Klarinet Archive - Posting 000167.txt from 1998/04

From: avrahm galper <agalper@-----.com>
Subj: THE REED'S MODE OF VIBRATION (PART 1)
Date: Sat, 4 Apr 1998 21:50:48 -0500

THE REED'S MODE OF VIBRATION

The clarinet is generally considered as a closed pipe with its tone
containing only odd-numbered harmonics.
However it was shown by Blaikley in 1884 and later by Miller, that even
numbered harmonics were also present so that a revision of the simple
theory was necessary.

Since there is little agreement on the facts, which seem necessary for
development of a theory, it seems essential to investigate the mode of
vibration more closely.

CLARINET, REED AND MOUTHPIECE.
The reed was mounted upon the mouthpiece of a Bb Boehm system clarinet,
which is the instrument and system in most common use.
The reed before being used with the artificial embouchure, was designed
to operate successfully with the natural embouchure
The mouthpiece had facing of medium length to which the reed was
carefully adjusted.

THE ARTIFICIAL EMBOUCHURE
Obviously, it was necessary to make visual and photographic observations
of the reed while the instrument was sounding.

The device that made this possible was a chamber with transparent walls,
and an artificial embouchure to simulate the action of the player's lips
and teeth.
The device consisted of a metal cylinder, diameter 3.0 inches and
length 12.5 inches
Windows of transparent plastic on opposite sides and also on one end
allowed easy viewing and illumination for stroboscope study.
As an embouchure, a rubber pad adjustable along the reed and also
perpendicular to its plane was applied
against the reed to simulate the lips, and pressure was applied to the
pad by a screw to simulate the teeth.
All adjustments would be made from without while the reed was in motion.
During the operation, the necessary moisture of the reed was maintained
by saturated cotton placed in the cylinder.
The blowing pressure from an air compressor was controlled by stop-cocks
and measured by a mercury manometer
The pressure was from 1.6 cm to 3.6 cm of mercury.

THE STROBOSCOPE

The Edgerton stroboscope has a flash speed of 60 cycles per second,
which is controlled by a sychronous motor contactor.
This permits accurate measurements of fundamental reed frequencies over
the entire range of the clarinet.
The main action of the stroboscope is to apparently stop or cause slow
motion of the reed in space so that the motion may be studied visually
as is done with"slow motion" in the movies.

THE REED'S MODE OF VIBRATION

The clarinet is generally considered as a closed pipe with its tone
containing only odd-numbered harmonics.
However it was shown by Blaikley in 1884 and later by Miller, that even
numbered harmonics were also present so that a revision of the simple
theory was necessary.

Since there is little agreement on the facts, which seem necessary for
development of a theory, it seems essential to investigate the mode of
vibration more closely.

CLARINET, REED AND MOUTHPIECE.
The reed was mounted upon the mouthpiece of a Bb Boehm system clarinet,
which is the instrument and system in most common use.
The reed before being used with the artificial embouchure, was designed
to operate successfully with the natural embouchure
The mouthpiece had facing of medium length to which the reed was
carefully adjusted.

THE ARTIFICIAL EMBOUCHURE
Obviously, it was necessary to make visual and photographic observations
of the reed while the instrument was sounding.

The device that made this possible was a chamber with transparent walls,
and an artificial embouchure to simulate the action of the player's lips
and teeth.
The device consisted of a metal cylinder, diameter 3.0 inches and
length 12.5 inches
Windows of transparent plastic on opposite sides and also on one end
allowed easy viewing and illumination for stroboscope study.
As an embouchure, a rubber pad adjustable along the reed and also
perpendicular to its plane was applied
against the reed to simulate the lips, and pressure was applied to the
pad by a screw to simulate the teeth.
All adjustments would be made from without while the reed was in motion.
During the operation, the necessary moisture of the reed was maintained
by saturated cotton placed in the cylinder.
The blowing pressure from an air compressor was controlled by stop-cocks
and measured by a mercury manometer
The pressure was from 1.6 cm to 3.6 cm of mercury.

THE STROBOSCOPE

The Edgerton stroboscope has a flash speed of 60 cycles per second,
which is controlled by a sychronous motor contactor.
This permits accurate measurements of fundamental reed frequencies over
the entire range of the clarinet.
The main action of the stroboscope is to apparently stop or cause slow
motion of the reed in space so that the motion may be studied visually
as is done with"slow motion" in the movies.

THE REED'S MODE OF VIBRATION

The clarinet is generally considered as a closed pipe with its tone
containing only odd-numbered harmonics.
However it was shown by Blaikley in 1884 and later by Miller, that even
numbered harmonics were also present so that a revision of the simple
theory was necessary.

Since there is little agreement on the facts, which seem necessary for
development of a theory, it seems essential to investigate the mode of
vibration more closely.

CLARINET, REED AND MOUTHPIECE.
The reed was mounted upon the mouthpiece of a Bb Boehm system clarinet,
which is the instrument and system in most common use.
The reed before being used with the artificial embouchure, was designed
to operate successfully with the natural embouchure
The mouthpiece had facing of medium length to which the reed was
carefully adjusted.

THE ARTIFICIAL EMBOUCHURE
Obviously, it was necessary to make visual and photographic observations
of the reed while the instrument was sounding.

The device that made this possible was a chamber with transparent walls,
and an artificial embouchure to simulate the action of the player's lips
and teeth.
The device consisted of a metal cylinder, diameter 3.0 inches and
length 12.5 inches
Windows of transparent plastic on opposite sides and also on one end
allowed easy viewing and illumination for stroboscope study.
As an embouchure, a rubber pad adjustable along the reed and also
perpendicular to its plane was applied
against the reed to simulate the lips, and pressure was applied to the
pad by a screw to simulate the teeth.
All adjustments would be made from without while the reed was in motion.
During the operation, the necessary moisture of the reed was maintained
by saturated cotton placed in the cylinder.
The blowing pressure from an air compressor was controlled by stop-cocks
and measured by a mercury manometer
The pressure was from 1.6 cm to 3.6 cm of mercury.

THE STROBOSCOPE

The Edgerton stroboscope has a flash speed of 60 cycles per second,
which is controlled by a sychronous motor contactor.
This permits accurate measurements of fundamental reed frequencies over
the entire range of the clarinet.
The main action of the stroboscope is to apparently stop or cause slow
motion of the reed in space so that the motion may be studied visually
as is done with"slow motion" in the movies.

THE REED'S MODE OF VIBRATION by McGinnis and Gallagher

The clarinet is generally considered as a closed pipe with its tone
containing only odd-numbered harmonics.
However it was shown by Blaikley in 1884 and later by Miller, that even
numbered harmonics were also present so that a revision of the simple
theory was necessary.

Since there is little agreement on the facts, which seem necessary for
development of a theory, it seems essential to investigate the mode of
vibration more closely.

CLARINET, REED AND MOUTHPIECE.

The reed was mounted upon the mouthpiece of a Bb Boehm system clarinet,
which is the instrument and system in most common use.
The reed before being used with the artificial embouchure, was designed
to operate successfully with the natural embouchure
The mouthpiece had facing of medium length to which the reed was
carefully adjusted.

THE ARTIFICIAL EMBOUCHURE

Obviously, it was necessary to make visual and photographic observations
of the reed while the instrument was sounding.

The device that made this possible was a chamber with transparent walls,
and an artificial embouchure to simulate the action of the player's lips
and teeth.
The device consisted of a metal cylinder, diameter 3.0 inches and
length 12.5 inches
Windows of transparent plastic on opposite sides and also on one end
allowed easy viewing and illumination for stroboscope study.
As an embouchure, a rubber pad adjustable along the reed and also
perpendicular to its plane was applied against the reed to simulate the
lips, and pressure was applied to the pad by a screw to simulate the
teeth.
All adjustments would be made from without while the reed was in motion.
During the operation, the necessary moisture of the reed was maintained
by saturated cotton placed in the cylinder.
The blowing pressure from an air compressor was controlled by stop-cocks
and measured by a mercury manometer
The pressure was from 1.6 cm to 3.6 cm of mercury.

THE STROBOSCOPE

The Edgerton stroboscope has a flash speed of 60 cycles per second,
which is controlled by a synchronous motor contactor.
This permits accurate measurements of fundamental reed frequencies over
the entire range of the clarinet.
The main action of the stroboscope is to apparently stop or cause slow
motion of the reed in space so that the motion may be studied visually
as is done with"slow motion" in the movies.

Avrahm Galper

THE UPBEAT BAERMANN MELODIC SCALE STUDIES
http://www.sneezy.org/avrahm_galper/index.html