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Reverberation Time Characteristics of Severence Hall

1960; Acoustical Society of America; Volume: 32; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1121/1.1908067

1520-9024

Helmut J. Ormestad, R. S. Shankland, A. H. Benade,

Diverse Musicological Studies

Following the changes in the acoustical conditions made in Severance Hall during the summer of 1958 [see R. S. Shankland and E. A. Flynn, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 31, 866 (1959)] a series of reverberation time measurements were made during the 1958–1959 concert season of the Cleveland Orchestra. Measurements were made in the empty hall, in the hall with orchestra during rehearsals, which is also the condition for recordings, and with a full audience during the regular symphony season. Measurements were made of 38-caliber revolver shots, of fully orchestrated chords played at rehearsals by Dr. George Szell especially for our measurements, and of the endings of movements in a symphony (Mendelssohn No. 4 in A major) and a concerto (Dvořák B minor, Op. 104) during concerts. The results show a considerable increase in the reverberation time at all frequencies as compared to the conditions existing prior to 1958. The present reverberation time with a full audience is about 1.7 sec in the mid-frequencies and rises steadily to well above 2 sec at lower frequencies. Due to the heavily upholstered seats in Severance Hall the sound absorption increment on account of a full audience is unusually low. Measurements made during rehearsals have permitted a determination of sound absorption by the orchestra. Reverberation times measured with microphone pickup on the main floor, in box seats, and in the balcony, are essentially the same. The measurements will be continued during the 1959–1960 concert season, especially to determine the effects of a new humidity control system which was installed during the summer of 1959.