1 string, 2 strings, 3 strings or more

[Joe & Penny Goss]

Tom,
Tis the theory of three that I mentioned in a prior post.
Any two out of tune slightly is noticable, but add the third string and all
three even though all are slightly out will sound as one
Joe Goss
imatunr@srvinet.com
www.mothergoosetools.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Tom Servinsky" <tompiano@gate.net>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Tuesday, September 18, 2001 7:01 AM
Subject: Re: 1 string, 2 strings, 3 strings or more


> Clyde,
> You bring up an interesting point with regards to the analogy using the
> string section of an orchestra.  I currently am a symphony musician and
one
> of the interesting facts of orchestration is using odd number players on
all
> parts, especially the string section.  Our classical orchestra uses 9
first
> violins, 7 second violins, 3 cellos, 1 bass. The thinking is with 3
players,
> the 3rd sound always acts as the referee, if you will, helping unify the
> unison quality. Two players, in comparison, will constantly struggle more
> with pitch than 3.  This is not my opinion but the opinion of many
> conductors who I have worked under. And I personally think there's
validity
> to their thinking.
> >From a piano design point of view one could easily draw similarities with
> the 3 string unison concept. Why didn't the 4 string unison ever take off?
> I'm sure it was experimented with privately amongst the builders of the
day
> but the benefits did not improve the 3 string unison.
> Tom Servinsky,RPT
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Clyde Hollinger" <cedel@supernet.com>
> To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, September 18, 2001 7:07 AM
> Subject: Re: 1 string, 2 strings, 3 strings or more
>
>
> > I wish I knew where my textbook is from the course in acoustics I took
in
> > graduate school.  For what it's worth, two strings will be only
moderately
> > louder than one, something that's very obvious when you stop to think
> about
> > it but that I had never thought about until that course.
> >
> > That works also with any other musical instrument.  In an orchestra, two
> > trumpets will be somewhat louder than just one, but each additional
> > instrument's impact on volume is less than the last.  The difference
> between
> > five trumpets and six would be barely perceptible, I imagine, assuming
> they
> > are playing in unison.
> >
> > I'm talking strictly about volume.  Certainly we can hear the difference
> > between a string composition being played by one instrument on each
part,
> > compared with a string orchestra.  I have never heard a piece played by
an
> > "orchestra of pianos."  The next time I get the chance I plan to go.
> >
> > Regards,
> > Clyde
> >
> > "Kevin S. Riggs" wrote:
> >
> > > But I'm not quite clear on one matter. How is it
> > > that three strings are louder than two, are louder than one, given
> > > exactly the same energy input into the system? From what area of the
> > > sound envelope is the energy taken, and distributed to where, to
> > > increase apparent loudness?
> >
> >