cello geometry

Posted on by Semay Wu in institute of sonology research 2014-2016

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www.maestronet.com/forum/index.php?/topic/317703-bow-lengths-for-fractional-sizes/

My initial idea was to build on a small 1/8 size cello. I  liked this idea. Small but powerfully put together. The above are the measurements from the above website….going to an 1/8 size cello.

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Above are the bow sizes…interesting part of the cello makeup. Big component to subtle changes in sound qualities. Very much about friction, and velocity/acceleration and pressure (tilt) and through friction, heat/temperature.

The following pictures are from Sergei Muratov’s book, ‘The Art of the Violin Design’.

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The last two are showing the shape of the scroll at the top of the string instrument.

Chatting to a design student, he gave us a couple of tips, or phrases to look out for:

  • The Golden Section (of which you can see in the above drawings)
  • ‘Geometry of DESIGN‘ – studies in Proportion and composition – book by Kimberly Elam

Le Corbusier  Towards a new architecture  1931

‘Geometry is the language of man..he has discovered rhythms, rhythms apparent to the eye and clear in their relations with one another. And these rhythms are at the root of human activities. They resound in man by an organic inevitability…’

Jan Tschichold  The Form of the Book  1975

‘We do not know why, but we can demonstrate that a human being finds planes of definite and intentional proportions more pleasant or more beautiful than those of accidental proportions.’

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Jan Tschichold 1937