In physics, a wave is a disturbance that travels through space and time, usually accompanied by the transfer of energy.

Waves travel and the wave motion transfers energy from one point to another, often with no permanent displacement of the particles of the medium—that is, with little or no associated mass transport. They consist, instead, of oscillations or vibrations around almost fixed locations. For example, a cork on rippling water will bob up and down, staying in about the same place while the wave itself moves onwards.

One type of wave is a mechanical wave, which propagates through a medium in which the substance of this medium is deformed. The deformation reverses itself owing to restoring forces resulting from its deformation. For example, sound waves propagate via air molecules bumping into their neighbors. This transfers some energy to these neighbors, which will cause a cascade of collisions between neighbouring molecules. When air molecules collide with their neighbors, they also bounce away from them (restoring force). This keeps the molecules from continuing to travel in the direction of the wave.

Another type of wave can travel through a vacuum, e.g. electromagnetic radiation (including visible light, ultraviolet radiation, infrared radiation, gamma rays, X-rays, and radio waves). This type of wave consists of periodic oscillations in electrical and magnetic fields.

A main distinction can be made between transverse and longitudinal waves. Transverse waves occur when a disturbance sends waves perpendicular (at right angles) to the original wave. Longitudinal waves occur when a disturbance sends waves in the same direction as the original wave.

Waves are described by a wave equation which sets out how the disturbance proceeds over time. The mathematical form of this equation varies depending on the type of wave.

General features

A single, all-encompassing definition for the term ''wave'' is not straightforward. A vibration can be defined as a ''back-and-forth'' motion around a reference value. However, a vibration is not necessarily a wave. An attempt to define the necessary and sufficient characteristics that qualify a phenomenon to be called a ''wave'' results in a fuzzy border line.

The term ''wave'' is often intuitively understood as referring to a transport of spatial disturbances that are generally not accompanied by a motion of the medium occupying this space as a whole. In a wave, the energy of a vibration is moving away from the source in the form of a disturbance within the surrounding medium . However, this notion is problematic for a standing wave (for example, a wave on a string), where energy is moving in both directions equally, or for electromagnetic / light waves in a vacuum, where the concept of medium does not apply. There are water waves on the ocean surface; light waves emitted by the Sun; microwaves used in microwave ovens; radio waves broadcast by radio stations; and sound waves generated by radio receivers, telephone handsets and living creatures (as voices).

It may appear that the description of waves is closely related to their physical origin for each specific instance of a wave process. For example, acoustics is distinguished from optics in that sound waves are related to a mechanical rather than an electromagnetic wave transfer caused by vibration. Concepts such as mass, momentum, inertia, or elasticity, become therefore crucial in describing acoustic (as distinct from optic) wave processes. This difference in origin introduces certain wave characteristics particular to the properties of the medium involved. For example, in the case of air: vortices, radiation pressure, shock waves etc.; in the case of solids: Rayleigh waves, dispersion etc.; and so on.

Other properties, however, although they are usually described in an origin-specific manner, may be generalized to all waves. For such reasons, wave theory represents a particular branch of physics that is concerned with the properties of wave processes independently from their physical origin. For example, based on the mechanical origin of acoustic waves, a moving disturbance in space–time can exist if and only if the medium involved is neither infinitely stiff nor infinitely pliable. If all the parts making up a medium were rigidly ''bound'', then they would all vibrate as one, with no delay in the transmission of the vibration and therefore no wave motion. This is impossible because it would violate general relativity. On the other hand, if all the parts were independent, then there would not be any transmission of the vibration and again, no wave motion. Although the above statements are meaningless in the case of waves that do not require a medium, they reveal a characteristic that is relevant to all waves regardless of origin: within a wave, the phase of a vibration (that is, its position within the vibration cycle) is different for adjacent points in space because the vibration reaches these points at different times.

Similarly, wave processes revealed from the study of waves other than sound waves can be significant to the understanding of sound phenomena. A relevant example is Thomas Young's principle of interference (Young, 1802, in ). This principle was first introduced in Young's study of light and, within some specific contexts (for example, scattering of sound by sound), is still a researched area in the study of sound.

Mathematical description of one-dimensional waves

Wave equation

Consider a traveling transverse wave (which may be a pulse) on a string (the medium). Consider the string to have a single spatial dimension. Consider this wave as traveling

in the $x$ direction in space. E.g., let the positive $x$ direction be to the right, and the negative $x$ direction be to the left.

with constant amplitude $u$

with constant velocity $v$, where $v$ is

*independent of wavelength (no dispersion)

independent of amplitude (linear media, not nonlinear).

with constant waveform, or shape

This wave can then be described by the two-dimensional functions

: $u(x,\; \backslash \; t)\; =\; F(x\; -\; v\; \backslash \; t)$ (waveform $F$ traveling to the right) : $u(x,\; \backslash \; t)\; =\; G(x\; +\; v\; \backslash \; t)$ (waveform $G$ traveling to the left)

or, more generally, by d'Alembert's formula:

:$u(x,t)=F(x-vt)+G(x+vt).\; \backslash ,$

representing two component waveforms $F$ and $G$ traveling through the medium in opposite directions. This wave can also be represented by the partial differential equation

:$\backslash frac\{1\}\{v^2\}\backslash frac\{\backslash partial^2\; u\}\{\backslash partial\; t^2\}=\backslash frac\{\backslash partial^2\; u\}\{\backslash partial\; x^2\}.\; \backslash ,$

General solutions are based upon Duhamel's principle.

Wave forms

The form or shape of ''F'' in d'Alembert's formula involves the argument ''x − vt''. Constant values of this argument correspond to constant values of ''F'', and these constant values occur if ''x'' increases at the same rate that ''vt'' increases. That is, the wave shaped like the function ''F'' will move in the positive ''x''-direction at velocity ''v'' (and ''G'' will propagate at the same speed in the negative ''x''-direction).

In the case of a periodic function ''F'' with period ''λ'', that is, ''F''(''x + λ'' − ''vt'') = ''F''(''x '' − ''vt''), the periodicity of ''F'' in space means that a snapshot of the wave at a given time ''t'' finds the wave varying periodically in space with period ''λ'' (the wavelength of the wave). In a similar fashion, this periodicity of ''F'' implies a periodicity in time as well: ''F''(''x'' − ''v(t + T)'') = ''F''(''x '' − ''vt'') provided ''vT'' = ''λ'', so an observation of the wave at a fixed location ''x'' finds the wave undulating periodically in time with period ''T = λ''/''v''.

Amplitude and modulation

The amplitude of a wave may be constant (in which case the wave is a ''c.w.'' or ''continuous wave''), or may be ''modulated'' so as to vary with time and/or position. The outline of the variation in amplitude is called the ''envelope'' of the wave. Mathematically, the modulated wave can be written in the form:

:$u(x,\; \backslash \; t)\; =\; A(x,\; \backslash \; t)\backslash sin\; (kx\; -\; \backslash omega\; t\; +\; \backslash phi)\; \backslash \; ,$

where $A(x,\backslash \; t)$ is the amplitude envelope of the wave, $k$ is the ''wavenumber'' and $\backslash phi$ is the ''phase''. If the group velocity $v\_g$ (see below) is wavelength-independent, this equation can be simplified as:

:$u(x,\; \backslash \; t)\; =\; A(x\; -\; v\_g\; \backslash \; t)\backslash sin\; (kx\; -\; \backslash omega\; t\; +\; \backslash phi)\; \backslash \; ,$

showing that the envelope moves with the group velocity and retains its shape. Otherwise, in cases where the group velocity varies with wavelength, the pulse shape changes in a manner often described using an ''envelope equation''.

Phase velocity and group velocity

There are two velocities that are associated with waves, the phase velocity and the group velocity. To understand them, one must consider several types of waveform. For simplification, examination is restricted to one dimension.

The most basic wave (a form of plane wave) may be expressed in the form:

:$\backslash psi\; (x,\; \backslash \; t)\; =\; A\; e^\{i\; \backslash left(\; kx\; -\; \backslash omega\; t\; \backslash right)\}\; \backslash \; ,$

which can be related to the usual sine and cosine forms using Euler's formula. Rewriting the argument, $kx-\backslash omega\; t\; =\; (\backslash frac\{2\backslash pi\}\{\backslash lambda\})(x\; -\; vt)$, makes clear that this expression describes a vibration of wavelength $\backslash lambda\; =\; \backslash frac\{2\backslash pi\}\{k\}$ traveling in the ''x''-direction with a constant ''phase velocity'' $v\_p\; =\; \backslash frac\{\backslash omega\}\{k\}\backslash ,$.

The other type of wave to be considered is one with localized structure described by an envelope, which may be expressed mathematically as, for example:

:$\backslash psi\; (x,\; \backslash \; t)\; =\; \backslash int\_\{-\backslash infty\}\; ^\{\backslash infty\}\backslash \; dk\_1\; \backslash \; A(k\_1)\backslash \; e^\{i\backslash left(k\_1x\; -\; \backslash omega\; t\; \backslash right)\}\; \backslash \; ,$

where now ''A(k''₁'')'' (the integral is the inverse fourier transform of A(k1)) is a function exhibiting a sharp peak in a region of wave vectors Δ''k'' surrounding the point ''k''₁ = ''k''. In exponential form:

:$A\; =\; A\_o\; (k\_1)\; e^\; \{i\; \backslash alpha\; (k\_1)\}\; \backslash \; ,$

with ''A''_o the magnitude of ''A''. For example, a common choice for ''A''_o is a Gaussian wave packet:

:$A\_o\; (k\_1)\; =\; N\backslash \; e^\{-\backslash sigma^2\; (k\_1-k)^2\; /\; 2\}\; \backslash \; ,$

where σ determines the spread of ''k''₁-values about ''k'', and ''N'' is the amplitude of the wave.

The exponential function inside the integral for ψ oscillates rapidly with its argument, say φ(''k''₁), and where it varies rapidly, the exponentials cancel each other out, interfere destructively, contributing little to ψ. However, an exception occurs at the location where the argument φ of the exponential varies slowly. (This observation is the basis for the method of stationary phase for evaluation of such integrals.) The condition for φ to vary slowly is that its rate of change with ''k''₁ be small; this rate of variation is:

:$\backslash left\; .\; \backslash frac\{d\; \backslash varphi\; \}\{d\; k\_1\}\; \backslash right\; |\; \_\{k\_1\; =\; k\; \}\; =\; x\; -\; t\; \backslash left\; .\; \backslash frac\{d\; \backslash omega\}\{dk\_1\}\backslash right\; |\; \_\{k\_1\; =\; k\; \}\; +\backslash left\; .\; \backslash frac\{d\; \backslash alpha\}\{d\; k\_1\}\backslash right\; |\; \_\{k\_1\; =\; k\; \}\; \backslash \; ,$

where the evaluation is made at ''k''₁ = ''k'' because ''A(k''₁'')'' is centered there. This result shows that the position ''x'' where the phase changes slowly, the position where ψ is appreciable, moves with time at a speed called the ''group velocity'':

:$v\_g\; =\; \backslash frac\{d\; \backslash omega\}\{dk\}\; \backslash \; .$

The group velocity therefore depends upon the dispersion relation connecting ω and ''k''. For example, in quantum mechanics the energy of a particle represented as a wave packet is ''E'' = ħω = (ħ''k'')²/(2''m''). Consequently, for that wave situation, the group velocity is

:$v\_g\; =\; \backslash frac\; \{\backslash hbar\; k\}\{m\}\; \backslash \; ,$

showing that the velocity of a localized particle in quantum mechanics is its group velocity. Because the group velocity varies with ''k'', the shape of the wave packet broadens with time, and the particle becomes less localized. In other words, the velocity of the constituent waves of the wave packet travel at a rate that varies with their wavelength, so some move faster than others, and they cannot maintain the same interference pattern as the wave propagates.

Sinusoidal waves

Mathematically, the most basic wave is the (spatially) one-dimensional sine wave (or ''harmonic wave'' or ''sinusoid'') with an amplitude $u$ described by the equation:

:$u(x,\; \backslash \; t)=\; A\; \backslash sin\; (kx\; -\; \backslash omega\; t\; +\; \backslash phi)\; \backslash \; ,$

where

$A$ is the maximum amplitude of the wave, maximum distance from the highest point of the disturbance in the medium (the crest) to the equilibrium point during one wave cycle. In the illustration to the right, this is the maximum vertical distance between the baseline and the wave.

$x$ is the space coordinate

$t$ is the time coordinate

$k$ is the wavenumber

$\backslash omega$ is the angular frequency

$\backslash phi$ is the phase.

The units of the amplitude depend on the type of wave. Transverse mechanical waves (e.g., a wave on a string) have an amplitude expressed as a distance (e.g., meters), longitudinal mechanical waves (e.g., sound waves) use units of pressure (e.g., pascals), and electromagnetic waves (a form of transverse vacuum wave) express the amplitude in terms of its electric field (e.g., volts/meter).

The wavelength $\backslash lambda$ is the distance between two sequential crests or troughs (or other equivalent points), generally is measured in meters. A wavenumber $k$, the spatial frequency of the wave in radians per unit distance (typically per meter), can be associated with the wavelength by the relation

:$k\; =\; \backslash frac\{2\; \backslash pi\}\{\backslash lambda\}.\; \backslash ,$

The period $T$ is the time for one complete cycle of an oscillation of a wave. The frequency $f$ is the number of periods per unit time (per second) and is typically measured in hertz. These are related by:

:$f=\backslash frac\{1\}\{T\}.\; \backslash ,$

In other words, the frequency and period of a wave are reciprocals.

The angular frequency $\backslash omega$ represents the frequency in radians per second. It is related to the frequency or period by

:$\backslash omega\; =\; 2\; \backslash pi\; f\; =\; \backslash frac\{2\; \backslash pi\}\{T\}.\; \backslash ,$

The wavelength $\backslash lambda$ of a sinusoidal waveform traveling at constant speed $v$ is given by: :$\backslash lambda\; =\; \backslash frac\{v\}\{f\},$

where $v$ is called the phase speed (magnitude of the phase velocity) of the wave and $f$ is the wave's frequency.

Wavelength can be a useful concept even if the wave is not periodic in space. For example, in an ocean wave approaching shore, the incoming wave undulates with a varying ''local'' wavelength that depends in part on the depth of the sea floor compared to the wave height. The analysis of the wave can be based upon comparison of the local wavelength with the local water depth.

Although arbitrary wave shapes will propagate unchanged in lossless linear time-invariant systems, in the presence of dispersion the sine wave is the unique shape that will propagate unchanged but for phase and amplitude, making it easy to analyze. Due to the Kramers–Kronig relations, a linear medium with dispersion also exhibits loss, so the sine wave propagating in a dispersive medium is attenuated in certain frequency ranges that depend upon the medium. The sine function is periodic, so the sine wave or sinusoid has a wavelength in space and a period in time.

The sinusoid is defined for all times and distances, whereas in physical situations we usually deal with waves that exist for a limited span in space and duration in time. Fortunately, an arbitrary wave shape can be decomposed into an infinite set of sinusoidal waves by the use of Fourier analysis. As a result, the simple case of a single sinusoidal wave can be applied to more general cases. In particular, many media are linear, or nearly so, so the calculation of arbitrary wave behavior can be found by adding up responses to individual sinusoidal waves using the superposition principle to find the solution for a general waveform. When a medium is nonlinear, the response to complex waves cannot be determined from a sine-wave decomposition.

Plane waves

Standing waves

A standing wave, also known as a ''stationary wave'', is a wave that remains in a constant position. This phenomenon can occur because the medium is moving in the opposite direction to the wave, or it can arise in a stationary medium as a result of interference between two waves traveling in opposite directions.

The ''sum'' of two counter-propagating waves (of equal amplitude and frequency) creates a ''standing wave''. Standing waves commonly arise when a boundary blocks further propagation of the wave, thus causing wave reflection, and therefore introducing a counter-propagating wave. For example when a violin string is displaced, transverse waves propagate out to where the string is held in place at the bridge and the nut, where the waves are reflected back. At the bridge and nut, the two opposed waves are in antiphase and cancel each other, producing a node. Halfway between two nodes there is an antinode, where the two counter-propagating waves ''enhance'' each other maximally. There is no net propagation of energy over time.

Physical properties

Waves exhibit common behaviors under a number of standard situations, e.g.,

Transmission and media

Waves normally move in in a straight line (i.e. rectilinearly) through a ''transmission medium''. Such media can be classified into one or more of the following categories:

A ''bounded medium'' if it is finite in extent, otherwise an ''unbounded medium''

A ''linear medium'' if the amplitudes of different waves at any particular point in the medium can be added

A ''uniform medium'' or ''homogeneous medium'' if its physical properties are unchanged at different locations in space

An ''anisotropic medium'' if one or more of its physical properties differ in one or more directions

An ''isotropic medium'' if its physical properties are the ''same'' in all directions

Absorption

Reflection

When a wave strikes a reflective surface, it changes direction, such that the angle made by the incident wave and line normal to the surface equals the angle made by the reflected wave and the same normal line.

Interference

Waves that encounter each other combine through superposition to create a new wave called an interference pattern. Important interference patterns occur for waves that are in phase.

Refraction

Refraction is the phenomenon of a wave changing its speed. Mathematically, this means that the size of the phase velocity changes. Typically, refraction occurs when a wave passes from one medium into another. The amount by which a wave is refracted by a material is given by the refractive index of the material. The directions of incidence and refraction are related to the refractive indices of the two materials by Snell's law.

Diffraction

A wave exhibits diffraction when it encounters an obstacle that bends the wave or when it spreads after emerging from an opening. Diffraction effects are more pronounced when the size of the obstacle or opening is comparable to the wavelength of the wave.

Polarization

A wave is polarized if it oscillates in one direction or plane. A wave can be polarized by the use of a polarizing filter. The polarization of a transverse wave describes the direction of oscillation in the plane perpendicular to the direction of travel.

Longitudinal waves such as sound waves do not exhibit polarization. For these waves the direction of oscillation is along the direction of travel.

Dispersion

A wave undergoes dispersion when either the phase velocity or the group velocity depends on the wave frequency. Dispersion is most easily seen by letting white light pass through a prism, the result of which is to produce the spectrum of colours of the rainbow. Isaac Newton performed experiments with light and prisms, presenting his findings in the ''Opticks'' (1704) that white light consists of several colours and that these colours cannot be decomposed any further.

Mechanical waves

Waves on strings

The speed of a wave traveling along a vibrating string ('' v '') is directly proportional to the square root of the tension of the string ('' T '') over the linear mass density ('' μ ''):

:$v=\backslash sqrt\{\backslash frac\{T\}\{\backslash mu\}\},\; \backslash ,$

where the linear density ''μ'' is the mass per unit length of the string.

Acoustic waves

Acoustic or sound waves travel at speed given by

:$v=\backslash sqrt\{\backslash frac\{B\}\{\backslash rho\_0\}\},\; \backslash ,$

or the square root of the adiabatic bulk modulus divided by the ambient fluid density (see speed of sound).

Water waves

Ripples on the surface of a pond are actually a combination of transverse and longitudinal waves; therefore, the points on the surface follow orbital paths.

Sound—a mechanical wave that propagates through gases, liquids, solids and plasmas;

Inertial waves, which occur in rotating fluids and are restored by the Coriolis effect;

Ocean surface waves, which are perturbations that propagate through water.

Seismic waves

Shock waves

Other

Waves of traffic, that is, propagation of different densities of motor vehicles, and so forth, which can be modeled as kinematic waves

Metachronal wave refers to the appearance of a traveling wave produced by coordinated sequential actions.

Electromagnetic waves

(radio, micro, infrared, visible, uv)

An electromagnetic wave consists of two waves that are oscillations of the electric and magnetic fields. An electromagnetic wave travels in a direction that is at right angles to the oscillation direction of both fields. In the 19th century, James Clerk Maxwell showed that, in vacuum, the electric and magnetic fields satisfy the wave equation both with speed equal to that of the speed of light. From this emerged the idea that light is an electromagnetic wave. Electromagnetic waves can have different frequencies (and thus wavelengths), giving rise to various types of radiation such as radio waves, microwaves, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet and X-rays.

Quantum mechanical waves

The Schrödinger equation describes the wave-like behavior of particles in quantum mechanics. Solutions of this equation are wave functions which can be used to describe the probability density of a particle. Quantum mechanics also describes particle properties that other waves, such as light and sound, have on the atomic scale and below.

thumb|A propagating wave packet; in general, the ''envelope'' of the wave packet moves at a different speed than the constituent waves.

de Broglie waves

Louis de Broglie postulated that all particles with momentum have a wavelength

:$\backslash lambda\; =\; \backslash frac\{h\}\{p\},$

where ''h'' is Planck's constant, and ''p'' is the magnitude of the momentum of the particle. This hypothesis was at the basis of quantum mechanics. Nowadays, this wavelength is called the de Broglie wavelength. For example, the electrons in a CRT display have a de Broglie wavelength of about 10⁻¹³ m.'''

A wave representing such a particle traveling in the ''k''-direction is expressed by the wave function:

:$\backslash psi\; (\backslash mathbf\{r\},\; \backslash \; t=0)\; =A\backslash \; e^\{i\backslash mathbf\{k\; \backslash cdot\; r\}\}\; \backslash \; ,$

where the wavelength is determined by the wave vector k as:

:$\backslash lambda\; =\; \backslash frac\; \{2\; \backslash pi\}\{k\}\; \backslash \; ,$

and the momentum by:

:$\backslash mathbf\; p\; =\; \backslash hbar\; \backslash mathbf\{k\}\; \backslash \; .$

However, a wave like this with definite wavelength is not localized in space, and so cannot represent a particle localized in space. To localize a particle, de Broglie proposed a superposition of different wavelengths ranging around a central value in a wave packet, a waveform often used in quantum mechanics to describe the wave function of a particle. In a wave packet, the wavelength of the particle is not precise, and the local wavelength deviates on either side of the main wavelength value.

In representing the wave function of a localized particle, the wave packet is often taken to have a Gaussian shape and is called a ''Gaussian wave packet''. Gaussian wave packets also are used to analyze water waves.

For example, a Gaussian wavefunction ψ might take the form:

:$\backslash psi(x,\backslash \; t=0)\; =\; A\backslash \; \backslash exp\; \backslash left(\; -\backslash frac\{x^2\}\{2\backslash sigma^2\}\; +\; i\; k\_0\; x\; \backslash right)\; \backslash \; ,$

at some initial time ''t'' = 0, where the central wavelength is related to the central wave vector ''k''₀ as λ₀ = 2π / ''k''₀. It is well known from the theory of Fourier analysis, or from the Heisenberg uncertainty principle (in the case of quantum mechanics) that a narrow range of wavelengths is necessary to produce a localized wave packet, and the more localized the envelope, the larger the spread in required wavelengths. The Fourier transform of a Gaussian is itself a Gaussian. Given the Gaussian:

:$f(x)\; =\; e^\{-x^2\; /\; (2\backslash sigma^2)\}\; \backslash \; ,$

the Fourier transform is:

:$\backslash tilde\{\; f\}\; (k)\; =\; \backslash sigma\; e^\{-\backslash sigma^2\; k^2\; /\; 2\}\; \backslash \; .$

The Gaussian in space therefore is made up of waves:

:$f(x)\; =\; \backslash frac\{1\}\{\backslash sqrt\{2\; \backslash pi\}\}\; \backslash int\_\{-\backslash infty\}^\{\backslash infty\}\; \backslash \; \backslash tilde\{f\}\; (k)\; e^\{ikx\}\; \backslash \; dk\; \backslash \; ;$

that is, a number of waves of wavelengths λ such that ''k''λ = 2 π.

The parameter σ decides the spatial spread of the Gaussian along the ''x''-axis, while the Fourier transform shows a spread in wave vector ''k'' determined by 1/σ. That is, the smaller the extent in space, the larger the extent in ''k'', and hence in λ = 2π/''k''.

Gravitational waves

Researchers believe that gravitational waves also travel through space, although gravitational waves have never been directly detected. Not to be confused with gravity waves, gravitational waves are disturbances in the curvature of spacetime, predicted by Einstein's theory of general relativity.

WKB method

In a nonuniform medium, in which the wavenumber ''k'' can depend on the location as well as the frequency, the phase term ''kx'' is typically replaced by the integral of ''k''(''x'')''dx'', according to the WKB method. Such nonuniform traveling waves are common in many physical problems, including the mechanics of the cochlea and waves on hanging ropes.

References

See also

Sources

Campbell, M. and Greated, C. (1987). ''The Musician’s Guide to Acoustics''. New York: Schirmer Books.

. | ref=harv | postscript=. }}. .

Vassilakis, P.N. (2001). ''Perceptual and Physical Properties of Amplitude Fluctuation and their Musical Significance''. Doctoral Dissertation. University of California, Los Angeles.

External links

Interactive Visual Representation of Waves

Science Aid: Wave properties—Concise guide aimed at teens

Simulation of diffraction of water wave passing through a gap

Simulation of interference of water waves

Simulation of longitudinal traveling wave

Simulation of stationary wave on a string

Simulation of transverse traveling wave

Sounds Amazing—AS and A-Level learning resource for sound and waves

chapter from an online textbook

Simulation of waves on a string

of longitudinal and transverse mechanical wave

MIT OpenCourseWare 8.03: Vibrations and Waves Free, independent study course with video lectures, assignments, lecture notes and exams.

Category:Fundamental physics concepts Category:Partial differential equations

af:Golf (fisika) ar:موجة an:Onda (fesica) arc:ܓܠܠܐ az:Dalğa (fizika) bn:তরঙ্গ be:Хваля be-x-old:Хваля bg:Вълна ca:Ona cs:Vlnění cy:Ton da:Bølge de:Welle (Physik) et:Laine el:Κύμα es:Onda (física) eo:Ondo eu:Uhin fa:موج fr:Onde gl:Onda (física) ko:파동 hi:तरंग hr:Val io:Ondo id:Gelombang is:Bylgja it:Onda (fisica) he:גל kn:ತರಂಗ ka:ტალღა kk:Толқын ht:Vag ku:Pêl lv:Vilnis lt:Banga jbo:boxna hu:Hullám ml:തരംഗം mr:तरंग ms:Gelombang nl:Golf (natuurkunde) new:अलै (सन् २००३या संकिपा) ja:波動 no:Bølge nn:Bølgje pa:ਛੱਲ nds:Bülg (Physik) pl:Fala pt:Onda ro:Undă qu:Pillunya ru:Волна sco:Waw (science) simple:Wave (physics) sk:Vlnenie sl:Valovanje so:Mowjad sr:Талас (физика) sh:Val fi:Aalto (fysiikka) sv:Mekanisk vågrörelse tl:Alon ta:அலை te:తరంగము th:คลื่น tr:Dalga uk:Хвиля vi:Chuyển động sóng yi:כוואליע zh-yue:波 (物理) zh:波

name	Sissel Kyrkjebø
background	solo_singer
alias	Sissel
birth date	June 24, 1969
origin	Bergen, Norway
instrument	Vocals
genre	Pop, Folk, Classical music, Operatic pop
occupation	Singer
years active	1986–present
label	Denon, Universal
website	www.sissel.net
notable instruments	}}

Sissel Kyrkjebø (, /ˈsisel ˈçyrçeˌbø/; born 24 June 1969 in Bergen), also simply known as Sissel, is a Norwegian soprano.

Sissel is considered one of the world's top crossover sopranos. Sissel's musical style runs the gamut from pop recordings and folk songs, to classical vocals and operatic arias. She possesses a "crystalline" voice and wide vocal range, sweeping down from mezzo-soprano notes, in arias such as ''Mon cœur s'ouvre à ta voix'' from Saint-Saëns's opera ''Samson et Dalila'', to the F natural above soprano C. She sings mainly in English and Norwegian, but has also sung songs in Swedish, Danish, Gaelic, Italian, French, Russian, Icelandic, Faeroese, German, Neapolitan, Māori, Japanese and Latin.

She is well known for singing the Olympic Hymn (Hymne Olympique) at the opening and closing ceremonies of the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway; for duets with Plácido Domingo, Charles Aznavour, José Carreras, Neil Sedaka, Warren G, Brian May, Bryn Terfel, Josh Groban, Diana Krall, Russell Watson and The Chieftains; and her participation on the ''Titanic'' film soundtrack.

Sissel received her first U.S. Grammy nominations on December 6, 2007 for a collaboration with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. ''Spirit of the Season,'' a collection of songs from the choir’s 2006 Christmas concert featuring Sissel and the Orchestra at Temple Square, was nominated for the Best Classical Crossover Album of the Year, as well as Best Engineered Classical Album.

Sissel's combined solo record sales (not including soundtracks and other albums to which she contributed) amount to 10 million albums sold, most of them in Norway, a country with 4.7 million people. Her albums have also sold well in Sweden, Denmark and Japan. Together with Odd Nordstoga, they are the only Norwegian artists to have an album go 11 times platinum in album sales for their album "Strålande jul" (Glorious Christmas).

Sissel was married from 1993 to 2004 to Danish-American comedian and singer Eddie Skoller. They have two daughters.

The first name 'Sissel' is a Norwegian variant of 'Cecilia'. This first name has become popular after the martydom of Saint Cecilia, who is the patron saint of church music according to the Catholic Church.

Biography

When Sissel was nine, she sang in a children's choir, under New Zealand-born conductor Felicity Laurence. Sissel stayed with the choir for seven years. She said, "That was my musical education. We sang everything ‐classical and jazz, folk and even Maori songs. People said we sounded like an angel choir because we had this very clean pure sound, almost like an English boys’ choir." Sissel won her first local talent competition when she was ten. She was influenced by various musical genres; her parents were interested in country music and classical music, and her brothers' interest in rock influenced her also. Later, Sissel said Barbra Streisand was a huge inspiration.

In 1983, she appeared for the first time on Norwegian TV with the song ''Evergreen'' in the children's program Halvsju. In 1984 Sissel appeared in the sing-along program ''Syng med Oss'' ('Sing with us') together with a children's choir. The first Norwegian song she sang with this choir was the Norwegian folk tune ''Ung Åslaug''.

Sissel sang solo on TV several times in 1984. She also appeared in several TV programs, and met Rune Larsen, who later became her first manager.

1986–1994: Rise to prominence in Norway

In May 1986, Sissel performed during the intermission of the Eurovision Song Contest, which took place in Grieg Hall in her home town of Bergen. That same year, her first album, ''Sissel'', was released and sold more than 400,000 copies, making it the best selling album in Norway at that time.

In 1987, her Christmas album ''Glade Jul'' was released. It contained several traditional Christmas carols and it broke her previous record for best-selling album in Norway. This album still holds the record. Upon its release, it sold more than 600,000 copies in a country with a population of less than five million: to date, it has sold approximately a million copies. In Sweden, a Swedish language version was released, called ''Stilla Natt.'' That year Sissel was invited to represent Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest 1987, but she declined.

In the fall of 1988, Sissel moved to Oslo for a short period to play the role of Maria von Trapp in the Norwegian version of The Sound of Music. This production set box office records and was seen by over 110,000 people. Sissel later became ill and Merethe Trøan stepped in for her.

Sissel recorded the audio dub of the character Princess Ariel for the Danish, Norwegian and Swedish versions of the 1989 Disney movie The Little Mermaid.

In 1989, she released her third album, ''Soria Moria'', and on a Swedish TV-concert taped in Göteborg she met the man whom she would later marry, Danish comedian and singer Eddie Skoller. They sang "Vårvise" by Sebastian. The couple were engaged during the Christmas season of 1991 and married in Mariakirken in Bergen on 21 August 1993. This was a big happening in Norway that year. They had two daughters, Ingrid and Sarah, before they divorced in 2004.

In February 1994, Sissel performed during the opening and closing ceremonies of the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer. During the Olympics, legendary Spanish tenor Plácido Domingo visited Norway, where he came across one of her earlier albums. He contacted Sissel and the next day they recorded ''Fire In Your Heart,'' an English version of ''Se ilden lyse,'' the official theme song of the Lillehammer Olympics. These two versions of the song were released in February 1994 on Sissel's solo album ''Innerst i sjelen'' (Deep Within My Soul), a collection of Nordic folk songs. Domingo invited Sissel, along with world-renowned French singer Charles Aznavour, to partake in his annual ''Christmas in Vienna'' concert later that year. The concert was broadcast around the world and released as an album internationally.

1995–2001: Climb to international recognition

In 1995, Sissel was invited to perform at the annual Royal Variety Show in London. There she performed the renowned aria ''O Mio Babbino Caro'' from the opera ''Gianni Schicchi'' by Giacomo Puccini and the Norwegian classic ''Vitae Lux'' with the choir Gli Scapoli.

In 1997, Sissel toured the USA with the Irish group The Chieftains. They appeared, among other places, on the Late Show with David Letterman and in Carnegie Hall.

Later that summer Sissel was involved in recording the soundtrack to the film ''Titanic''. The soundtrack reached #1 on the Billboard charts and sold more than 24 million copies worldwide. James Horner, the composer of the film's music, knew Sissel from her album ''Innerst I Sjelen'' and he particularly liked how she sang ''Eg veit i himmerik ei borg'' (I Know in Heaven There Is a Castle). Horner had tried 25 or 30 singers before deciding on Sissel.

Sissel had a #1 hit across Europe in 1998 with ''Prince Igor,'' a duet with an American rapper Warren G on the concept album ''The Rapsody Overture'' which combined American rappers with European opera singers. Sissel sang an aria from Alexander Borodin's opera ''Prince Igor'' during the chorus, while Warren G rapped. When the song was recorded, Sissel had just a half-hour to learn the Russian lyrics and she got help from a Russian, who drove a cab in New York City: the driver's name, coincidentally, was Igor.

In 1999, she sang the Gaelic song ''Siuil a Run'' on The Chieftains' 1999 album ''Tears of Stone''.

In November 2000, Sissel released (in Norway only) her solo album, ''All Good Things'', which was her first solo album in nearly seven years. Following high sales, the album was released throughout Europe and Asia the following year. The album included the duet "Where the Lost Ones Go" with fellow Norwegian singer Espen Lind, which was also released on his album ''This is Pop Music'' in 2001.

In December 2000, she was invited to represent Norway at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert, where she sang "One Day" and "Weightless", both songs from ''All Good Things''. She was introduced by Jane Seymour as "the Norwegian star Sissel."

In 2000, Sissel also released a greatest hits collection in Japan that included two new songs from the Japanese TV show ''Summer Snow'', one of which was the show's theme song. Sissel is enormously popular in Japan and has released several Japanese versions of her albums there.

In 2001, she was asked to sing a duet with the Danish goth rockers Sort Sol. Sissel sang with them on the track "Elia Rising" from their album ''Snakecharmer,'' released in May 2001. They also performed together at the Roskilde Festival that year.

2002 to present: Global stardom

On October 1, 2002, Sissel released her first album in the USA: it sold over 100,000 copies in its first three months of release with almost no advertising or marketing. The album sold better than Decca record executives expected, their initial goal having been to sell 100,000 copies in the first nine months. The album, titled ''Sissel,'' was largely a re-recording of songs from her Norwegian album, ''All Good Things,'' with the addition of two songs, "Solitaire" and "Shenandoah".

On May 24, 2002, dressed in traditional Norwegian costume, Sissel performed her hit "Lær Meg Å Kjenne" at the wedding of Princess Märtha Louise of Norway and Ari Behn.

In late 2002, one of Sissel's concerts was filmed at the Oslo Spectrum and later broadcast in March 2003 on PBS in the United States. The British Singer Russell Watson was one of her guests. The production was subsequently released as the DVD ''Sissel in Concert''.

In December 2002, Sissel was again invited to represent Norway at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert, for which she sang "Somewhere over the Rainbow" from ''The Wizard of Oz'' and "The Prayer" in a duet with Josh Groban.

Sissel released her second USA album, ''My Heart,'' in March 2004. It was a classical crossover album and included two pop songs written by Richard Marx and one ballad, "Wait a While", written by Jon Lord of Deep Purple. "My Heart" reached #3 on the Billboard Classical Album Chart after debuting at #7 and spent 31 weeks on the chart.

In the summer and fall of 2004, Sissel went on tour with The Lord of the Rings Symphony. She was a featured soloist for an orchestral performance dedicated to the music from the ''The Lord of the Rings'' films. At each performance, Sissel performed with a symphony orchestra and choirs with 200 musicians on stage. Howard Shore stated, "Ancient Norwegian mythology and culture had a great influence on Tolkien's work. It is very thrilling to have the Norwegian singer Sissel perform as a soloist in The Lord of the Rings Symphony. Sissel's radiant voice illuminates this work." When asked about the tour in an interview, Sissel raved, "I love the music. It's such a wonderful feeling to be sitting in the middle of a symphony orchestra, surrounded by the beautiful voices of the choir and all those gorgeous melodies".

In May 2005, Sissel performed with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir in Salt Lake City, Utah, on their radio and TV broadcast, ''Music and the Spoken Word,'' which is featured on nearly 2,000 stations across the USA and around the world. Sissel joined the choir to commemorate the Centennial of Norwegian Independence from Sweden, which was being celebrated that year. Sissel sang the ABBA song "Like An Angel Passing Through My Room," "Vitae Lux", the traditional Norwegian hymn "Herre gud, ditt dyre navn og ære", and the Norwegian national anthem, "Ja, vi elsker dette landet" (Yes, we love this country!), with the choir.

In October 2005, Sissel was invited to perform on the well-known temple-concert, Ninna-ji Otobutai, in Osaka, Japan. She sang "Pie Jesu", "Sancta Maria" (intermezzo from Pietro Mascagni's opera ''Cavalleria Rusticana''), "You Raise Me Up", and several other songs. This concert was aired on television in Japan.

In December 2006, Sissel again joined the Mormon Tabernacle Choir as the featured soloist for their annual Christmas concerts. In four performances, she sang for more than 80,000 people in the 21,000-seat Conference Center in Salt Lake City. The concerts were videotaped for PBS television and aired in December 2007.

Sissel has celebrated more than 20 years in the music industry with the release of a greatest hits album presenting 40 of her best and most well-known songs.

In March 2007, a statistically representative sample of the Norwegian population chose her as the best female Norwegian musical artist in competition with 15 other big names, including Lene Marlin, Wenche Myhre, Kari Bremnes, and Bertine Zetlitz. In the summer of 2007, Sissel toured Norway, Sweden, France, and the USA with a band. According to Sissel, this is a new concert format for her, without a choir.

For the 2007 holiday season, PBS stations aired two concerts starring Sissel as part of the December pledge drive, one with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir titled ''Spirit of the Season'', released on CD and DVD in late September 2007, the other with operatic legend and good friend José Carreras titled ''Northern Lights'', released on CD and DVD in early November 2007. The albums of these concerts have proven to be extremely popular, with ''Northern Lights'' reaching #10 in the Billboard Classical Crossover list, and ''Spirit of the Season'' staying firmly planted at #1 on the Billboard Classical charts for nine consecutive weeks.

The album ''Northern Lights'' is a live recording of a concert at Bergstaden Ziir, a church from the 17th century in Røros, Norway. It was inspired by Norway’s winter, the Blue Hour, and the mystical Northern Lights. The concert featured the tenor José Carreras and music arranged by Kjetil Bjerkestrand. The musicians sharing the stage with Sissel were the Trondheim Soloists, the Nidaros Cathedral Girls Choir, and Sissel’s own band.

Sissel concluded an eight-city US tour in February 2008, singing selections from ''Northern Lights''. This was the first part of a US tour that lasted all year. The second part covered the central and southern United States and lasted through April.

On November 9, 2009, Sissel released a new Christmas album called ''Strålande Jul'' (Glorious Christmas), a Christmas project with Odd Nordstoga, a popular Norwegian singer. This album presents mostly old Christmas carols from Scandinavia. Sissel toured in both Norway and Sweden with Odd Nordstoga, The Real Group, Orsa Spelemannslag, and Krister Henrikson. This album and their sold-out Christmas concerts received much critical acclaim in Norway and Sweden. The record company ''Universal Music'' anticipated sales of about 100,000 CDs, ultimately sold more than 380,000 in Norway in the first two months.

In May 2010, Sissel visited China with Trondheimsolistene.

On September 20, 2010, an unauthorized biography of Sissel, named ''Sissel'', by Stig Nilsson, was released in Norway. Nilsson had written several songs for Sissel earlier in her career. In the book, Nilsson claims—among other things—that Sissel never became a worldwide superstar because she did not want to be. The book has only been released in Norwegian.

On November 15, 2010, Sissel released a new album in Scandinavia called ''Til Deg'' (For You), recorded in ABBA's Polar Studios in Stockholm, Nidaros Studios in Trondheim, and in Nashville. This album shows a new direction in music and is heavily influenced by the style of country, roots and folk. The album include five songs sung in Swedish, three in Norwegian and two in English, including a Norwegian translation of Victoria Shaw's song "Never Alone", titled "Velkommen hjem", and a Swedish cover of Alisson Krauss' song "Ghost In This House", called "Levande död". Sissel has collaborated with Mikael Wiehe, Espen Lind, and Py Bäckman on the new album.

On August 21, 2011, Sissel performed the Norwegian hymn "Til Ungdommen" by Nordahl Grieg on the National Memory Ceremony for the victims of 22.7.11. This ceremony took place in Oslo Spectrum and it was broadcasted directly on national television in all the Nordic countries. H.M. King Harald and H.M. Queen Sonja of Norway were there with members from all the Nordic Royal Houses. The primeministers from Norway, Sweden, Denmark and also the presidents of Iceland and Finland were on this ceremony.

Discography

Awards and recognition

1986 - ''Årets navn'' (Person of the Year) by a Norwegian national newspaper VG. 1986 - ''Årets spellemann (Musician of the Year)'' in the Spellemannprisen (Norwegian Grammy). 2005 - UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador 2006 - ''Knight of the 1st Class in the Order of St. Olav''. On 2 Feb 2006, The King of Norway knighted Sissel for her contributions to music and as an ambassador for Norway and she was the youngest ever recipient of this honor. 2006 - ''Juryens hederspris'' (Most Distinguished Artist—akin to a lifetime achievement award) in Spellemannprisen 2006. She is the youngest Norwegian performer ever to receive this award. A rose developed by Poulsen Roser is named after Sissel and she baptized the rose in Baroniet Rosendal on 4 Aug 2009.

References

External links

Official Websites

Sissel's official website

Sissel's official Facebook

Sissel's official Twitter account

Other Webpages

Sissel Lyrics - Lyric Wiki

The Sissel Website : Online Since 1997

Category:1969 births Category:Living people Category:Norwegian female singers Category:Norwegian Lutherans Category:Norwegian sopranos Category:Opera crossover singers Category:Knights First Class of the Order of St. Olav Category:People from Bergen Category:Spellemannprisen winners

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Name	Gabriella Cilmi
Background	solo_singer
Birth name	Gabriella Lucia Cilmi
Birth date	October 10, 1991
Origin	Melbourne, Australia
Genre	Pop, funk rock, crossover jazz, vocal jazz
Occupation	Singer-songwriter, record producer
Years active	2005–present
Label	Warner MusicIsland Records (UK)XenomaniaUniversal Republic (USA)
Website	http://www.gabriellacilmi.com }}

Gabriella Lucia Cilmi ( (born 10 October 1991) is an Australian singer-songwriter.

In 2008, Cilmi was awarded six ARIA awards including Single of the Year and Best Female Artist. Her debut album, ''Lessons to Be Learned'' was released in 2008, and was a worldwide success. Most recently, she has released a second studio album, ''Ten''.

Early life

Cilmi was born in the Melbourne suburb of Dandenong. Of Italian heritage, she moved to London with her family when she was 15, where she currently lives with her parents Paula and Joe (whose origins are in Crotone, Calabria, Italy) and her brother Joseph.

At an early age, Cilmi developed an interest in a wide range of musical styles, including Nina Simone, Led Zeppelin, Janis Joplin, The Sweet, T. Rex and Cat Stevens. She has also cited Suzi Quatro as a particular influence. Despite her natural aptitude and vocal talent, Cilmi was told that she lacked the discipline necessary to pursue a singing career. Idolising Janis Joplin, during this time she sang with a band (Foucault) performing cover songs by Led Zeppelin, Jet, Silverchair and others. Cilmi recorded original songs with writer/producers Barbara and Adrian Hannan of The SongStore.

In 2004, Cilmi captured the attention of Warner Music executive Michael Parisi while giving an impromptu rendition of the Rolling Stones' song "Jumpin' Jack Flash" at the Lygon Street Festa, a community festival in Melbourne. At the age of 13, Cilmi travelled to the US and UK with Adrian Hannan and was offered four major US deals. She eventually signed a contract with Island Records UK.

Musical career

2005–2009: ''Lessons to Be Learned''

The tracks "Don't Tell Me" and "Sorry", co-written with Barbara and Adrian Hannan, appeared on the soundtrack of 2005 Australian film ''Hating Alison Ashley''. Cilmi shares a manager (Cassandra Gracey), writer/producers (Xenomania) and UK record label (Island) with the Sugababes, and supported former Sugababe Mutya Buena at the Jazz Café in London in 2007. She made her UK TV debut in December 2007 when she sang her single "Sweet About Me" on ''Later... with Jools Holland''. The same month, Cilmi's song "Sanctuary" featured in the film ''St Trinian's'' and on its soundtrack. Cilmi recorded the theme to UK TV series ''Echo Beach'', which aired in early 2008 on ITV1; it is a cover of "Echo Beach" by Martha and the Muffins. In February 2008, she supported the Parisian band Nouvelle Vague on their UK tour.

Cilmi's first album, ''Lessons to Be Learned'', was written and recorded with hit production team Xenomania and was released in March 2008 in the UK. Cilmi has been compared to Amy Winehouse. The first single, "Sweet About Me", debuted on the UK Singles Chart that month and climbed to number six three months later, in June. It reached number seventeen on the Irish Singles Chart, and peaked at number one on the Australian ARIA Singles Chart. The song was used in a worldwide advertising campaign for the deodorant Sure/Rexona. Cilmi's second UK single, "Save the Lies", was not as successful as "Sweet About Me", peaking at number thirty-three in the UK. In Australia, the second single from the album was "Don't Wanna Go to Bed Now", which reached number twenty-eight. The subsequent single, "Sanctuary", was issued in November 2008 and failed to chart.

From March to May 2008, Cilmi supported the Sugababes on their UK Change Tour. She opened for James Blunt on his June 2008 Australian tour, and participated in the October 2008 MTV Greece concert alongside R.E.M. and Kaiser Chiefs. Also in 2008, Cilmi won six ARIA Awards in Australia, taking Best Female Artist, Breakthrough Artist: Single ("Sweet About Me"), Breakthrough Artist: Album (''Lessons to Be Learned''), Best Pop Release (''Lessons to Be Learned''), Highest Selling Single ("Sweet About Me"), and Single of the Year ("Sweet About Me"). Cilmi covered a Connie Francis song, "Warm This Winter", for Co-operative's Christmas 2008 advertising campaign; released as a single, it reached number twenty-two on the UK Singles Chart. In January 2009, Cilmi was nominated in the International Female category at the BRIT Awards and sang in the Rod Laver Arena before the 2009 Australian Open Men's Final.

Cilmi performed at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in March 2009 for Sound Relief, a multi-venue rock music concert in support of relief for the Victorian bushfire crisis. The event was held simultaneously with a concert at the Sydney Cricket Ground. All the proceeds from the Melbourne Concert will go to the Red Cross Victorian Bushfire relief. Cilmi made her U.S. television debut in March 2009 and performed on the Pyramid (main) stage at the Glastonbury Festival in June 2009. The following August, she won Grand Prix at Sopot International Song Festival, an international song contest in Poland.

2010: ''Ten''

Cilmi debuted a new single, "On a Mission", in January 2010. It was released in February 2010 in Australia, reaching number sixteen, and the following month in the UK, where it peaked at number nine. This preceded Cilmi's second studio album, ''Ten'', which was released in March 2010. According to Cilmi, the album features "lots of uptempo funk and disco-inspired numbers designed to make people groove" as well as "some more sexy tracks". One song incorporates a type of yodel into it.

While producing the album, Cilmi worked with Greg Kurstin, The Invisible Men and Dallas Austin, as well as Xenomania on the song "Hearts Don't Lie" which she likens to a Bee Gees song. The track "Love Me 'Cause You Want To" is the song she is most proud of due to the fact it was produced with her band. It features production from Xenomania, Dallas Austin and Greg Kurstin, and bears an electropop sound in contrast to her first album. ''Ten'' was not as successful as ''Lessons to Be Learned'', reaching number seventeen in Australia and number twenty-eight in the UK. The second single, "Hearts Don't Lie", was released in June 2010 in the UK. The third single, "Defender", was released in August 2010 accompanied by a B-side track, "Magic Carpet Ride". Cilmi supported British artist Leona Lewis on the UK leg of her 2010 ''The Labyrinth'' Tour.

2011–present: Third album

By October 2010, Cilmi had begun work on her third studio album. She has been quoted as saying: "It's totally exciting because I am spending a bit more time with this record. I want to see what works. I really love Dolly Parton, roots music, Tricky and Enya, so anything could happen."

Vocal ability

Cilmi has a Contralto vocal range and has been compared to that of Anastacia and Amy Winehouse for her vocal style. Cilmi also discovered her sound was partly caused by a back problem known as Hollow Back or Lordosis which affects the way in which she uses her diaphragm muscles when singing, producing a more throaty sound.

Of her voice Caroline Sullivan of The Guardian complimented her voice stating it was 'precociously blistering' and 'Her zest and powerful, black-like voice can't be faulted'.

Take40 commented further 'a voice that sounds like it fell from the heavens' further noting her abilities as a 'vocal powerhouse' and being a 'brilliant and unique vocal talent'.

Trivia

Gabriella Cilmi is mentioned by Ed Sheeran in the song You Need Me, I Don't Need You, Sheeran using Cilmi as an example of a young singer-songwriter.

Discography

''Lessons to Be Learned'' (2008)

''Ten'' (2010)

Tours

;Headline

2008 – Lessons to Be Learnt Tour

;As supporting act

2008 – Sugababes – Change Tour (Selected Dates)

2010 – Leona Lewis – The Labyrinth (UK Dates Only)

Awards and nominations

! Year	! Type	! Award	! Result
		Breakthrough Single
Breakthrough Album
Highest Selling Single
Best Pop release
Best Female Artist
Single Of The Year
Q Awards	Breakthrough Artist
MTV Europe Music Awards	Breakthrough Artist
		Best International Female Artist
	Best International Newcomer
	Best Performer
2010		Most Popular Australian Single ("On A Mission")

Television appearances

''Hating Alison Ashley'' (2005) Performer of "Don't Tell Me" and "Sorry

''Later... with Jools Holland'' (1 episode, "#30.7", 2007) .... Herself

''Echo Beach'' (unknown episodes, 2008) Soundtrack

''This Morning'' (1 episode, "14 February 2008", 2008) .... Herself and Singer

''Saturday Disney'' (1 episode, "Mothers, Muck, Music and Manners!", 2008) .... Herself

''The National Lottery: Big 7'' (2008) (TV) .... Herself

''Wetten, dass..?'' (1 episode, "4 October 2008") .... Herself

''Today Show'' (1 episode, "27 October 2008" .... Herself

''GMTV'' (1 episode, "29 October 2008" .... Herself and Singer

''Australian Idol'' (1 episode, "Top 7 Verdict", 2008) .... Herself

''Never Mind the Buzzcocks'' (1 episode, "#22.6", 2008) .... Herself

''Star Academy'' (1 episode, "31 October 2008", 2008) .... Herself

''The Xtra Factor'' (2 episodes, "#5.17" and "#5.18") .... Herself

''Loose Women'' (1 episode, "#14.48", 2008) .... Herself and performer

''City Homicide'' (1 episode) .... as ''Claudette Wyms''

''TV total'' (1 episode, "11 November 2008", 2008) .... Herself

''Hollyoaks'' (1 episode, #1.2367, 2008) "Sweet About Me"

''Other People's Breast Milk'' (2008) (TV) Performer of "Sweet About Me"

''Lipstick Jungle'' (1 episode, "Chapter Nine: Help!", 2008) Performer of "Sweet About Me"

''90210'' (1 episode, That Which We Destroy", 2008) "Save the Lies" (uncredited)

''Divas II'' (2008) (TV) .... Herself and performer of "Sweet About Me" (uncredited)

''Top of the Pops'' (2008) (TV New Years Special) .... Performer of "Sweet About Me"

''The L Word'' (1 episode, "Long Night's Journey Into Day", 2009) "Awkward Game" (uncredited)

''The Paul O'Grady Show'' (2009) (TV) .... Performer with Enrique Iglesias

''Loose Women'' (2009) (TV) .... Performer] with Enrique Iglesias

''Late Night with Jimmy Fallon'' (24 March 2009) ... Herself

''Let's Dance for Sport Relief'' (27 February 2010) .... Performer

''GMTV'' (11 March 2010) .... Performer

''The Alan Titchmarsh Show'' (22 March 2010) .... Performer

''Popstars: Girls forever'' (9 September 2010) ... Performer/Vocal coach

Other appearances

In May 2010, Cilmi posed topless for ''FHM'' magazine.

References

Sources

''Gabriella Cilmi poised to make a big splash'' Jack Foley, Indie London, March 2008

External links

Official website

Official Australian website

Gabriella Cilmi interview by Pete Lewis, 'Blues & Soul' August 2008

BBC profile

Gabriella Cilmi ilikemusic Interview

CD Times gig review

FemaleFirst article

GenerationQ article

Category:1991 births Category:Living people Category:Australian female singers Category:Australian child singers Category:Australian jazz singers Category:Women in jazz Category:Australian soul singers Category:Australian singers of Italian descent Category:People of Calabrian descent Category:Australian singer-songwriters Category:Singers from Melbourne Category:ARIA Award winners Category:Island Records artists

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