Sound pressure measurement of orchestral instruments in the concert hall of a public school

The aim of this work is the acoustical characterization of some orchestral instruments (flute, trumpet, bass tuba, drums, violin, horn, piano and tenor sax) in the concert hall of the Liceo Statale “Alfano I” in Salerno, Italy. The variations in respect of time and frequency of main acoustical parameters of all orchestral instruments used, relative to the C major diatonic scale - one octave ascending and one descending-, are reported. In particular, for the temporal variations of pressure levels measured there is a comparison between the average signal unweighted (LZeq average), signal A weighted (LAeq) and unweighted signal in FAST mode (LZF). In this paper the notes played in an acoustically correct room are measured using a class A phonometer. The results provide a useful data base both for designers who deal with predictive analysis for acoustic design of concert halls and those who digitally simulate sounds produced by orchestral instruments.