Energy conserving schemes for the simulation of musical instrument contact dynamics

Collisions are an innate part of the function of many musical instruments. Due to the nonlinear nature of contact forces, special care has to be taken in the construction of numerical schemes for simulation and sound synthesis. Finite difference schemes and other time-stepping algorithms used for musical instrument modelling purposes are normally arrived at by discretising a Newtonian description of the system. However because impact forces are non-analytic functions of the phase space variables, algorithm stability can rarely be established this way. This paper presents a systematic approach to deriving energy conserving schemes for frictionless impact modelling. The proposed numerical formulations follow from discretising Hamilton׳s equations of motion, generally leading to an implicit system of nonlinear equations that can be solved with Newton׳s method. The approach is first outlined for point mass collisions and then extended to distributed settings, such as vibrating strings and beams colliding with rigid obstacles. Stability and other relevant properties of the proposed approach are discussed and further demonstrated with simulation examples. The methodology is exemplified through a case study on tanpura string vibration, with the results confirming the main findings of previous studies on the role of the bridge in sound generation with this type of string instrument.

Language Experience Affects Grouping of Musical Instrument Sounds

Language experience clearly affects the perception of speech, but little is known about whether these differences in perception extend to non-speech sounds. In this study, we investigated rhythmic perception of non-linguistic sounds in speakers of French and German using a grouping task, in which complexity (variability in sounds, presence of pauses) was manipulated. In this task, participants grouped sequences of auditory chimeras formed from musical instruments. These chimeras mimic the complexity of speech without being speech. We found that, while showing the same overall grouping preferences, the German speakers showed stronger biases than the French speakers in grouping complex sequences. Sound variability reduced all participants' biases, resulting in the French group showing no grouping preference for the most variable sequences, though this reduction was attenuated by musical experience. In sum, this study demonstrates that linguistic experience, musical experience, and complexity affect rhythmic grouping of non-linguistic sounds and suggests that experience with acoustic cues in a meaningful context (language or music) is necessary for developing a robust grouping preference that survives acoustic variability.

Who gets to play? Investigating equity in musical instrument instruction in Scottish primary schools

There is a widely held view that learning to play a musical instrument is a valuable experience for all children in terms of their personal growth and development. Although there is no statutory obligation for instrumental music provision in Scottish primary schools, there are well-established Instrumental Music Services in Local Education Authorities that have been developed to provide this facility for pupils. This article presents the findings of a study that was aimed at investigating the extent to which the opportunity to undertake instrumental instruction in Scottish primary schools is equitable. The study employed a mixed-methods approach. Data were gathered from 21 Scottish primary schools, a total pupil population of 5122 pupils of whom 323 pupils were receiving instrumental instruction. The analysis involved an investigation of the academic profile of this group, the representation of children with additional support needs (ASN) and the nature of their ASN. A qualitative analysis of policy and guideline documents and interviews with Heads of Instrumental Services, headteachers and instrumental instructors served to explain and illuminate the quantitative data. The findings showed that particular groups of children with ASN were significantly under-represented and offer explanations of the processes by which this occurs.

The Organ

"A quarterly review for its makers, its players and its lovers

Art of organ playing : practical course of instruction in organ playing /

"An abridged edition."

The organ : writings and other utterances on its structure, history, procural, capabilities, etc. ; with criticisms, and depositories; preceded by an analytical consideration of general bibliographical and catalogual construction /

Imprint covered by label: London : W. Reeves Bookseller.

Master-studies for the organ; a set of studies for acquiring individuality of style, and independence of movement between the hands and feet.

Mode of access: Internet.

Organ-stops and their artistic registration; names, forms, construction, tonalities, and offices in scientific combination,

Mode of access: Internet.

Organs and tuning, a practical handbook for organists; being a treatise on the construction, mechanism, tuning, and care of the instrument,

Mode of access: Internet.

Remarks on the state of the art of organ-building, past and present

Translated from the German by David Hamilton.

Die neue Orgel in der katholischen Pfarrkirche zu Kempen am Niederrhein, erbaut von Fr. W. Sonreck, Orgelbaumeister in Köln : gutachtlicher Bericht mit geschichtlichen Anmerkungen und Erläuterung der neuesten Erfindungen auf dem Gebiete der Orgelbaukunst /

Mode of access: Internet.

Schiarimenti dati ad un amico sopra uno scritto critico-violento : lettera indirizzata all'egregio prof. B.A.G. /

Response to articles in Milan's Gazzetta Musicale regarding a pipe organ commissioned by the Ministry of War.