Subject: Re: Auditory objects From: James Beauchamp <jwb(at)TIMBRE.MUSIC.UIUC.EDU> Date: Tue, 16 Apr 1996 09:30:54 -0600>The even partials give a pitch an octave higher (surprise!) Why is this a surprise since the partials consist of the octave and its harmonics? >and due to the formant-like spectrum of the oboe a soprano-like timbre. >Curiously this sopranoness depends on the presence of the vibrato. In the late seventies John Chowning came to the conclusion that the soprano illusion was highly dependent on having the right amount of vibrato. It even seems to work with sine waves in the right frequency range. A Theremin often sounds like a soprano, without enunciation, of course. Jim Beauchamp