Acoustics of auditoriums

by Floyd Rowe Watson

V. Bibliography of Publications on Acoustics of Auditoriums.

Auerbach, F. “Akustik.” Winkelmann’s Handbuch der Physik, Vol. II, 1909. An encyclopædia of acoustics, the following topics applying to the subject in hand: “Akustik der Gebäude,” pp. 580–584, with references. “Nachhall und Echo,” pp. 565–569, with references.

Blackall, C. H. “Acoustics of Audience Halls,” Engineering Record, Vol. 45, pp. 541–542, 1902. A paper recording the opinions of the author with many references to acoustical properties of particular audience halls.

Cornelison, R. W. “The Acoustical Properties of Rooms Particularly as Affected by Wall Coverings,” 1905. A pamphlet describing the merits of “Fabrikona” burlap as a sound absorber. H. B. Wiggin’s Sons Company, Bloomfield, N. J.

Eichhorn, A. “Die Akustik Grosser Raüme nach Altgriechischer Theorie.” Ernst and Korn, Publishers, Berlin, 1888. A discussion of Greek buildings and acoustics, with applications to modern conditions.

Eichhorn, A. “Der Akustische Masstab für die Projectbearbeitung Grosser Innen Raüme.” Published by Schuster and Bufleb, Berlin, 1899. A continuation of the previous work.

Exner, S. “Uber die Akustik von Hörsälen und ein Instrument, sie zu bestimmen.” Zeitschrift des Osterreichischen Ingenieur und Architekten-Vereines, Vol. LVII, p. 141, March, 1905. Indicates his opinion of good acoustical properties in a hall. Gives experimental determination of reverberation.

Fournier, Lucien. “The Suppression of Echoes.” La Nature (Paris), April 24, 1909. English translation given in “The Literary Digest,” New York, May 29, 1909, p. 924. An account of the experiments of Gustav Lyon in investigating the echoes in Trocadero Hall in Paris.

Franklin, W. S. “Derivation of Equation of Decaying Sound in a Room and Definition of Open Window Equivalent of Absorbing Power.” Physical Review, Vol. 16, pp. 372–374, 1903. A theoretical development of the formula found experimentally by Sabine.

Haege. “Bemerkungen über Akustik.” Zeitschrift für Baumesen, Vol. IX, pp. 582–594, 1859.

Henry, Joseph. “Acoustics Applied to Public Buildings,” Smithsonian Report, 1856, p. 221.

Hoyt, J. T. N. “The Acoustics of the Hill Memorial Hall,” American Architect, Vol. CIV, pp. 50–53, August 6, 1913. Discusses the design of the hall and indicates how it fulfills his ideas of good acoustics.

Hutton, W. R. “Architectural Acoustics; Hall of Representatives, U. S. Capitol, 1853.” Engineering Record, Vol. 42, p. 377, 1900. A discussion of the cure of the faulty acoustics in the U. S. Hall of Representatives.

Jacques, W. W. “Effect of the Motion of the Air Within an Auditorium Upon Its Acoustical Qualities.” Philosophical Magazine (5), Vol. 7, p. III, 1879. A record of experiments in the Baltimore Academy of Music showing that the ventilating current had a marked action on the acoustics.

Jager, S. “Zur Theorie des Nachhals,” Sitzungsberichten der Kaiserl. Akademie der Wissenschaften in Wien. Matem.-naturw. Klasse; Bd. CXX, Abt. Ha, Mai, 1911. An important paper giving a theoretical development of Sabine’s formula showing the factors that enter into the constants. Considers also the case of the reflection of sound from a thin wall and also the case when it encounters a porous material such as a curtain.

Lamb, Horace. “The Dynamical Theory of Sound.” Published by Edward Arnold, London, 1910. A more elementary treatment than Rayleigh’s “Theory of Sound.”

Marage. “Qualites acoustiques de certaines sailes pour la voix parlée.” Comptes Rendus, Vol. 142, p. 878, 1906. An investigation of the acoustical properties of six halls in Paris.

Norton, C. L. “Soundproof Partitions.” Insurance Engineering, Vol. 4, p. 180, 1902. An account of experimental tests of the soundproof qualities of materials that are also fireproof.

Orth, A. “Die Akustik Grosser Raüme mit Speciallem Bezug auf Kirchen.” Zeitschrift für Bauwesen. Also reprint by Ernst and Korn, Berlin, 1872. Assumes that sound waves behave like light waves. Discusses, with detailed drawings, the paths of sound in the Zion Church in Berlin and the Nicolai Church in Potsdam. Also gives his opinion of the effect of surfaces and materials on sound.

Rayleigh, Lord. “Theory of Sound.” Two volumes, Macmillan, 1896. The unsurpassed classic in the subject of acoustics. References to architectural acoustics as follows: “Whispering Galleries,” Vol. II, § 287. “Passage of Sound Through Fabrics,” Vol. II, p. 311. “Resonance in Buildings,” Vol. II, § 252.

Sabine, Wallace C. “Architectural Acoustics.” Engineering Record, 1900, Vol. 1, pp. 349, 376, 400, 426, 450, 477, 503. Published also in book form and in American Architect, Vol. 68, 1900, pp. 3, 19, 35, 43, 59, 75, 83. An important series of articles giving the relation between the time of reverberation in a room, the volume of the room, and absorbing materials present. Gives table of absorbing powers of substances, so that an architect can calculate in advance of construction what the time of reverberation will be.

Sabine, W. C. “Architectural Acoustics,” Proc. of the Amer. Acad. of Arts and Sciences, Vol. XLII, No. 2, June, 1906. A continuation of the previous work, showing the accuracy of musical taste in regard to architectural acoustics and also the variation in reverberation with variation in pitch.

Sabine, W. C. “Architectural Acoustics,” Engineering Record, Vol. 61, pp. 779–781, June 18, 1910. Discusses the case of flow of air in a room and its effect on the acoustics. Concludes that the usual ventilation system in a hall has very little effect.

Sabine, W. C. “Architectural Acoustics: The Correction of Acoustical Difficulties.” The Architectural Quarterly of Harvard University, March, 1912, pp. 3–23. An account of the cures of the acoustical difficulties of a number of audience rooms, also a description of further experiments on the absorbing power of different materials.

Sabine, W. C. “Theater Acoustics.” American Architect, Vol. CIV, pp. 257–279, December 31, 1913. Describes theater with model acoustics. Discusses behavior of sound in a room and shows photographs of sound waves in miniature rooms.

Sabine, W. C. “Architectural Acoustics. Building Material and Musical Pitch.” The Brickbuilder, Vol. 23, pp. 1–6, January, 1914. A continuation of previous work, describing absorbing powers of different materials.

Sharpe, H. J. “Reflection of Sound at a Paraboloid.” Camb. Phil. Soc. Proc., Vol. 15, pp. 190–197, 1909.

Stewart, G. W. “Architectural Acoustics.” Sibley Journal of Engineering, May, 1903. Published by Cornell University, Ithaca, N. Y. An account of an investigation leading to the cure of the acoustics of Sibley Auditorium.

Sturmhöfel, A. “Akustik des Baumeisters.” Published by Schuster and Bufleb, Berlin, 1894. An 87-page pamphlet on the acoustics of rooms. Discusses effects of relief work in rooms on sound. Account of experimental work. References to auditoriums.

Tallant, Hugh. “Hints on Architectural Acoustics.” The Brickbuilder, Vol. 19, 1910, pp. 111, 155, 199, 243, 265. A series of articles giving an exposition of the principles of the subject with practical applications.

Tallant, Hugh. “Acoustical Design in the Hill Memorial Auditorium, University of Michigan.” The Brickbuilder, Vol. XXII, p. 169, August, 1913. See also plates 113, 114, 115. A discussion of the acoustical results obtained in this auditorium, a special feature being the action of a huge parabolic reflecting wall surface over the stage.

Tallant, Hugh. “Architectural Acoustics. The Effect of a Speaker’s Voice in Different Directions.” The Brickbuilder, Vol. 22, p. 225, October, 1913.

Taylor, H. O. “A Direct Method of Finding the Value of Materials as Sound Absorbers.” Physical Review, Vol. 2 (2), p. 270, October, 1913.

Tufts, F. L. “Transmission of Sound Through Porous Materials.” Amer. Journal of Science, Vol. II, p. 357, 1901. Experimental work leading to the conclusion that sound is transmitted through porous materials in the same proportion that a current of air is.

Watson, F. R. “Echoes in an Auditorium.” Physical Review, Vol. 32, p. 231, 1911. An abstract giving an account of the experiments in the auditorium at the University of Illinois.

Watson, F. R. “Inefficiency of Wires as a Means of Curing Defective Acoustics of Auditoriums.” Science, Vol. 35, p. 833, 1912.

Watson, F. R. “The Use of Sounding Boards in an Auditorium.” Physical Review, Vol. 1 (2), p. 241, 1913. Also a more complete article in The Brickbuilder, June, 1913.

Watson, F. R. “Air Currents and the Acoustics of Auditoriums.” Engineering Record, Vol. 67, p. 265, 1913. A detailed account giving theory and experimental work, with application to ventilating systems in auditoriums.

Watson, F. R. “Acoustical Effect of Fireproofed Cotton-Flannel Sound Absorbers.” Engineering News, Vol. 71, p. 261, January 29, 1914. Results of experiments showing that cotton-flannel has practically the same absorbing power after fireproofing as before.

Weisbach, F. “Versuche über Schalldurchlassigkeit, Schallreflexion und Schallabsorbtion.” Annalen der Physik, Vol. 33, p. 763, 1910.

Williams, W. M. “Echo in Albert Hall.” Nature, Vol. 3, p. 469, 1870–71. Observations on the shape of Albert Hall in London and the echoes set up.

Editorial Notice. “The Dresden Laboratory for Architectural Acoustics.” American Architect, Vol. 102, p. 137, October 16, 1912. States that a laboratory of applied acoustics is authorized in the Dresden (Germany) Technische Hochschule, and that expert advice will be furnished architects and others regarding problems of acoustics of auditoriums.

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