User:John R. Brews/Fourier series: Difference between revisions

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{{Main|Fourier series}}
{{Main|Fourier series}}
{{Image|Instrument spectra (A4-440Hz).png|right|150px|Approximate spectrum of four instruments playing A4: 440 Hz}}
{{Image|Instrument spectra (A4-440Hz).png|right|150px|Approximate spectrum of four instruments playing A4: 440 Hz}}
A musical note is a a periodic function in time and in space, modulated by a sound envelope. That is, the note can be expressed as:
As the remarks of Helmholtz suggest, the sound of a note played upon each instrument is characterized by not only its fundamental tone or frequency, which is the same for all instruments, but by the higher partial tones or harmonics in the note, which are different in amplitude and in phase for each instrument, making them sound different.
 
A musical note is a a periodic function in time and in space, modulated by a sound envelope. That is, the note can be expressed in one spatial dimension as:
:<math>n(x,\ t) = s(x-vt)f(x-vt) \ , </math>
:<math>n(x,\ t) = s(x-vt)f(x-vt) \ , </math>
where ''s'' is the sound envelope that expresses the duration of the note at a fixed location or its extent in space at a fixed time, and ''f'' is a periodic function of its argument:
where ''s'' is the sound envelope that expresses the duration of the note at a fixed location or its extent in space at a fixed time, and ''f'' is a periodic function of its argument:
:<math>f(x+\lambda -vt)=f\left(x-v(t+T)\right) = f(x-vt) \ , </math>
:<math>f(x+\lambda -vt)=f\left(x-v(t+T)\right) = f(x-vt) \ , </math>
with ''&lambda;'' the ''wavelength'' of ''f'' and ''T = &lambda;/v'' the ''period'' of ''f'' and ''v'' the ''speed of propagation'' of ''f'' through space.
with ''&lambda;'' the ''wavelength'' of ''f'' and ''T = &lambda;/v'' the ''period'' of ''f'' and ''v'' the ''speed of propagation'' of ''f'' through space.  
 
A periodic function of a variable &xi; satisfies the relation:
:<math>f(\xi+P)=f(\xi)\ , </math>
where ''P'' is called its period. Fourier's theorem states that any such (real) periodic function can be expressed as a sum of sinusoidal functions with periods related to ''P'' in what is now called a [[Fourier series]]:<ref name=Schaum/>
 
:<math>f(\xi)=a_0 +\sum_1^\infty a_n\cos\left(\frac{2\pi}{P/n}\xi+\varphi_n\right) \ , </math>
a series of cosines with various ''phases'' {&phi;<sub>n</sub>}.
 
If the function is a fixed waveform propagating in time, we may take &xi; as:
:<math>\xi = x-vt \ , </math>
where ''x'' is a position in space, ''v'' is the speed of propagation and ''t'' is the time. The period in space at a fixed instant in time is called the ''wavelength'' &lambda;=''P'', and the period in time at a fixed position in space is called the period ''T''=&lambda;/''v''. Thus,
a function periodic in time with period ''T'' can be expressed as a Fourier series:<ref name=Bakshi/>


:<math>f(t)=a_0 +\sum_1^\infty  a_n \cos \left( n\omega_0t +\varphi_n \right) \ , </math>
The periodic factor in such a wave can be analyzed using a [[Fourier series]] to show it is made up of a summation of sinusoidal waves, each with their own frequency. These frequency components are useful in distinguishing the different characteristics of the same note played upon different instruments, as shown approximately in the figure. The spectrum is altered somewhat by the sound envelope, so the musician has some control over the tone.  
where &omega;<sub>0</sub> = 2&pi;/''T'' is called the fundamental frequency and its multiples 2&omega;<sub>0</sub>, 3&omega;<sub>0</sub>,... are called ''harmonic frequencies'' and the terms cosines are called ''harmonics''. A function ''f(x)'' of spatial period &lambda;, can be synthesized as a sum of harmonic functions whose wavelengths are integral sub-multiples of &lambda; (''i.e.'' &lambda;, &lambda;/2, &lambda;/3, ''etc.''):<ref name=Schaum/>


:<math>f(x)=a_0 +\sum_1^\infty a_n\cos\left(\frac{2\pi}{\lambda/n}x+\varphi_n\right) \ . </math>
Naturally, besides the tone produced by the instrument, the musical experience also depends upon how the ear responds to the tone, and how the tone is modified by the auditorium where it propagates.<ref name= Howard/>
The connection between Fourier series and music is that the periodic function ''f'' decides the characteristic sound of the instrument that differentiates one instrument from another. As the remarks of Helmholtz suggest, the sound of a note played upon each instrument is characterized by not only its fundamental tone or frequency, which is the same for all instruments, but by the higher partial tones or harmonics in the note, which are different in amplitude and in phase for each instrument, making them sound different.


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 10:44, 8 June 2012

Fourier series (music)

(PD) Image: John R. Brews
The amplitude of a musical note varies in time according to its sound envelope.[1]

The ideas of Fourier series have interesting application in music, for example, in illuminating the differences in tone between musical instruments and in the construction of music synthesizers.[2] A laboratory determination of pitch is made by a subject listening to a note and to the tone of a single sinusoidal wave of a variable frequency, and identifying at what frequency the note and the sinusoid sound alike.[3] However, the tone of an instrument is determined only partially by pitch.

The frequency spectrum of a musical instrument playing a particular note varies with the instrument and with the way that it is played. The manner of playing determines the sound envelope of a note, and therefore the amplitude of its harmonics.[1]

Some instruments (like the flute or the violin) exhibit a fundamental frequency and its harmonics in varying amplitudes and phase, and others (like the cymbal or the drum) do not.[2][4]

Helmholtz' theory

A single note is often referred to as a tone, the lowest frequency present as the fundamental or prime partial tone and harmonics of this frequency that appear when a note is played on an instrument as harmonic upper partial tones or upper tones or partial tones. Where only one frequency is present, as with a tuning fork, it is called a simple tone:[5]

It is well known that this union of several simple tones into one compound tone, which is naturally effected in the tones produced by most musical instruments, is artificially imitated on the organ by peculiar mechanical contrivances. The tones of organ-pipes are comparatively poor in upper partials. When it is desirable to use a stop of incisive penetrating quality of tone and great power, the wide pipes (principal register and weithgedackt) are not sufficient; their tone is too soft too defective in upper partials; and the narrow pipes (geigen-register and quintaten) are also unsuitable, because, although more incisive, their tone is weak. For such occasions, then, as in accompanying congregational singing, recourse is had to the compound stops. In these stops every key is connected with a large or smaller series of pipes, which it opens simultaneously, and which give the prime tone and a certain number of the first upper partials of the compound tone of the note in question. Helmholtz, p. 91[5]

These words identify the organ as a form of mechanical rather than electrical music synthesizer. They also lay out the characterization of a musical note by its constituent frequency components, in the same way that a Fourier series expresses a periodic waveform in terms of its harmonic components.

Fourier series

For more information, see: Fourier series.
(PD) Image: John R. Brews
Approximate spectrum of four instruments playing A4: 440 Hz

As the remarks of Helmholtz suggest, the sound of a note played upon each instrument is characterized by not only its fundamental tone or frequency, which is the same for all instruments, but by the higher partial tones or harmonics in the note, which are different in amplitude and in phase for each instrument, making them sound different.

A musical note is a a periodic function in time and in space, modulated by a sound envelope. That is, the note can be expressed in one spatial dimension as:

Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle n(x,\ t) = s(x-vt)f(x-vt) \ , }

where s is the sound envelope that expresses the duration of the note at a fixed location or its extent in space at a fixed time, and f is a periodic function of its argument:

with λ the wavelength of f and T = λ/v the period of f and v the speed of propagation of f through space.

The periodic factor in such a wave can be analyzed using a Fourier series to show it is made up of a summation of sinusoidal waves, each with their own frequency. These frequency components are useful in distinguishing the different characteristics of the same note played upon different instruments, as shown approximately in the figure. The spectrum is altered somewhat by the sound envelope, so the musician has some control over the tone.

Naturally, besides the tone produced by the instrument, the musical experience also depends upon how the ear responds to the tone, and how the tone is modified by the auditorium where it propagates.[6]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Stanley R. Alten (2010). “Sound envelope”, Audio in Media, 12th ed. Cengage Learning, p. 13. ISBN 049557239X. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Leon Gunther (2011). The Physics of Music and Color. Springer, p. 47 ff. ISBN 1461405564. 
  3. ↑ Thomas D. Rossing (2007). Springer Handbook of Acoustics. Springer, p. 477. ISBN 0387304460. 
  4. ↑ Bart Hopkin (1996). “Figure 2-4”, Musical Instrument Design: Practical Information for Instrument Making. See Sharp Press, p. 110. ISBN 1884365086. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Hermann Ludwig F. von Helmholtz (1875). On the sensations of tone as a physiological basis for the theory of music, Translation by Alexander John Ellis. Oxford University Press, p. 33. 
  6. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Howard

Cite error: <ref> tag with name "Bakshi" defined in <references> is not used in prior text.

Cite error: <ref> tag with name "Schaum" defined in <references> is not used in prior text.
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