CONCERT-ROOM ACOUSTICS. 233 



out of average raw material, studied the physiology of the 

 vocal organs, and one of their first instructions to their 

 pupils was that they should sing against the roof of the 

 mouth, then throw the head 'back and open the mouth, 

 so that the sound should reverberate forwards, clear of the 

 teeth and lips. For the first year or two the pupil had to 

 sing only "la, la," for several hours per day, until the 

 faculty of doing this effectually and habitually was ac- 

 quired*. 



The popular notion that sound rises has probably origin- 

 ated from the fact that in our common experience the 

 sounds are produced near to some kind of floor, which re- 

 flects the sounds upwards, and thus adds the reflected sound 

 to that which is directly transmitted, and thereby the gen- 

 eral result is materially augmented. 



But if we would economize sound most effectively, we 

 must have not only a reflecting floor, but also a reflecting 

 roof and reflecting walls on all sides of the concert room. 

 These are the conditions that were wanting in the original 

 structure of the Crystal Palace transept, for then the sound 

 of the singer's voice could travel upwards to that lofty arch 

 and sidewise in all directions, almost as freely as in the 

 open air. 



This defect has been remedied to a very great extent by 

 the velarium stretched across from the springing of the 

 great arch of glass and iron, and forming a ceiling, to the 

 concert-room part of the building. Besides this, a wall of 

 drapery is stretched across each side of the transept, and 

 the orchestra has its special walls, roof, and back. There 

 are other minor arrangements for effecting lateral rever- 

 beration; that is, for returning the sound into the audi- 

 torium proper instead of allowing it to wander feebly 

 througout the building. 



The general result of these arrangements is to render 

 that portion of the building in which the reserved seats are 

 placed a really luxurious and efficient concert-room, of mag- 

 nificent proportions; but, very unfortunately and inevitably, 

 these conditions, which are so favorable for the happy eight 

 or nine thousand who can afford reserved seats, render the 

 position of the other half-dozen thousand outsiders more 



