Abstract
The relation between choir size and choir dynamics
The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, Vol.143(3), pp.1842-1842
03/2018
DOI: 10.1121/1.5036046
Abstract
If six distinct levels of choir dynamics ( pp p mp mf f ff ) are to be achieved over two octaves of fundamental frequency in a choir section, how distinct are these levels? The just noticeable difference for sound level in a free field environment is 1-2 dB, while a doubling of loudness requires a 10 phon increase (10 dB SL increase at 1000 Hz). Most singers cannot double their vocal loudness 5 times. Generally the dynamic levels are 3–6 dB apart, depending on the individual voice range profiles of the singers. Overall choir size has no effect on dynamic range, unless the size is varied dynamically by not all singers singing all the time. A few loud voices dominate ff if everyone sings. To achieve an effective choir pp, only a few voices who can sustain very soft notes should sing. The dynamic range can be significantly limited when choral blend for loudness is imposed on a non-homogeneous group of singers.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- The relation between choir size and choir dynamics
- Creators
- Ingo R. Titze - University of UtahLynn M. Maxfield - University of Utah
- Resource Type
- Abstract
- Publication Details
- The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, Vol.143(3), pp.1842-1842
- DOI
- 10.1121/1.5036046
- ISSN
- 0001-4966
- eISSN
- 1520-8524
- Number of pages
- 1
- Date published
- 03/2018
- Academic Unit
- School of Music; Communication Sciences and Disorders
- Record Identifier
- 9984719563302771
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