION OF THE VELOCITY OF SOUND IN AIR. MADE AN ANALOGY BETWEEN SOUND & COLOR WHICH LEFT A LASTING IMPRINT ON MUSICIANS. EARLY SCIENTIFIC DEVELOPMENTS

EARLY SCIENTIFIC DEVELOPMENTS HISTORY OF ACOUSTICS INTRODUCTION SCIENTIFIC DEVELOPMENTS CLASSICAL PHILOSOPHICAL STATEMENTS EARLY SCIENTIFIC DEVELOPMENTS MODERN ACOUSTICAL SCIENCE ACOUSTICAL APPLICATIONS JOSEPH SAUVEUR (1653-1716): INTRODUCED “ACOUSTICS” AS THE TERM TO DEFINE THE SCIENCE OF SOUND. MADE THOROUGH STUDIES OF FREQUENCY IN RELATION TO PITCH. EARLY SCIENTIFIC DEVELOPMENTS

MODERN ACOUSTICAL SCIENCE HISTORY OF ACOUSTICS INTRODUCTION SCIENTIFIC DEVELOPMENTS CLASSICAL PHILOSOPHICAL STATEMENTS EARLY SCIENTIFIC DEVELOPMENTS MODERN ACOUSTICAL SCIENCE ACOUSTICAL APPLICATIONS LORD RAYLEIGH (1842-1919): “THEORY OF SOUND” (1877). PUT TOGETHER MATERIAL SCATTERED IN LEARNED JOURNALS INTO AN AUTHORITATIVE REFERENCE WHICH WAS TO BE THE DEFINITIVE TREATISE FOR MANY YEARS. MODERN ACOUSTICAL SCIENCE

MODERN ACOUSTICAL SCIENCE HISTORY OF ACOUSTICS INTRODUCTION SCIENTIFIC DEVELOPMENTS CLASSICAL PHILOSOPHICAL STATEMENTS EARLY SCIENTIFIC DEVELOPMENTS MODERN ACOUSTICAL SCIENCE ACOUSTICAL APPLICATIONS WALLACE SABINE (1868-1919) : FATHER OF MODERN ARCHITECTURAL ACOUSTICS. LAW CONNECTING REVERBERATION TIME WITH ROOM VOLUME AND THE AMOUNT OF SOUND ABSORBING MATERIAL. BOSTON’S SYMPHONY HALL (1898). MODERN ACOUSTICAL SCIENCE

HISTORY OF ACOUSTICS GREEK THEATERS: INTRODUCTION SCIENTIFIC DEVELOPMENTS ACOUSTICAL APPLICATIONS GREEK THEATERS ROMAN THEATERS MEDIEVAL CATHEDRALS BAROQUE THEATERS & OPERA HOUSES ROCOCO TOWNHOUSES MODERN AUDITORIUMS GREEK THEATERS: SEMI-CIRCULAR PLAN FORM. RAKED SEATING. STAGE RAISED & OF A MODEST DIMENSION. TYPICALLY SET IN A NATURAL DISHING OF GROUND PROVIDING A NATURAL RAKING OF SEATING & AN ACOUSTICAL BUFFER. GREEK THEATERS

HISTORY OF ACOUSTICS ROMAN THEATERS: INTRODUCTION SCIENTIFIC DEVELOPMENTS ACOUSTICAL APPLICATIONS GREEK THEATERS ROMAN THEATERS MEDIEVAL CATHEDRALS BAROQUE THEATERS & OPERA HOUSES ROCOCO TOWNHOUSES MODERN AUDITORIUMS ROMAN THEATERS: STEEPER RAKING MORE SOUND REFLECTING SURFACES BEHIND THE STAGE. ROMAN THEATERS

HISTORY OF ACOUSTICS INTRODUCTION SCIENTIFIC DEVELOPMENTS ACOUSTICAL APPLICATIONS GREEK THEATERS ROMAN THEATERS MEDIEVAL CATHEDRALS BAROQUE THEATERS & OPERA HOUSES ROCOCO TOWNHOUSES MODERN AUDITORIUMS ROMAN THEATERS

HISTORY OF ACOUSTICS AMPHITHEATER: INTRODUCTION SCIENTIFIC DEVELOPMENTS ACOUSTICAL APPLICATIONS GREEK THEATERS ROMAN THEATERS MEDIEVAL CATHEDRALS BAROQUE THEATERS & OPERA HOUSES ROCOCO TOWNHOUSES MODERN AUDITORIUMS AMPHITHEATER: DEVELOPED AS A COMPOUND OF TWO THEATERS, MAKING A CONTINUOUS AUDITORIUM AROUND A CENTRAL AREA. ROMAN THEATERS

HISTORY OF ACOUSTICS ACOUSTICAL CHARACTERISTICS: INTRODUCTION SCIENTIFIC DEVELOPMENTS ACOUSTICAL APPLICATIONS GREEK THEATERS ROMAN THEATERS MEDIEVAL CATHEDRALS BAROQUE THEATERS & OPERA HOUSES ROCOCO TOWNHOUSES MODERN AUDITORIUMS ACOUSTICAL CHARACTERISTICS: LARGE ROOM VOLUMES. HIGHLY REFLECTIVE SURFACES. LONG REVERBERATION TIMES (ABOUT EIGHT SECONDS). MEDIEVAL CATHEDRALS

HISTORY OF ACOUSTICS CATHEDRALS: INTRODUCTION SCIENTIFIC DEVELOPMENTS ACOUSTICAL APPLICATIONS GREEK THEATERS ROMAN THEATERS MEDIEVAL CATHEDRALS BAROQUE THEATERS & OPERA HOUSES ROCOCO TOWNHOUSES MODERN AUDITORIUMS CATHEDRALS: EVOLUTION OF FORMS TOWARD HIGHER STRUCTURES (4 TO 1 HEIGHT TO WIDTH RATIO). REINFORCED THE REFLECTED SOUND DOWN FROM THE VAULTS STRESSING THE TIME DELAY. MEDIEVAL CATHEDRALS

HISTORY OF ACOUSTICS CATHEDRALS: INTRODUCTION SCIENTIFIC DEVELOPMENTS ACOUSTICAL APPLICATIONS GREEK THEATERS ROMAN THEATERS MEDIEVAL CATHEDRALS BAROQUE THEATERS & OPERA HOUSES ROCOCO TOWNHOUSES MODERN AUDITORIUMS CATHEDRALS: ENGENDERED A SPECIAL TRADITION OF ORGAN MUSIC, INCANTATION & RECITAL. LARGE CHURCHES TENDED TO HAVE A SYMPATHETIC TONE SOMEWHERE NEAR A OF A FLAT, SO THAT IF THE PRIEST RECITED IN THIS TONE THE SONOROUS LATIN VOWELS WOULD BOOM. MEDIEVAL CATHEDRALS

HISTORY OF ACOUSTICS BELL TOWERS: INTRODUCTION SCIENTIFIC DEVELOPMENTS ACOUSTICAL APPLICATIONS GREEK THEATERS ROMAN THEATERS MEDIEVAL CATHEDRALS BAROQUE THEATERS & OPERA HOUSES ROCOCO TOWNHOUSES MODERN AUDITORIUMS BELL TOWERS: THE AREA REACHED BY A BELL TOWER DEFINE THE PARISH. SOMETIMES AS GREAT AS A TEN MILE RADIUS. MEDIEVAL CATHEDRALS

HISTORY OF ACOUSTICS REVIVAL OF ROMAN THEATER FORM: INTRODUCTION FULL ENCLOSURE OF THE AUDITORIUM: SOUND REPEATEDLY REFLECTED OFF THE WALLS & ROOF. HIGH REVERBERATION TIMES. ESPECIALLY HIGH LOW-FREQUENCY REVERBERATION TIMES. INTRODUCTION SCIENTIFIC DEVELOPMENTS ACOUSTICAL APPLICATIONS GREEK THEATERS ROMAN THEATERS MEDIEVAL CATHEDRALS BAROQUE THEATERS & OPERA HOUSES ROCOCO TOWNHOUSES MODERN AUDITORIUMS BAROQUE THEATERS

HISTORY OF ACOUSTICS INTRODUCTION SCIENTIFIC DEVELOPMENTS ACOUSTICAL APPLICATIONS GREEK THEATERS ROMAN THEATERS MEDIEVAL CATHEDRALS BAROQUE THEATERS & OPERA HOUSES ROCOCO TOWNHOUSES MODERN AUDITORIUMS BAROQUE THEATERS: DEEP-STAGE ARRANGEMENTS WITH FLY LOFTS, PROPS, EXTRAVAGANT DRAPERIES LED TO ACOUSTIC PROBLEMS DUE TO A LACK OF SOUND REFLECTING SURFACES AROUND THE PERFORMERS. BAROQUE THEATERS

HISTORY OF ACOUSTICS OPERA HOUSES: INTRODUCTION SCIENTIFIC DEVELOPMENTS ACOUSTICAL APPLICATIONS GREEK THEATERS ROMAN THEATERS MEDIEVAL CATHEDRALS BAROQUE THEATERS & OPERA HOUSES ROCOCO TOWNHOUSES MODERN AUDITORIUMS OPERA HOUSES: OPERAS INCREASED THE NEED FOR ORCHESTRA ACCOMMODATIONS IN FRONT OF THE STAGE, WHICH DISTANCED THE AUDIENCE FROM THE PERFORMERS ON STAGE & COMPOUNDED PROBLEMS OF ACOUSTICAL BALANCE & CLEAR RECEPTION. BAROQUE OPERA HOUSES

HISTORY OF ACOUSTICS OPERA HOUSES: INTRODUCTION SCIENTIFIC DEVELOPMENTS ACOUSTICAL APPLICATIONS GREEK THEATERS ROMAN THEATERS MEDIEVAL CATHEDRALS BAROQUE THEATERS & OPERA HOUSES ROCOCO TOWNHOUSES MODERN AUDITORIUMS OPERA HOUSES: AUDIENCE ARRANGEMENTS CHANGED FROM EARLY CLASSICAL SEMI-ELLIPSE TO A U-SHAPE. THE FRONT OF THE AUDITORIUM ENCLOSED THE FORESTAGE, ENABLING ACTORS OR SINGERS TO USE THE AUDITORIUM CEILING AS A SOUND REFLECTING SURFACE. BAROQUE OPERA HOUSES

HISTORY OF ACOUSTICS OPERA HOUSES: INTRODUCTION SCIENTIFIC DEVELOPMENTS ACOUSTICAL APPLICATIONS GREEK THEATERS ROMAN THEATERS MEDIEVAL CATHEDRALS BAROQUE THEATERS & OPERA HOUSES ROCOCO TOWNHOUSES MODERN AUDITORIUMS OPERA HOUSES: MULTIPLE BALCONIES WERE USED AS A SOLUTION TO PROBLEMS OF SCALE. STACKED BALCONIES AND THE AUDIENCE ABSORBED HIGH- AND MID-FREQUENCY SOUND. WOOD PANELING WAS USED TO ABSORB LOW-FREQUENCY SOUND. BAROQUE OPERA HOUSES

HISTORY OF ACOUSTICS ROCOCO TOWNHOUSES: INTRODUCTION SCIENTIFIC DEVELOPMENTS ACOUSTICAL APPLICATIONS GREEK THEATERS ROMAN THEATERS MEDIEVAL CATHEDRALS BAROQUE THEATERS & OPERA HOUSES ROCOCO TOWNHOUSES MODERN AUDITORIUMS ROCOCO TOWNHOUSES: ROOMS WERE SPECIFICALLY DESIGN TO CREATE VARYING ACOUSTICAL PROPERTIES. ROCOCO TOWNHOUSES

HISTORY OF ACOUSTICS MARBLE ENTRANCE HALL: INTRODUCTION SCIENTIFIC DEVELOPMENTS ACOUSTICAL APPLICATIONS GREEK THEATERS ROMAN THEATERS MEDIEVAL CATHEDRALS BAROQUE THEATERS & OPERA HOUSES ROCOCO TOWNHOUSES MODERN AUDITORIUMS MARBLE ENTRANCE HALL: RESOUNDED WITH THE RATTLE OF SIDEARMS AND THE CLATTER OF HIGH HEELS AS VISITORS WALKED ACROSS THE STONE FLOOR. ROCOCO TOWNHOUSES

HISTORY OF ACOUSTICS LARGE DINING HALL: INTRODUCTION SCIENTIFIC DEVELOPMENTS ACOUSTICAL APPLICATIONS GREEK THEATERS ROMAN THEATERS MEDIEVAL CATHEDRALS BAROQUE THEATERS & OPERA HOUSES ROCOCO TOWNHOUSES MODERN AUDITORIUMS LARGE DINING HALL: ACOUSTICALLY ADAPTED FOR TABLE MUSIC. ROCOCO TOWNHOUSES

HISTORY OF ACOUSTICS INTRODUCTION SCIENTIFIC DEVELOPMENTS ACOUSTICAL APPLICATIONS GREEK THEATERS ROMAN THEATERS MEDIEVAL CATHEDRALS BAROQUE THEATERS & OPERA HOUSES ROCOCO TOWNHOUSES MODERN AUDITORIUMS SALON: WITH DAMASK-PANELED WALLS WHICH ABSORBED SOUND AND SHORTENED REVERBERATION TIME, AND WOODEN DADOES WHICH GAVE THE RIGHT RESONANCE FOR CHAMBER MUSIC.

HISTORY OF ACOUSTICS SMALLER ROOMS: INTRODUCTION SCIENTIFIC DEVELOPMENTS ACOUSTICAL APPLICATIONS GREEK THEATERS ROMAN THEATERS MEDIEVAL CATHEDRALS BAROQUE THEATERS & OPERA HOUSES ROCOCO TOWNHOUSES MODERN AUDITORIUMS SMALLER ROOMS: DESIGNED FOR THE MORE FRAGILE TONES OF A SPINET. ROCOCO TOWNHOUSES

HISTORY OF ACOUSTICS BOUDOIR: INTRODUCTION SCIENTIFIC DEVELOPMENTS ACOUSTICAL APPLICATIONS GREEK THEATERS ROMAN THEATERS MEDIEVAL CATHEDRALS BAROQUE THEATERS & OPERA HOUSES ROCOCO TOWNHOUSES MODERN AUDITORIUMS BOUDOIR: DESIGNED WITH SOUND ABSORBING SURFACES WHICH LOWERED REVERBERATION TIME. SUITED TO INTIMATE CONVERSATION. ROCOCO TOWNHOUSES

HISTORY OF ACOUSTICS MODERN AUDITORIUMS: INTRODUCTION SCIENTIFIC DEVELOPMENTS ACOUSTICAL APPLICATIONS GREEK THEATERS ROMAN THEATERS MEDIEVAL CATHEDRALS BAROQUE THEATERS & OPERA HOUSES ROCOCO TOWNHOUSES MODERN AUDITORIUMS MODERN AUDITORIUMS: SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE NOW EXISTS TO ALLOW ACOUSTICAL DESIGN FOR A PARTICULAR USE. FOR COMMERCIAL REASONS SINGLE USE FACILITIES ARE RARELY BUILT. MODERN AUDITORIUMS

HISTORY OF ACOUSTICS INTRODUCTION SCIENTIFIC DEVELOPMENTS ACOUSTICAL APPLICATIONS GREEK THEATERS ROMAN THEATERS MEDIEVAL CATHEDRALS BAROQUE THEATERS & OPERA HOUSES ROCOCO TOWNHOUSES MODERN AUDITORIUMS COMPROMISES THAT MULTI-USE CAN ENTAIL HAS LED TO ACOUSTIC PROBLEMS JUST A DRAMATIC AS THOSE EXPERIENCED IN PAST CENTURIES.

HISTORY OF ACOUSTICS MODERN AUDITORIUMS: INTRODUCTION SCIENTIFIC DEVELOPMENTS ACOUSTICAL APPLICATIONS GREEK THEATERS ROMAN THEATERS MEDIEVAL CATHEDRALS BAROQUE THEATERS & OPERA HOUSES ROCOCO TOWNHOUSES MODERN AUDITORIUMS MODERN AUDITORIUMS: SOCIAL HIERARCHY OF DEMOCRACY REQUIRES GOOD STANDARDS OF SIGHT & SOUND THROUGHOUT THE AUDITORIUM. MODERN AUDITORIUMS