The paper investigates the acoustics of the four World-famous Papal Basilicas in Rome, namely Saint Peter׳s, St. John Lateran׳s, St. Paul׳s outside the Walls, and Saint Mary׳s Major. They are characterized by different dimensions, materials, and architectural features, as well as by a certain number of similarities. In addition, their complexity determines significant variation in their acoustics depending on the relative position of source and receivers. A detailed set of acoustic measurements was carried out in each church, using both spatial (B-format) and binaural microphones, and determining the standard ISO 3382 descriptors. The results are analyzed in relation to the architectural features, pointing out the differences observed in terms of listening experience. Finally, in order to explain some of the results found in energy-based parameters, the churches were analyzed as a system of acoustically coupled volumes. The latter explained most of the anomalies observed in the distribution of acoustic parameters, while showing at the same time that secondary spaces (aisles, chapels) play a different role depending on the amount of sound absorption located in the main nave.

Understanding the acoustics of Papal basilicas in Rome by means of a coupled-volumes approach / Martellotta, Francesco. - In: JOURNAL OF SOUND AND VIBRATION. - ISSN 0022-460X. - 382:(2016), pp. 413-427. [10.1016/j.jsv.2016.07.007]

Understanding the acoustics of Papal basilicas in Rome by means of a coupled-volumes approach

Martellotta, Francesco
2016-01-01

Abstract

The paper investigates the acoustics of the four World-famous Papal Basilicas in Rome, namely Saint Peter׳s, St. John Lateran׳s, St. Paul׳s outside the Walls, and Saint Mary׳s Major. They are characterized by different dimensions, materials, and architectural features, as well as by a certain number of similarities. In addition, their complexity determines significant variation in their acoustics depending on the relative position of source and receivers. A detailed set of acoustic measurements was carried out in each church, using both spatial (B-format) and binaural microphones, and determining the standard ISO 3382 descriptors. The results are analyzed in relation to the architectural features, pointing out the differences observed in terms of listening experience. Finally, in order to explain some of the results found in energy-based parameters, the churches were analyzed as a system of acoustically coupled volumes. The latter explained most of the anomalies observed in the distribution of acoustic parameters, while showing at the same time that secondary spaces (aisles, chapels) play a different role depending on the amount of sound absorption located in the main nave.
2016
Understanding the acoustics of Papal basilicas in Rome by means of a coupled-volumes approach / Martellotta, Francesco. - In: JOURNAL OF SOUND AND VIBRATION. - ISSN 0022-460X. - 382:(2016), pp. 413-427. [10.1016/j.jsv.2016.07.007]
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
JSV_2016_postprint.pdf

accesso aperto

Descrizione: Accepted manuscript
Tipologia: Documento in Post-print
Licenza: Creative commons
Dimensione 3.57 MB
Formato Adobe PDF
3.57 MB Adobe PDF Visualizza/Apri

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11589/79381
Citazioni
  • Scopus 19
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 14
social impact