Klarinet Archive - Posting 000166.txt from 2004/11

From: Adam Michlin <amichlin@-----.com>
Subj: RE: [kl] Balance
Date: Thu, 4 Nov 2004 19:32:48 -0500

At 04:37 PM 11/4/2004 -0600, Tom.Henson@-----.com wrote:
>There is a very scientific explanation to an Eb being heard over the
>trumpets.
>
>Ernest Ferron explains in his book "The Clarinet Revealed" that the human
>ear has a pass filter which favors sound in the frequency range from 500Hz
>to 5,000Hz. The ear will tend to hear in this range and it will sound louder
>to the listener than sound produced in a lower or higher sound frequency
>even if the decibel level is the same. He specifically used this explanation
>for the sound of the Piccolo and why it is so easy to hear it above an
>orchestra. I would imagine that this would also apply to an Eb clarinet in
>the upper register.

I can just see it now:

Conductor: "Eb Clarinet Player, you're playing too loud."

Eb Clarinet Player: "Actually, the human ear has a pass filter which favors
sound in the frequency range from 500Hz to 5,000Hz, so you're only
*perceiving* me as being louder than the other instruments when in fact I'm
playing at exactly the same volume as everyone else."

I've known players to say things like this (well, not quite *this* bad),
they didn't last long.

In all seriousness, I do find the above very interesting. It does seem to
explain the human tendency to perceive high notes as being louder.

-Adam

PS: I always felt the trick to playing Eb was to realize there are only two
dynamics: Soft and softer. What a rare and wonderful day it is for a
conductor to have to say "Eb Clarinet Player, could you please play a
little louder?".

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