orchestra "shell"

[David ilvedson]

List,

Something sort along these lines...my local concert 
organization wants to build a new stage.  We have a portable 
one now, honeycomb with carpet on one side and a dance 
floor on the other, but it is a little low for audience sightlines 
(no we can't raise the seating area) and the 9 ft. Baldwin on its 
truck makes dents in the stage.  Does anyone have any 
experience in this sort of thing?  Any sources for stage plans? 
We plan to have a hardwood top.  What is the preferred wood? 
Maple?

Thanks in advance...




Date sent:      	Wed, 17 Mar 1999 15:59:22 -0600
To:             	pianotech@ptg.org
From:           	Joel Jones <jajones2@FACSTAFF.WISC.EDU>
Subject:        	Re: orchestra "shell"
Send reply to:  	pianotech@ptg.org

> Chris,
> In the large auditorium our panels are on wheels and can be positioned for
> a variety of uses.  They are 9' tall made from oak flooring.   Very heavy
> and counterbalanced.   In the past 25 years they have fallen over 3 or 4
> times, so far missing people but hitting pianos.
> 	In our student recital hall we also have some attached panels that
> can be switched from a hard size to a absorbant side.  There are also
> curtains that can be pulled out to absorb more sound.  All these options
> seem to  add to the confusion. Most of our concert set-ups  just use the
> panels in one position.   Rarely are they changed in this smaller hall.
> 	I  wonder if your office partitions  suggestion will be tall enough
> to direct the sound where you want it.  For a very special request I have
> used 4x8 sheets of plywood.  It was beneficial in that situation.
> Joel
> 
> >at our large auditorium we have what the stage hands refer to as the
> >"orchestra shell".  these are large partitions that can set up behind the
> >orch. to help project sound.  i have been wondering about using something
> >like this only on a smaller scale in our recital hall.  i have considered
> >looking into those office partitions they make the cubicles out of.  maybe
> >something carpeted on one side and hard on the other so we could adjust
> >them to change acoustics.
> >
> >does anyone out there have any experience doing this?  i would appriciate
> >hearing any do's or don'ts you may have learned.
> >
> >thanx,
> >chris
> >
> >-Christopher D. Purdy R.P.T.   School of Music  Ohio University  Athens OH
> >
> >-purdy@oak.cats.ohiou.edu   (740) 593-1656    fax# (740) 593-1429
> 
> 
> 
> 


David Ilvedson, RPT
Pacifica, CA
ilvey@jps.net