Design and analysis of a modified kantele with increased loudness
The kantele, an ancient plucked string instrument, belongs to the family of zithers, and it is still used in traditional folk music in Finland, Northwest Russia, and the Baltic countries. Design rules for making the kantele louder are proposed and confirming analysis results are presented. A descrip...
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ftalborgunivpubl:oai:pure.atira.dk:publications/9f2d7742-cea8-4b30-9012-4a93a51b12d8 2023-05-15T17:46:06+02:00 Design and analysis of a modified kantele with increased loudness Penttinen, Henri Erkut, Cumhur Pölkki, Jyrki Välimäki, Vesa Karjalainen, Matti 2005-03-01 https://vbn.aau.dk/da/publications/9f2d7742-cea8-4b30-9012-4a93a51b12d8 http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=17044366248&partnerID=8YFLogxK eng eng info:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccess Penttinen , H , Erkut , C , Pölkki , J , Välimäki , V & Karjalainen , M 2005 , ' Design and analysis of a modified kantele with increased loudness ' , Acta Acustica united with Acustica , vol. 91 , no. 2 , pp. 261-268 . article 2005 ftalborgunivpubl 2023-01-12T22:46:03Z The kantele, an ancient plucked string instrument, belongs to the family of zithers, and it is still used in traditional folk music in Finland, Northwest Russia, and the Baltic countries. Design rules for making the kantele louder are proposed and confirming analysis results are presented. A description of the main characteristics of the traditional design of the kantele is given, so that it supports the presentation of the design rules and analysis results. The design rules to make a plucked string instrument louder are (I) increase the string tension, (II) increase the radiation surface, and (III) isolate the top plate from the sound-box with an air gap. Rules (I) and (II) are almost self evident, for musical acousticians. Rule (III) on the other hand is more unique, since it enables a freely vibrating top plate. The design rules are confirmed by comparing the traditional design with the new one, through several methodological aspects. Results from the analysis are drawn from both analytical treatments and acoustical measurements. The effect that the new design has on the instrument's dynamic range and perception is investigated through a payability test with several professional kantele players. Results from two listening tests are presented that support the assumption of an increase in loudness for the new kantele design. Loud plucks of the modified design are, on the average, perceived as 3 dB louder than in the traditional design. The design ideas are also applicable to other string instruments. Article in Journal/Newspaper Northwest Russia Aalborg University's Research Portal |
institution |
Open Polar |
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Aalborg University's Research Portal |
op_collection_id |
ftalborgunivpubl |
language |
English |
description |
The kantele, an ancient plucked string instrument, belongs to the family of zithers, and it is still used in traditional folk music in Finland, Northwest Russia, and the Baltic countries. Design rules for making the kantele louder are proposed and confirming analysis results are presented. A description of the main characteristics of the traditional design of the kantele is given, so that it supports the presentation of the design rules and analysis results. The design rules to make a plucked string instrument louder are (I) increase the string tension, (II) increase the radiation surface, and (III) isolate the top plate from the sound-box with an air gap. Rules (I) and (II) are almost self evident, for musical acousticians. Rule (III) on the other hand is more unique, since it enables a freely vibrating top plate. The design rules are confirmed by comparing the traditional design with the new one, through several methodological aspects. Results from the analysis are drawn from both analytical treatments and acoustical measurements. The effect that the new design has on the instrument's dynamic range and perception is investigated through a payability test with several professional kantele players. Results from two listening tests are presented that support the assumption of an increase in loudness for the new kantele design. Loud plucks of the modified design are, on the average, perceived as 3 dB louder than in the traditional design. The design ideas are also applicable to other string instruments. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Penttinen, Henri Erkut, Cumhur Pölkki, Jyrki Välimäki, Vesa Karjalainen, Matti |
spellingShingle |
Penttinen, Henri Erkut, Cumhur Pölkki, Jyrki Välimäki, Vesa Karjalainen, Matti Design and analysis of a modified kantele with increased loudness |
author_facet |
Penttinen, Henri Erkut, Cumhur Pölkki, Jyrki Välimäki, Vesa Karjalainen, Matti |
author_sort |
Penttinen, Henri |
title |
Design and analysis of a modified kantele with increased loudness |
title_short |
Design and analysis of a modified kantele with increased loudness |
title_full |
Design and analysis of a modified kantele with increased loudness |
title_fullStr |
Design and analysis of a modified kantele with increased loudness |
title_full_unstemmed |
Design and analysis of a modified kantele with increased loudness |
title_sort |
design and analysis of a modified kantele with increased loudness |
publishDate |
2005 |
url |
https://vbn.aau.dk/da/publications/9f2d7742-cea8-4b30-9012-4a93a51b12d8 http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=17044366248&partnerID=8YFLogxK |
genre |
Northwest Russia |
genre_facet |
Northwest Russia |
op_source |
Penttinen , H , Erkut , C , Pölkki , J , Välimäki , V & Karjalainen , M 2005 , ' Design and analysis of a modified kantele with increased loudness ' , Acta Acustica united with Acustica , vol. 91 , no. 2 , pp. 261-268 . |
op_rights |
info:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccess |
_version_ |
1766149453131022336 |