Fundamentals of Musical Acoustics is a landmark book in its field,
hailed for its astonishingly clear, delightfully readable statement of
everything of acoustical importance to music-making. Though directed
primarily to the music student who is taking an acoustics course, it is
essential reading for all musicians, music lovers, and audiophiles eager
to expand their musical horizons.
The book deals extensively with the fundamental modes of sound
production and with the special sound-producing properties of the
musical instruments in common use today -- keyboard, string, brass,
woodwind, and percussion -- as well as the human voice. It further
explores the critical roles played by the room and by the hearer's
auditory apparatus. The basis of scales and harmony and the craft of
instrument makers are also discussed in this masterly text, which
includes numerous illustrations, bibliographical information, and a
stimulating section of "Examples, Experiments, and Questions" at the end
of each chapter. After the original publication of this book, Dr. Benade
maintained a detailed set of corrections and revisions that have been
incorporated into this second, revised edition.
"Comprehensive . . . rigorous . . . well-organized . . . will surely be
the text of choice." -- *American Scientist
*"A remarkable achievement . . . a book on musical acoustics by an
acknowledged master of the subject which guides the reader through all
the most subtle intricacies of every important family of Western musical
instruments with virtually no mathematics . . . Arthur Benade, a
professor at Case Western Reserve, has set forth a vast knowledge of
musical acoustics so clearly that you can read his book as you would a
novel." -- *The Audio Amateur
"Every chapter contains material not previously covered in books
written on musical acoustics." -- John T. Scott, Physics Today
*"Recommended for music lovers and audiophiles who want to know more
about the physics of musical sounds." -- Stereo Review
