Engineering art: the science of concert hall acoustics

Abstract

Modern concert hall design uses science and engineering to make an acoustic which embellishes and enhances the artistry of the musicians. The modern discipline of concert hall acoustics is a little over a hundred years old, and over the last century much has been learnt about how to ensure the audience receives high quality sound. During this period, knowledge from a large number of disciplines has been exploited. It is the intention of this paper to illustrate how disciplines as diverse as X-ray crystallography, psychology, and mobile telephony have influenced acoustic design. The paper will concentrate on the design of acoustic diffusers for concert halls, as this is a topic currently attracting considerable interest within the acoustics industry and academia.