The acoustic role of rosette design in the oud: An experimental study of geometric and mechanical effects

Emir Değirmenli

doi:10.12975/rastmd.20261434

The acoustic role of rosette design in the oud: An experimental study of geometric and mechanical effects

Abstract

Oud rosettes have traditionally been discussed primarily as decorative structures covering the sound holes, although their acoustic and mechanical roles remain insufficiently resolved. This study investigates rosette design within a unified vibroacoustic framework. The geometric analysis considers total open area, regional open-area distribution, and total aperture-edge length, whereas the mechanical analysis considers progressive added mass and connectivity/stiffness-proxy configurations. A single fully playable oud and a set of interchangeable experimental rosettes were used to isolate local design changes from inter-instrument variability. For each configuration, the structural response was characterized through bridge-mobility measurements, and the force- normalized acoustic response was measured with a calibrated microphone positioned 1 m from the instrument under standardized conditions. The lightweight geometry series produced comparatively modest, descriptor- specific changes; the clearest openness effects occurred at the fully Closed and Open boundary conditions. Progressive added mass produced the most regular downward shift and reduction of the bridge-mobility peak around 220 Hz, whereas the connectivity/stiffness-proxy series evolved non-monotonically and was dominated by the F4 departure. In the experimental oud examined here, the findings support treating the rosette as a coupled geometric and mechanically interacting component rather than as a decorative cover or an open-area descriptor alone.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

This research received no financial support.

Ethical Statement

This study does not require ethics committee approval. During the preparation of this work, OpenAI ChatGPT was used for language editing, translation assistance, refinement of data visualizations, and support in developing deterministic computational procedures for the parametric generation of rosette geometries. The author reviewed and verified all AI-assisted outputs and retains full responsibility for the experimental data, analyses, interpretations, and conclusions. No experimental measurements were generated, fabricated, or modified by AI.

Thanks

The author gratefully acknowledges Ufuk Güler for providing the vector drawings of the traditional oud rosette patterns, and Aymen Rahmani for revising these drawings to enable their parametric and computational use.

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Music (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Emir Değirmenli ^*
Türkiye

Early Pub Date

September 30, 2026

Publication Date

September 30, 2026

Submission Date

December 17, 2025

Acceptance Date

September 10, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 14 Number: 3

DOI

https://doi.org/10.12975/rastmd.20261434

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA22ZM53WH

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Değirmenli, E. (2026). The acoustic role of rosette design in the oud: An experimental study of geometric and mechanical effects. Rast Musicology Journal, 14(3), 443-476. https://doi.org/10.12975/rastmd.20261434

AMA

1.Değirmenli E. The acoustic role of rosette design in the oud: An experimental study of geometric and mechanical effects. RMJ. 2026;14(3):443-476. doi:10.12975/rastmd.20261434

Chicago

Değirmenli, Emir. 2026. “The Acoustic Role of Rosette Design in the Oud: An Experimental Study of Geometric and Mechanical Effects”. Rast Musicology Journal 14 (3): 443-76. https://doi.org/10.12975/rastmd.20261434.

EndNote

Değirmenli E (September 1, 2026) The acoustic role of rosette design in the oud: An experimental study of geometric and mechanical effects. Rast Musicology Journal 14 3 443–476.

IEEE

[1]E. Değirmenli, “The acoustic role of rosette design in the oud: An experimental study of geometric and mechanical effects”, RMJ, vol. 14, no. 3, pp. 443–476, Sept. 2026, doi: 10.12975/rastmd.20261434.

ISNAD

Değirmenli, Emir. “The Acoustic Role of Rosette Design in the Oud: An Experimental Study of Geometric and Mechanical Effects”. Rast Musicology Journal 14/3 (September 1, 2026): 443-476. https://doi.org/10.12975/rastmd.20261434.

JAMA

1.Değirmenli E. The acoustic role of rosette design in the oud: An experimental study of geometric and mechanical effects. RMJ. 2026;14:443–476.

MLA

Değirmenli, Emir. “The Acoustic Role of Rosette Design in the Oud: An Experimental Study of Geometric and Mechanical Effects”. Rast Musicology Journal, vol. 14, no. 3, Sept. 2026, pp. 443-76, doi:10.12975/rastmd.20261434.

Vancouver

1.Emir Değirmenli. The acoustic role of rosette design in the oud: An experimental study of geometric and mechanical effects. RMJ. 2026 Sep. 1;14(3):443-76. doi:10.12975/rastmd.20261434