Music

Identify and discuss the 3 main acoustically important construction features of an acoustic guitar which are necessary for the instrument to produce a good sound.[6]

Describe the motion of a string when bowed. Your answer should include how the timbre and frequency of the produced sound is altered by the bowingposition.[7]

Discuss in detail the temporal evolution of a note played on a musical instrument.[7]

Explain how ideas about consonance and dissonance in Western music havechanged over time.[4]

Explain what is meant by the term “musical pitch”.[5] Discuss in detail what is meant by the term “timbre”. [10]

Describe in detail the human hearing system. Your answer should clearly explain the purpose and functionality of each of the three main parts of the ear.[15]

(d)According to theory, two waves with exactly the same amplitude and frequency can either reinforce (if they are in phase) or cancel (if 180° out of phase). However, when two musical instruments play the same note, it is always louder, and never softer. Discuss in detail why this is the case.

4Q5(a)Describe three different classification systems for musical instruments.[3] (b)Describe how notes are produced on a single reed woodwind instrument.[7] (c)Describe how oscillation occurs in a brass instrument.[7]

(d)With the aid of a diagram, show how a pure tone alters the threshold of hearing, masking a band of noise.

(b)If two sound sources independently cause sound levels of 50 and 52 dB SPL ata certain point, determine the sound levelat that point when both sources contribute at the same time. [4]