Musical Acoustics and Organology

Knowledge of Physical Acoustics.

The methodology used is defined by the following items:

a) presentation of contents by the teacher using the listening of musical excerpts;
b) demonstrations performed by the teacher and students based on the mechanics, acoustics and performance techniques of musical instruments;
c) study visits: scientific or musical events and luthiers.

Students may choose between two types of assessment: continuous/periodic assessment or exam. The continuous/periodic assessment will focus on acoustic experiments and demonstrations, and class participation (65%) + test (35%). The assessment by exam (100%) will be made through written and oral test (the latter, if the classification in the written test is between 7,5 and 9,4 values).

The learning outcomes of this curricular unit are:

a) know the intervals and the different kinds of scales, tunings and temperaments;
b) perceive aurally and visually recognize the various types of acoustic musical instruments;
c) cataloging musical instruments according to various classifications;
d) understand the arrangement of the orchestra;
e) know the structure, functioning (mechanical and acoustic) and technical execution of musical instruments;
f) identify musical repertoire within each instrument.

I. MUSICAL ACOUSTICS

INTERVALS, TUNING, SCALES AND TEMPERAMENT
module 1
1. Acoustic intervals.
2. Musical scale.
3. Acoustic indices. A4 standard tuning.
4. Pythagorean scale and Just scale.
5. Meantone tuning.
6. Equal temperament.

II. ORGANOLOGY

DIVISION SYSTEMS OF THE MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
module 2
1. Musical instrument: origin and definition.
2. Classification of instruments: a) Hornbostel and Sachs; b ) Acoustic.
3. Orchestra: a) classification; b) disposal of instruments in the symphony orchestra.

MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
1. PERCUSSION INSTRUMENTS
module 3
1.1. Membranophones.
1.2. Idiophones.

2. STRING INSTRUMENTS
module 4
2.1. Bowed cordophones.
2.2. Plucked cordophones.
2.3. Keyboard cordophones.

3. WIND INSTRUMENTS
module 5
3.1. Aerophones – Woodwind.
3.2. Aerophones – Brass.

4. ORGAN
module 6
4.1. Pipe organ and Iberian organ.

• - Attendance and Participation - 65.0%
• - Frequency - 35.0%

• - Exam - 100.0%

NAO

Adler, S. (2016). The study of orchestration (4th ed.). W.W. Norton & Company.

Campbell, D. M., & Greated, C. A. (1994). The musician’s guide to acoustics. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Campbell, D. M., Greated, C. A., & Myers, A. (2006). Musical instruments: History, technology and performance of instruments of western music. Oxford University Press.

Henrique, L. L. (2014). Acústica musical (5ª ed.). Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian.

Henrique, L. L. (2014). Instrumentos musicais (8ª ed.). Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian.

Libin, L. (Ed.). (2014). The grove dictionary of musical instruments (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/acref/9780199743391.001.0001

Oxford University Press. (2021). Grove music online. https://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/

Sachs, C. (2006). The history of musical instruments. Dover Publications.

Valença, M. (1987). O órgão na história e na arte. Editorial Franciscana.