Abstract

Among the studies of musical instruments, one important, sometime underestimated discipline, is represented by ethnomusicology. The acoustic analyses on ethnic musical instruments (M.I.) are much more infrequent if compared to those on classical M.I. This article deals with the vibro-acoustic analysis on one of the most unknown ethnic, Italian M.I., i.e., the carabattola (also called battola), which used to be played in Italy until the late 1960s during the Holy Thursday before Easter. The study includes modal analysis and Intensity of Acoustic Radiation measured on an original carabattola, which was played in the Romagna area until the early twentieth century. After a brief overview about the theory of acoustic and vibrational analysis on musical instruments, the Intensity of acoustic radiation and its correlation with modal analysis are recalled, based on previous studies. In the experimental part of the article, the measurements conducted on the carabattola are described. Afterwards, the results obtained both from modal analysis and IAR measurements are analyzed and compared with other measurements previously conducted on musical (particularly percussion) instruments and commented.

Highlights

  • The physics of musical instruments represents one of the most intriguing field of acoustics, especially for those scientists that are normally involved in the preservation of cultural heritage

  • There are different techniques to study the vibro-acoustical behavior of musical instruments; between them, modal analysis and acoustic radiation are usually used

  • The carabattola is an almost unknown idiophone musical instrument that used to be played only during Holy Week in Mediterranean Europe. Few examples of this musical instrument are conserved in Italy, and no acoustic analyses are available for it

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Summary

Introduction

The physics of musical instruments represents one of the most intriguing field of acoustics, especially for those scientists that are normally involved in the preservation of cultural heritage. There are different techniques to study the vibro-acoustical behavior of musical instruments; between them, modal analysis and acoustic radiation are usually used. A few studies have analyzed other musical instruments [5]. This was due to the request of knowledge of the sound characteristics of those instruments from lutherie, industrial manufactory companies, researchers, curators, collectors, museums, historians, musicians, theatre companies and all parties involved with preservation and restoration of those important, valuable objects. One more reason for studying the sound characteristics of musical instruments from the physical perspective is the emulation of their sound characteristics [6]

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