9 replies to this topic

[T Ford]

I've started going to more violin shows lately and have become curious how experience (mostly sound, I guess) differs based on where you sit in a venue.

I assume the basic differences sound-wise would be that closer to the player the sound would be not quite as smooth as further back? Is there any other phenomenon or things to consider?

I sat in the third row a few weeks ago watching James Ehnes perform Bach's BWV 1004 and it was great. I would like to sit close again at the next show just for the visual excitement but don't want to sacrifice sound much.

Here is a link that has a seating plan for the next show I have planned to go see...Chloe Hanslip doing Paganini's 1st concerto on a del Gesu! I'd be curious to hear your comments on the seating plan on the link. Why is the 'A' seating section more expensive (better) than others? I'm tending towards sitting near the front of the 'C' section unless there are good reasons not to.

http://www.edmontons...ical-fireworks/

Thanks you, curious to hear your responses.

[Will L]

Of course in most halls sitting very close means you are looking up at just a few musicians. The sound is less filtered. To me it is the worst place to sit, except if you want to be as close to the soloist as possible. And I usually want to be close to a violinist just to see what they are doing. But for sound of the whole, I prefer the front of a balcony. And you get a different angle on the entire orchestra. I've been on the stage of that hall, but I don't know what to recommend specifically.

If you could become friendly enough with someone to be able to go to the rehearsals, that would be great. You can hear the violin from different spots.

[Anders Buen]

Where to sit will also depend on your personal preferences in room acoustics. The first row at any of the balconies close to the centre would give a balanced and somewhat more reverberant listening field. Closer to the stage, e.g. in the centre of the orchestra, would probaly give some more clarity.

Personally I would prefer a mid orchestra seat.

There are some "seat dip effect" which might remove a little of the sound level in the 250Hz band where the main air resonance are in a violin. (Which range the seat dip effect works depends on the seat distance and details in the geometry). I suppose that you will have less of that in any of the front baclony rows.

Rearmost seats can be quite clear due to the backwall and sometimes ceiling reflection. They are not necessarily bad, can sometimes be quite good.

Under balcony seats will often be drier sounding and less loud, more so the deeper the balcony and the lower the ceiling

[T Ford]

Very interesting, thanks for the replies. I thought I'd get some well-thought-out answers on acoustics here.

[gowan]

Where to sit will also depend on your personal preferences in room acoustics. The first row at any of the balconies close to the centre would give a balanced and somewhat more reverberant listening field. Closer to the stage, e.g. in the centre of the orchestra, would probaly give some more clarity.

Personally I would prefer a mid orchestra seat.

There are some "seat dip effect" which might remove a little of the sound level in the 250Hz band where the main air resonance are in a violin. (Which range the seat dip effect works depends on the seat distance and details in the geometry). I suppose that you will have less of that in any of the front baclony rows.

Rearmost seats can be quite clear due to the backwall and sometimes ceiling reflection. They are not necessarily bad, can sometimes be quite good.

Under balcony seats will often be drier sounding and less loud, more so the deeper the balcony and the lower the ceiling

One of the most frequently used concert venues around here is a very "wet" (=reverberant, opposite of dry) hall. So wet that a pianist hardly needs to use the pedal! When I've listened to string quartet concerts sitting in the middle of the orchestra section the sound has been too blurred by the reverberation. Front row of the balcony has been good and, in accord with Anders's comment, on the main floor under the balcony overhang is also good. I think good seating will vary from hall to hall and person to person. If you tend to use the same hall you could experiment to find the place that works best for you or ask other people what they prefer.

[DR. S]

This is my 'secret' because my favorite seats are less expensive and easier to get than most others. I like to sit 2-3 levels up on the side, as close to the stage as possible. The sound is wonderfully clean, while still well blended and you can see every little thing that goes on on-stage. I find the expensive orchestra seats muddy and dull and the most expensive center box tier (while luxurious) a bit far and also less crisp. Of course I am there to watch as much as listen. I'm sure this varies from hall to hall, but it's worth a try to see if you like it.

[Anders Buen]

If you could become friendly enough with someone to be able to go to the rehearsals, that would be great. You can hear the violin from different spots.

A great advice! Usually the halls will sound more wet or more reverberant under rehearsal conditions. But attending rehearsals is a great opportunity to explore any preferences in room acoustics as well.

A grand piano with the damping off will be more reverberant than any normal concert hall. The RT of the lower notes are 20 seconds +. Interestingly the percussive part of the piano note makes it sound ok even in excessivly reverberant spaces. At least that is wheat litening to aurlaisations of piano music in such rooms have indicated. Electric guitar is another very reverberant musical instrument. The guitar sustain will override any reverberance in a normal venue.

Our Hardangerfiddle has a reverberation time exceeding normal concert hall reverb too, at least in the lower notes. The ring comes from the undamped sympathetic strings, but is somewhat weak. A guess we are all familiar with the ring in stringed musical instruments, cello, harps etc. But even the organ has some reverb in its pipes and thus notes, although the room very much is part of that instrument.

[poptart]

It's also a good idea to avoid sitting in seats that don't directly face the stage.
Many halls have seats on the side balconies and you have to turn your head and strain your neck for the whole concert.

[Lymond]

Usually, the people who perform most often in a hall have a good sense of where to sit for performances. Keep an eye out for experts.

[Anders Buen]

On personal preferences yourself is the expert.