CHAPTER 3 - Multiple Sounds

Spectrograms

Spectrograms of a number of multiphonics follow (more are available on The Clarinet of the Twenty-First Century website – http://www.research.umbc.edu/~emrich/multiphonicspectra.html). These diagrams represent the indicated multiphonic played at its middle dynamic level (i.e. if p-ff is possible, mf is the middle dynamic level). The duration of each multiphonic is between 2 and 7 seconds. It is important to note that the spectrum of practically every multiphonic changes (at least subtly) during its duration – the sound is constantly transforming.

In the spectrograms, height indicates frequency (hz.), or pitch of the fundamental(s) and partials; length (horizontal) indicates duration; and darkness/lightness indicates the relative amplitude (strength) of components of the sound.

Directly below is a note to frequency converter (taken from the website of the Physics Department of The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia – http://www.phys.unsw.edu.au/~jw/notes.html), NON-TRANSPOSED (written B4 for clarinet = A 440), that gives a context for the spectrograms.

22) E-99 : D ¾ 3 = 294 B5 = 880 E5 = 1175 5th of D ¾; 2nd of E; partials through 5000 hz.

23) E1-184 : F ¼ 3 = 311 F#4 = 659 C#5 = 988 2nd partial of C#; some 3rd and 4th partials

24) E1-226 : F#3 = 330 F5 = 1245 2nd and strong 3rd partial of F#; strong frequency band 1000-2000, up to 20,000 hz.

25) E1-398 : G#3 = 370 D ¾ 5 = 1109 5th partial of G#; 2nd partial of D#