Ebook: The Physics of Musical Instruments

While the history of musical instruments is nearly as old as civilization itself, the science of acoustics is quite recent. By understanding the physical basis of how instruments are used to make music, one hopes ultimately to be able to give physical criteria to distinguish a fine instrument from a mediocre one. At that point science may be able to come to the aid of art in improving the design and performance of musical instruments. As yet, many of the subtleties in musical sounds of which instrument makers and musicians are aware remain beyond the reach of modern acoustical measurements. Indeed, for many musical instruments it is only within the past few years that musical acoustics has achieved even a reasonable understanding of the basic mechanisms determining the tone quality, and in some cases even major features of the sounding mechanism have only recently been unravelled. This book describes the results of such acoustical investigations ? intellectual and practical exercises of great fascination.

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While the history of musical instruments is nearly as old as civilization itself, the science of acoustics is quite recent. By understanding the physical basis of how instruments are used to make music, one hopes ultimately to be able to give physical criteria to distinguish a fine instrument from a mediocre one. At that point science may be able to come to the aid of art in improving the design and performance of musical instruments. As yet, many of the subtleties in musical sounds of which instrument makers and musicians are aware remain beyond the reach of modern acoustical measurements. Indeed, for many musical instruments it is only within the past few years that musical acoustics has achieved even a reasonable understanding of the basic mechanisms determining the tone quality, and in some cases even major features of the sounding mechanism have only recently been unravelled. This book describes the results of such acoustical investigations ? intellectual and practical exercises of great fascination.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xvii
Front Matter....Pages 1-1
Free and Forced Vibrations of Simple Systems....Pages 3-32
Continuous Systems in One Dimension: Strings and Bars....Pages 33-64
Two-Dimensional Systems: Membranes and Plates....Pages 65-94
Coupled Vibrating Systems....Pages 95-124
Nonlinear Systems....Pages 125-135
Front Matter....Pages 137-137
Sound Waves in Air....Pages 139-155
Sound Radiation....Pages 156-171
Pipes and Horns....Pages 172-204
Front Matter....Pages 205-205
Guitars and Lutes....Pages 207-234
Bowed String Instruments....Pages 235-286
Harps, Harpsichords, and Clavichords....Pages 287-304
The Piano....Pages 305-344
Front Matter....Pages 345-345
Sound Generation by Reed and Lip Vibrations....Pages 347-364
Lip-Driven Brass Instruments....Pages 365-393
Woodwind Reed Instruments....Pages 394-425
Flutes and Flue Organ Pipes....Pages 426-466
Pipe Organs....Pages 467-493
Front Matter....Pages 495-495
Drums....Pages 497-532
Mallet Percussion Instruments....Pages 533-554
Cymbals, Gongs, Plates, and Steel Drums....Pages 555-576
Back Matter....Pages 607-620
Bells....Pages 577-605

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While the history of musical instruments is nearly as old as civilization itself, the science of acoustics is quite recent. By understanding the physical basis of how instruments are used to make music, one hopes ultimately to be able to give physical criteria to distinguish a fine instrument from a mediocre one. At that point science may be able to come to the aid of art in improving the design and performance of musical instruments. As yet, many of the subtleties in musical sounds of which instrument makers and musicians are aware remain beyond the reach of modern acoustical measurements. Indeed, for many musical instruments it is only within the past few years that musical acoustics has achieved even a reasonable understanding of the basic mechanisms determining the tone quality, and in some cases even major features of the sounding mechanism have only recently been unravelled. This book describes the results of such acoustical investigations ? intellectual and practical exercises of great fascination.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xvii
Front Matter....Pages 1-1
Free and Forced Vibrations of Simple Systems....Pages 3-32
Continuous Systems in One Dimension: Strings and Bars....Pages 33-64
Two-Dimensional Systems: Membranes and Plates....Pages 65-94
Coupled Vibrating Systems....Pages 95-124
Nonlinear Systems....Pages 125-135
Front Matter....Pages 137-137
Sound Waves in Air....Pages 139-155
Sound Radiation....Pages 156-171
Pipes and Horns....Pages 172-204
Front Matter....Pages 205-205
Guitars and Lutes....Pages 207-234
Bowed String Instruments....Pages 235-286
Harps, Harpsichords, and Clavichords....Pages 287-304
The Piano....Pages 305-344
Front Matter....Pages 345-345
Sound Generation by Reed and Lip Vibrations....Pages 347-364
Lip-Driven Brass Instruments....Pages 365-393
Woodwind Reed Instruments....Pages 394-425
Flutes and Flue Organ Pipes....Pages 426-466
Pipe Organs....Pages 467-493
Front Matter....Pages 495-495
Drums....Pages 497-532
Mallet Percussion Instruments....Pages 533-554
Cymbals, Gongs, Plates, and Steel Drums....Pages 555-576
Back Matter....Pages 607-620
Bells....Pages 577-605
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