ESHS/HSS Annual Meeting

Comparing "Cavity-Based Sound Reinforcement" in Chinese and Western Performance Architecture

• In Event: Listen: Sound Science Across Time 2

English Abstract

As soon as large audiences had to be addressed in expansive venues, performers faced two acoustic challenges: fatigue from projecting their voices and the difficulty listeners' had in hearing clearly. Western churches and Chinese open-air opera stages—both designed for sizable congregations—each adopted" cavity-based sound reinforcement" to mitigate these problems. This study surveys the number, distribution, and technical variants of cavity devices in Chinese and Western performance structures and conducts a focused comparison between two representative cases: the Cathedral of Noyon and the ancient opera stage of Pingyao's Zhenwu Temple. Our analysis shows that (a) the resonating niches and acoustic jars embedded in Gothic cathedrals and (b) the rear wall cavities of Chinese opera stages amplify musical sound whose fundamental frequency matches their natural (resonant) frequency. Three main contrasts emerge: 1.Cavity placement; 2.Sound-field characteristics; 3.Technical logic.These findings confirm that the stage cavities of Chinese opera architecture possess distinctive technological features and undeniable acoustic value, making them an important component of China's architectural and musical heritage.

Author

• Yang Yang