The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-11-04
ACOUSTICS SHOWN 10 Be ExAU
SCIENCE By RECENT INVESTIGATION
Notable Experiments in Calculating Sound for the New Hall 81
the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

OSTON, Oct. e7.--The beautiful
liz new Symphony hall. which IL to
III ~ be the home henccfcrward OF tho
famous Boston symphony orehes-
ira. Is perhaps the first building ever
erected. either In this country or abroad,
the acoustic properties OF which were not,
during the planning and construction,
very largely matter OF mere gucsswork.
Long before the walls were UP IL was
known with great accuracy what The
acoustic qualities OF the auditorium w.re
TO be. and the architects proceeded with
their work In entire confidence that the
acoustic principles TO which they we're
adapting their plans were scientifically
sure.
This certainty in n point 80 long con-
sidered almost hopelessly uncertain was
due To the Investigations OF Mr.. Wallace
c. Sabine. assistant professor OF physics
at Harvard university, who has been en-
gagged In studying the subject Of srchi-
tectnral acoustics since 1895. when he was
asked by the corporation 10 remedy the
acoustic defects OF college lecture room.
Preliminary study OF the problems In
voived led TO complete examination Qf
the whole subject eliminating In the no.
table work done on new Symphony hall.
II has been a popular impression for a
long time that acoustics practically APP
plled--was nearly II not quite hopeless
problem People have seen hall which
was acousticsily good copied. as they
Imagined. exactly. with a result which
was a total failure. and very naturally,
perhaps they have come to believe that
the whole subject was beyond control
Books on acoustics abound In inconsis-
tenciee One writer says that the dtmen-
Eiona of a perfect music han should be
as 20 , to s.. second. az % J 20 7.
and another. as 70 70 Tbs whole
matter. popularity and scientifically alike.
-. al as rxrf
OF course, Il is almost Impossible 70
make one ball mere facsimile Of an
other New methods ~ construction Or
veutiIatiou-a thousand details. in a word
will cause a greater or less variation.
Bat q il now possible 10 eaieuia's the
eject ~ all these changes. and ~ max.
ing SIN other compromising changes 70
resasn the special values" y any audi
tarsurga tina, one may have rhoasn 60 iNks
ss model Tor good hearing.
symphony bali - case In point fss
architects. MeHsrs- Mckim. Mad =
white. OF New York. had az FIRST prepared
plans fer a erilding along classical BneA..
ana Mr. McKlm visited Europe for the
x0rrsaan az consulting with sci@nttHn au-
thoritlNs IN France ana Germany. ~ WAS
decided finally hat Greek thfafer a. =
music ball would be too dangerous ar ex-
rerfraent IN acoustics. and y was AZ frst
decided by the committee 20 follow the
general proportions and arrangement ~
a well-kn0wn auditorium. the Gewand-
haus. IN Ieipsic. Hut the seating capacity
OF this hail. only about l.scp. was too
small. and the plan had 10 be abandoned.
The new hall, vita rs Two galleries. Us
stage recess It's sioping floor, and above
AZ its Increased seating capacity, Is a
copy 81 the old bali only IN certain acous-
tical results. not In the architectural
means By which these results we're at
tanned. The Boston bail contains about