Klänge

Klänge is the plural of Klang in German, meaning sounds or tones. The term can refer to any audible phenomena produced by vibrating objects, including musical tones, noise, voice, and the overall sonic character of a sound.

Etymology: The word derives from Old High German clang, related to English clang; it originally denoted a ringing or resonant sound and has broadened to include any audible phenomenon in modern German.

In music and sound studies: Klang is used to describe both a single tone and the quality that distinguishes one sound from another, known as timbre in English; Klangfarbe is timbre; in music theory, a basic "Klang" can denote the character of a chord, instrument, or voice.

Physical and perceptual aspects: Klänge are characterized by pitch (Frequenz), loudness (Lautstärke), duration, and timbre. In acoustics, spectra, envelopes, and attenuation influence how Klänge are perceived. Psychoacoustics studies how humans interpret these features.

Usage and context: In German-language music criticism and theory, Klänge are discussed in terms of texture, color, and mood; poets and writers refer to the sonic imagery of language using "Klang" or "Klänge".

See also: Klang, Klangfarbe, Timbre, Acoustics, Phonetics.