ABSTRACT
According to the standard definition, timbre is ‘that attribute of auditory sensation in terms of which a listener can judge that two sounds similarly presented and having the same loudness and pitch are dissimilar’ (ANSI S. 3.20, 1973). This definition reflects the multidimensional nature of timbre, which makes it difficult to name precisely the relation of certain physical parameters to perceived sound qualitites. Accordingly, this question is one of the main areas of research on timbre or sound colour. This research can be divided into two main categories: a) studies focused on timbre production, especially on physical parameters determining the timbre of different musical instruments, and b) studies focused on timbre perception.
