Klarinet Archive - Posting 000142.txt from 1996/06

From: "James M. Pyne" <jpyne@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: clarinet sound level
Date: Mon, 10 Jun 1996 23:00:50 -0400

> Hello: I am a chemist and amateur clarinet player who has been reading
> this list for the past few months. Would anyone know the reasonable
> maximum volume that a Bb clarinet player should be able to produce?
>
> I have been playing alto sax and clarinet with a jazz band where our
> instruments are miked during a performance. Recently I started
> playing clarinet with a woodwind quintet (without amplification) and
> have been asked to play louder. I am particularly interested in
> knowing the maximum volume that one should be able to produce in the
> throat tones.
>
> I have access to a sound level meter for measuring the volume at a
> fixed distance from the clarinet. Would anyone have any suggestions
> on the proper method for taking these measurements?
--------------------------------------------------

This is in response to Dan Kennedy.

The dynamic range of the clarinet is very wide - as soft as 35dB (around
the normal noise level in a room) and as loud as 90dB. Measuring exactly
what loudness is being perceived by the listener is complicated because
quality of tone (how the harmonics are distributed within the spectrum) is
important as well as the absolute dB level. Directivity also plays a part
in that all frequencies produced by the clarinet do not radiate from the
instrument in the same way.

I highly recommend Jurgen Meyer's ACOUSTICS AND THE PERFORMANCE OF MUSIC
for information on this.

Jim Pyne
The Ohio State University School of Music
Clarinet Studio/Research Group

   
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