A platform for performance: Making the case for an improved cello podium
David J. Tagg · The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America · 2017
Stringed instruments such as the cello have been evaluated extensively from structural and acoustical perspectives, but the riser on which a cello sits within the context of a concerto performance has been long overlooked. Being that the podium is traditionally some variation of a hollow box, this riser or “podium” in some regard becomes part of the instrument and can play a productive or even counterproductive role in its acoustic projection. While a cellist’s performance is understood to be enriched and enhanced by this piece of furniture, no one has completed a significant study examining the physics, dimensions, or capabilities of an ideally constructed cello podium. This first installment in a two-part study investigates the mechanical interaction between the musician, instrument, and supporting surface, measuring useful or harmful energy transmitted through the legs of the chair, the musician’s feet, and most importantly the endpin of the instrument.