The Physics of the Violin

By Lothar Cremer

This major work covers almost all that has been learned about the acoustics ofstringed instruments from Helmholtz's 19th-century theoretical elaborations to recentelectroacoustic and holographic measurements.Many of the results presented here were uncovered bythe author himself (and by his associates and students) over a 20-year period of research on thephysics of instruments in the violin family. Lothar Cremer is one of the world's most respectedauthorities on architectural acoustics and, not incidentally, an avid avocational violinist andviolist.The book - which was published in German in 1981 - first of all meets the rigorous technicalstandards of specialists in musical acoustics. But it also serves the needs and interests of twobroader groups: makers and players of stringed instruments are expressly addressed, since theimplications of the mathematical formulations are fully outlined and explained; and acousticians ingeneral will find that the work represents a textbook illustration of the application of fundamentalprinciples and up-to-date techniques to a specific problem.The first - and longest - of the book'sthree parts investigates the oscillatory responses of bowed (and plucked) strings. The naturalnonlinearities that derive from considerations of string torsion and bending stiffness are deftlyhandled and concisely modeled.The second part deals with the body of the instrument. Specialattention is given to the bridge, which transmits the oscillations of the strings to the wooden bodyand its air cavity. In this case, linear modeling proves serviceable for the most part - asimplification that would not be possible with lute - like instruments such as the guitar.Theradiation of sound from the body into the listener's space, which is treated as an extension of theinstrument itself, is the subject of the book's final part.Lothar Cremer is Professor Emeritus atthe Technical University of Berlin, where he served as director of the Institute for AcousticalEngineering.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0262031027
• ISBN13: 9780262031028
• Release Date: November 1984
• Publisher: Mit Pr
• Length: 474 Pages
• Weight: 2.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.5" x 1.3" x 6.5"

Customer Reviews

An Acoustic Algorithm

An erudite exploration into the scientific measurements and resonant elements that "languages" the soul-speak of this beloved instrument. This study is an unapologetic assessment of the physical body of the instrument without compromising it's romantic aura. The mystique and speculation have continued unabated for centuries in regard to the violin. From spectrographic analysis of the wood fibers to the placement of the sound holes the violin is the most continually explored man-made phenomenon extant. While not a resolution to this age-old dichotomy it does lend credible expert witness to the violin's mathmatical/tonal relationship. If you desire to understand the subtle nuances of the violin's character whilst maintaining an objective appreciation this is your book. Whether you're a luthier at the bench, playing "first chair" at the philharmonic or a reader in a recliner, this is a treasure trove you're sure to enjoy. Truly one of a kind!