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University of the Pacific

A practical approach to the study of sound for musicians

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

<p>This account of the beginning of music might equally well be applied to man's discovery of sounds produced by the stretched string on his hunting-bow, or skins stretched across wooden frames. Pure fancy though it may be, the account serves to illustrate the dependence of music on the universal principles of science. Sound, the medium of expression, the vehicle, of music, is purely physical phenomenon. All aspects of its production, its transmission, and its ultimate reception are based invariable on physical laws. All musical instruments operate under these laws, as do the tones and combinations of tones which the instruments produce. Since that time when our prehistoric man made his discoveries, all musicians have had to depend upon scientific principles in producing the various sounds with which they work</p><p>In order to deal most effectively with these tones, it is necessary that the musician understand some of the principles governing their production and their various relationships. It is with this necessity in mind that this thesis is being written. In the thesis an attempt is made to present those physical aspects of sound which will be of the most practical use to the musician and which will give him a better understanding of the materials with which he works. As often as it is possible and practical, direct illustration of the applications to the musician's work of the principles discussed are given.</p><p>this thesis is not intended to be a study of sound. The subject is covered thoroughly in a number of text-books. lt is rather an attempt to show how the Science of Sound is related to the Art of Music, to demonstrate in what ways the latter is dependent upon the former, and to outline an approach to a study of the physical principles of sound for the musician.</p>

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Master of Arts (M.A.)
Level thesis:degree_level
Thesis
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Music
Year dc:date.available
1946

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Beardsley, Robert Lyle
Contributors dc:contributor
  • John Gilchrist Elliott

Subjects

dc:subject × 2

Rights

dc:rights

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Repository record dc:identifier
https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/uop_etds/1042
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:scholarlycommons.pacific.edu:uop_etds-2041

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
University of the Pacific
Base URL
scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/do/oai/
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Beardsley, Robert Lyle. A practical approach to the study of sound for musicians. Thesis thesis, 1946. https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/uop_etds/1042