New Paper Published on the Timbral Properties of the Karadeniz Kemenche Body
Our new research has been published in Acta Acustica.
The paper, "Timbral Determinants of the Karadeniz Kemenche: A Multimodal Analysis of Material and Geometric Influences", investigates the acoustic properties of the Karadeniz kemenche, a traditional bowed lute from Turkey's Black Sea region, through experimental modal analysis, cluster statistics, and regression modelling.
Testing of 18 regionally representative instruments revealed a clear binary classification: bass-oriented instruments (n=11) predominantly feature thicker soundboards (0.31 ± 0.02 cm) made from ivy or plum wood, while treble-oriented designs (n=7) employ denser mulberry with thinner soundboards (0.25 ± 0.01 cm). Cluster analysis confirmed this division statistically (Gap statistic = 0.82), with spectral energy variance accounting for 79% of group differences (PERMANOVA, p = 0.002). Regression models identified fingerboard/nut thickness as the most influential design variable (13.22% effect).
The study advances heritage instrument analysis by combining vibrational testing with predictive modelling, offering both evidence-based design guidelines for luthiers and a transferable methodological framework for the study of other folk instruments.
The full article is available at https://doi.org/10.1051/aacus/2026026.
