Abstract
Acoustic conditions in a symphony orchestra on a concert hall stage are very different from those on an empty stage. Since inter-orchestral sound transmission and other acoustic conditions with the orchestra present is easier to simulate than to measure, a method for simulations in Odeon models of orchestras in different rooms was developed by this author. This method was applied in the Grieghallen Renewal Project, which involved changes in concert hall, orchestra pit, and rehearsal hall. The resident orchestra members gave their overall rating of playing conditions in the home venues in addition to a number of international venues. Acoustical conditions in the rated venues were simulated and compared with ratings. Several metrics were investigated, and their correlation with subjective ratings varied between r2 = 0.09 and r2 = 0.85. It turned out the orchestra clearly preferred to play in conditions where the direct component and the reverberant component of the inter-orchestral sound-transmission on average were equally strong; |D-R| = 0. Any deviation from equality was associated with reduced preference, with correlation coefficient r = −0.92. Several interesting implications and interpretations of the result are discussed in the paper.
Highlights
This paper presents a method in which acoustical simulations in 3-D models is used to investigate objective differences that could explain a symphony orchestra’s varying preference for different venues
One of the advantages with a 3-D model is that it offers acoustical data with the orchestra present and that any findings can be used in the evaluation of venues that are not yet built, offering support in the design phase
In search for room acoustical properties that could explain why some of the venues are better liked or less liked by the orchestra members, simulations were performed in 3-D models of each of the 8 venues
Summary
This paper presents a method in which acoustical simulations in 3-D models is used to investigate objective differences that could explain a symphony orchestra’s varying preference for different venues. One of the advantages with a 3-D model is that it offers acoustical data with the orchestra present and that any findings can be used in the evaluation of venues that are not yet built, offering support in the design phase
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