Measurement of attack sequences of musicians playing in ensemble
Edward L. Harkness · The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America · 1978
The paper will describe methods of measuring attack sequences of from 2 to 24 instrumentalists “attacking” at the same “instant.” In separating the attack sequences (a) of 2 or 3 instrumentalists, one-third octave filters were used; (b) of 12 instrumentalists, 1% bandwidth filters were used; and (c) of 24 instrumentalists, 3-Hz bandwidth filters were used. Separation of attack sequences was possible only by the instrumentalists playing notes within a spread of less than one octave. To separate the attack sequences of 12 instrumentalists, full tones and half tones were played. To separate the attack sequences of 24 instrumentalists, full tones, half tones, and quarter-tones were played; fixed pitch instruments played full tones and half tones, and stringed instruments played quarter-tones. The measured attack sequences were compared to each of the performer's subjective judgments of his or her accuracy of attack, and also compared to the conductor's assessment of the orchestra's cleanness of attack. In addition, the cleanness of attack was assessed by the orchestra listening to a recording of its own performance.