Klarinet Archive - Posting 001282.txt from 1999/05

From: "Dee D. Hays" <deehays@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Even Partials (was Bradley's Question)
Date: Thu, 27 May 1999 21:08:49 -0400

I must take issue with your statements as they are completely at odds with
the article that I remember reading. For starters if the even partials were
that strong, the clarinet would sound more like an oboe as that is a very
significant element in what makes an oboe sound like an oboe.

Also if the even partials were this strong, the earliest spectrum analyzers
(used in acoustic research on oboes and flutes) would have picked them up
and they did NOT. These early attempts incorrectly "confirmed" the
hypothesis that the clarinet sound did not contain even partials while oboes
and flutes did.

Secondly the 4th line D is NOT the 1st partial. All the clarion notes are
the 3rd partial of the fundamental chalumeau note (for clarion D, the
fundamental is the low G). The chalumeau is counted as the first partial.
So you need to play the chalumeau and measure the partials from there.

Dee Hays
Canton, SD

-----Original Message-----
From: James Pyne <jpyne@-----.edu>
Date: Wednesday, May 26, 1999 8:47 PM
Subject: [kl] Even Partials (was Bradley's Question)

>Dee Hays wrote:
>
>>I did see an article on this but unfortunately can't remember where. The
>>gist of it was that it is only in recent years that the spectrum analyzers
>>have been good enough to indicate that even number partials are present.
>>They are very, very weak and so for the practical purposes of playing they
>>can be considered non-existent.
>
>>Dee Hays
>>Canton, SD
>
>The even partials (2,4,6...) are abundantly present in the spectra of
>clarinet tones. They are physically measurable in the air borne sound and
>do not exist as a function of non-linearity in the hearing mechanism, as is
>thought to be the case with difference tones.
>
>I'm looking a computer FFT visualization of a clarinet tone now, using
>hi-level scientific measurement software on Macintosh. I will read out the
>values of the harmonics (partials) below.
>
>Performer - Clarinetist from the Toronto Symphony (Bb soprano clarinet)
>
>Performed tone is - written 4th line D - sounding C5
>
>partial 1 - 523Hz - 90 dBVrms
>
>partial 2 - 1046Hz - 75 dBVrms
>
>partial 3 - 1569Hz - 80 dBVrms
>
>partial 4 - 2092Hz - 62 dBVrms
>
>partial 5 - 2615Hz - 64 dBVrms
>
>partial 6 - 3138Hz - 62 dBVrms
>
>partial 7 - 3661Hz - 55 dBVrms
>
>The clarion and altissimo registers have powerful even partials. In some
>cases showing peaks higher than their odd numbered neighbors. The chalumeau
>register (especially low chalumeau) shows more suppression (not
>elimination) of even partials, especially partial 2 and to a lesser degree
>4 and 6. However, as we certainly know, the clarinet will not cooperate in
>overblowing at the frequencies of these even partials.
>
>---Jim Pyne
>
>
>
>James Pyne, professor
>Clarinet Studio/Research Group
>School of Music
>The Ohio State University
>1866 College Road
>Columbus, Ohio 43210
>pyne.1@-----.edu
>Tel: 614 292 8969
>Fax: 614 292 1102
>http://www.arts.ohio-state.edu/Music/Clarfest
>
>
>
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