ODESSA IV: New orchestra recordings – measurements – systematic analysis
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ODESSA IV:
New orchestra recordings – measurements – systematic analysis
Malte Kob (Detmold University of Music) [PI] with Martha de Francisco (McGill University), Caroline Traube (Université de Montréal), Jean-François Rivest (Université de Montréal), and Michael Sandner (Detmold University of Music).
Aim:
Recording a string ensemble which plays certain musical excerpts composed by project members for a blended sound impression under the ODESSA framework, and analyzing the resulting ensemble sound by introducing variations in room acoustic parameters. This would be followed by an analysis and comparison of the acoustic measurements and string orchestra recordings from the current and previous ODESSA recordings to understand the artistic and acoustic aspects involved in musical blending in an ensemble performance.
Description:
The impression of ensemble sound and blending between musical instruments is an important feature relevant in music composition, orchestration, stage acoustics adaption, etc. In order to better understand ‘Ensemble sound’ and the impression of blending of sound sources, an initial stage investigation has been carried out in the ODESSA project by conducting three orchestral recordings using string orchestras. But due to the complexity of the influencing variables of the ensemble sound, more dedicated recordings and measurements of ensembles in controlled acoustic conditions are required for a proper scientific analysis.
This project aims to perform recordings and acoustic measurements with a string ensemble (9 to 12 violins) as a 4th ODESSA recording session. Recent research in the frame of the Ph.D. of Actor student Jithin Thilakan revealed that different musical phrases/playing styles would give rise to a different impression of blending between the instruments. Hence a small number of musical excerpts would be selected or composed by Tonmeisters and artist members of ACTOR for the planned string ensemble recording, and the influence of all factors that contributes to the blending of resulting sound would be analyzed in both musical and acoustical aspects. Also, the effect of the acoustic environment on the resulting sound impression as well as on the musicians and their performance will be investigated using a controlled room acoustic and seating variations.
The second part of the project aims at systematically analyzing the acoustic measurements and string orchestra recordings from the four ODESSA recordings that includes recordings from different kinds of microphone setups and binaural heads, and the measurements from the acoustic camera, intensity probe, RIR, STIPA, and SDM, etc, to understand the artistic and acoustic aspects involved in musical blending.
See also: ODESSA IV Composition Competition