‘The amount of spatial separation between the choirs of instruments and voices used by composers such as Giovanni Gabrieli has often been overstated. Vocal polychoral pieces a due cori [for two choirs] were generally performed with no spatial separation of the performing forces, but with a division between soloists and ripieno [the rest of the performers]; the total number of singers could be as few as 12. Some of the most extravagant late 16th-century performances saw one group in each of the organ lofts, situated on either side of the altar, and a third group on a specially built temporary stage on the main floor of the church, not far from the main altar.’
Decibels | Amplitude ratio |
---|---|
−12 | 0.25:1 |
−6 | 0.5:1 |
0 | 1:1 |
6 | 2:1 |
12 | 4:1 |
18 | 8:1 |
20 | 10:1 |
24 | 16:1 |
30 | 32:1 |
36 | 64:1 |
40 | 100:1 |
60 | 1000:1 |
Amplitude | Amplitude ratio | Decibel equivalents |
---|---|---|
1 unit | 1:1 | 0 dB |
2 units | 2:1 | 6 dB |
4 units | 4:1 | 12 dB |
8 units | 8:1 | 18 dB |
16 units | 16:1 | 24 dB |
Sound | Sound pressure level |
---|---|
Threshold of hearing | 0 dB |
Breeze through leaves | 10 dB |
Empty concert hall | 20 dB |
Bedroom | 30 dB |
Domestic living room | 40 dB |
Office noise | 50 dB |
Conversation at 1 m | 60 dB |
Piano practice | 60–70 dB |
Car interior/Singer fortissimo at 1 m | 70 dB |
Chamber music in small auditorium | 75+ dB |
Heavy car traffic at about 10 m | 80 dB |
Violin, flute at player's ear | 85+ dB |
Orchestral music during loud passages, experienced by | 90+ dB |
performers (permanent hearing damage on prolonged exposure) | |
Rock performance at close range | 100+ dB |
Timpani and bass drum rolls | 106 dB |
Peak levels in dance club | 110+ dB |
Jet taking off at 100 m | 120 dB |
Threshold of pain | 130 dB |