Abstract
The timbres of string and woodwind families were investigated by measuring sharpness and loudness over a 2-octave range and between individual performers. Sharpness is defined as a frequency-dependent weighting of the loudness-critical band rate pattern. It is promising for timbre perception research because it addresses the most salient timbral dimension. Digital recordings were collected with performers 4 m from the microphone in a music rehearsal hall. Performers played diatonic scales at two extreme musical dynamic levels, pianissimo and fortissimo. Across all families, sharpness increases with playing frequencies and with dynamic level, and lies between 0.5–2.0 acums. Loudness variance is larger than sharpness variance. Overlap in sharpness is greatest at the pianissimo levels with the exception of the double reeds. The string family smoothly changes in sharpness across the entire playing range at both musical dynamics levels. The clarinet family has less overlap at the fortissimo level and a slight increase in sharpness for lower pitches. Double reeds exhibit the greatest variance in sharpness. Performer-specific variations are evident, but the general trends in sharpness remain the same.
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