Roman bells and Avar pellet bells cast in copper alloys : the materials' influence on acoustic and psychoacoustic

Abstract

76 Roman bells and 91 pellet bells from the Early Medieval Avar and Carolingian periods from Austria, Hungary, and Slovakia cast in various copper alloys were investigated. They were classified into archaeological types and chemical analyses were carried out to get knowledge about their alloys' compositions. Since the material, among other parameters, influences timbre and sound perception, one Roman bell and one Avar pellet bell were reproduced in six different copper alloys, to examine the influence of the materials. Additionally, six bars were cast, and five plates were forged. All objects were recorded and analysed (psycho-)acoustically for a multitude of parameters to find out which are rather influenced by material and which are mainly altered by other parameters, such as shape or weight.