Erbil, Wednesday (April 1, 2026)
Yesterday, Tuesday (March 31, 2026), Assis.Teacher.Kawan Ahmed Elias, in a scientific seminar entitled “The Frequencies of Orchestral Instruments in the Process of Composition”, presented the most important physical and acoustic principles of musical instruments for composers.
The seminar focused in detail on the concept of frequency (Frequency) as the number of sound wave vibrations per second, measured in Hertz. It was emphasized that understanding this scientific aspect helps composers determine the types of instruments, how to blend sounds, and how to achieve balance between different sound layers.
Additionally, the classification of instruments into three main groups (high, mid, and low ranges) was explained, along with a discussion of frequency masking (Frequency Masking), which occurs when two instruments play within the same range, causing a lack of clarity. To address this issue, several strategies were proposed, such as octave separation and the use of different timbres.
At the conclusion, a practical example from Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony was analyzed, demonstrating how musical motifs are distributed across different frequency layers.
