The transmission of a spherical sound wave through a homogeneous stretched membrane of infinite extent is investigated theoretically. An integral representation of the transmitted sound field is initially derived. The path of integration is then transformed into the complex plane and the integration carried out in an approximate manner by the method of stationary phase. The transmitted sound field is found to be composed of two parts, an outgoing spherical wave modified by an amplitude factor containing angular dependence and a surface wave. The surface wave, which results from the free flexural vibration of the membrane itself, exhibits an interesting “zone of silence” in the transmitted sound field.