Resonant Vessels in Russian Churches and Their Study in a Concert Hall

A study on resonant vessels in Russian churches, particularly the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Churches of the Pskov School of Architecture, reveals that these vessels act as resonators with identifiable natural frequencies. However, their presence does not significantly alter room acoustics. The research highlights the Church of St. Nicholas in Pskov, which holds a potential world record for the highest number of such vessels—around 300—in a single room. To investigate their acoustic properties, measurements were conducted in the Rachmaninov Hall at Moscow Conservatory, a historic chamber concert hall with 29 built-in vessels. The findings contribute to the understanding of medieval Russian architectural acoustics and challenge assumptions about the functional impact of these vessels.

Kanev, N. (2020). Resonant Vessels in Russian Churches and Their Study in a Concert Hall. Acoustics, 2(2), 399–415. https://doi.org/10.3390/acoustics2020023