"David Looser" wrote in message
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"Iain Churches" wrote in message
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"David Looser" wrote in message
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"Iain Churches" wrote

This is closely related to the subject of aural perception

Is it?

I'd have thought that aural perception was a matter of physiology: the
structure of the ear and the way that sounds are interpreted by the
brain.

Aural perception, is a part of the recorded arts
curriculum, and includes our ability to differentiate
between for example the sound made by two
musical instruments of the same genre.
Bechstein and Bosendorfer concert grand pianos
are a frequently used example.

The difference in the sound of tubular and conical
bore woodwinds is therefore closely related.


Aural perception is about our ability to hear and identify sounds and to
make judgments about the source of that sound. We can identify people from
the sound of their voice and to make judgements about their mood as well
as acquiring information by interpreting the speech carried by that voice.
Many people can identify not only the species of an animal by it's call,
but also often to identify an individual and determine it's emotional
state. Other's can learn much about machinery from the sound it makes; the
"grumble" of a bearing can provide useful information about a likely
future failure whilst during WW2 that ability that many had to identify
the type of aircraft by it's sound was highly valuable.

All of these, and many more, are *every bit* as "closely related" to aural
perception as the ability to distinguish between a Bechstein or a
Bosendorfer, or to hear the difference between a tubular or conical wind
instrument.

Of course, if we want to understand how aural perception works, we need to
study ourselves, our anatomy, physiology and psychology, not whatever
object happens to make the sounds we hear.

David.


Interesting observations. The power of aural perception is such that it
means that even the nuance of slight inflexions in someone's voice can even
lead a skilled person to detect when that person may not be telling the
truth.