Analysis of performed transitions in orchestral instruments
John M. Strewn · The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America · 1985
The region between performed notes was examined in nine instruments (flute, bass flute, piccolo, clarinet, oboe, bassoon, trumpet, violin, and cello). On each instrument, eight intervals (2nd, 3rd, 5th, 7th, ascending, and descending) and two playing styles (tongued/untongued, bow change/no bow change) were digitally recorded. Using a computer, the recordings were analyzed for time-varying power and time-varying spectrum (phase vocoder). Analysis of as many as five recordings of a given interval and playing style showed that the performer could easily replicate a given transition, so the recordings were judged as representative. In the tongued (bow change) case, the notes were farther apart, the amplitude dip between the notes (except in the cello) was greater, and spectral changes were more extensive than in the nontongued (no bow change) case. This pattern was not significantly influenced by variation in the size of the interval, the direction of the interval, or the instrument performing. [Work performed at CCRMA, Standord University, and supported by SDF.]