Out-of-tune upper harmonics and pure harmonic vibration produce the Aeolian harp’s eerie timbre

Evidence

The high frequency of the tune, its random quality, the unusual timbre due to strings vibrating mainly in one of their higher harmonics rather than a combination of them including the lower harmonics, and the fact that many of the harmonics are out of tune with any reasonable musical scale all contribute to the pleasantly eerie sound of a well-constructed Aeolian harp. — Eric J. Heller, Why You Hear What You Hear- An…, 1871

Categorization

• SEED: The mechanistic explanation of ‘eerie’ timbre — what makes a sound unsettling — is an essay angle on acoustic aesthetics.