Reconstructing the acoustic patterns of Notre Dame
WASHINGTON, D.C: Experts are working to reconstruct the Notre Dame de Paris Cathedral’s complex signature acoustics.
Other cathedrals may seem to have similar acoustics, but no two are the same in the way sound soars and reverberates inside.
Myriad nuances and details are unique — many of which are likely to change during the course of centuries as furnishings and renovations evolve.
Six years ago, Brian FG Katz, a Fellow of the Acoustical Society of America and CNRS research director at Sorbonne Université, and colleagues had obtained detailed measurements of the acoustics of the main space within Notre Dame.
These measurements hold new significance now, Katz said. They document the acoustic conditions of the cathedral before the fire and can be used during its restoration.
“The acoustics of worship spaces has long been a topic of interest and is an active area of study right now,” said Katz. “Acoustics within churches and places of worship, in general, vary greatly with the associated religious practices. Some emphasise the intelligibility of the spoken word, while others focus on the ritual aspects and musical nature. A grand church organ, for example, played within a dry room suited to speech can sound more like an accordion — without the reverberation mixing effect of the acoustics.”
“The basic practice of measuring the acoustics of rooms is common across spaces,” Katz said. “We don’t use any special cathedral protocols. But for the long reverberation time and the considerable volume, we had to work to get our signal-tonoise level to an adequate level.” — Newswise