Abstract
This chapter discusses the application of the classic scientific method to observe, measure and record the behaviour of brass instruments and develops a simple theory (or “model”) to explain the main features of this behaviour. The sound pressure levels inside the player’s mouth and the instrument mouthpiece are related to the radiated sounds. The approximations and simplifications which are needed for basic modelling of the complexities of brass instrument playing are justified. Scientific terms and concepts commonly used in brass instrument studies are explained: these include acoustic pressure, waveform, mean flow of air, optimisation, nonlinear sound generation, Fourier analysis, frequency spectrum, spectral envelope, cutoff frequency, oscillation regime, sound reflection and sound transmission. The Bouasse-Benade prescription is formulated and the phenomenon of the trombone pedal note addressed. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the wind instrument paradox.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Benade, A. H. (1968). On the propagation of sound waves in a cylindrical conduit. J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 44, 616–623, https://doi.org/10.1121/1.1911130.
Benade, A. H. (1976). Fundamentals of musical acoustics. New York, Oxford University Press. 2nd ed. Mineola, Dover, 1990.
Bouasse, H. (1929). Instruments à vent tomes I et II). Paris, Delagrave; repr. with additional material by Jean Kergomard, Paris, Blanchard (1986).
Bouhuys, A. (1965). Sound power production in wind instruments. J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 37, 453–456, https://doi.org/10.1121/1.1909350.
Campbell, M. and Greated, C. (1987). The Musician’s Guide to Acoustics. Oxford University Press.
Elliott, S. J. and Bowsher, J. M. (1982). Regeneration in brass wind instruments. J. Sound Vib. 83, 181–217.
Evans, A., Ackermann, B. and Driscoll, T. (2010). Functional anatomy of the soft palate applied to wind playing. Med. Probl. Perform. Art 25(4), 183–189.
Fastl, H. and Zwicker, E. (2007). Psychoacoustics. New York, Springer.
Fletcher, N. H. and Tarnopolsky, A. (1999). Blowing pressure, power, and spectrum in trumpet playing. J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 105, 874–881, https://doi.org/10.1121/1.426276.
Fréour, V. and Scavone, G. P. (2013). Acoustical interaction between vibrating lips, downstream air column, and upstream airways in trombone performance. J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 134, 3887–3898, https://doi.org/10.1121/1.4823847.
Gilbert, J., Leboso Ruiz, L. M. and Gougeon, S. (2006). Influence de la température sur la justesse d’un instrument à vent. Proc. 8ème Congrès Français d’Acoustique (CFA2006), Tours, France.
Gilbert, J., Leblanc, L. and Vergez, C. (2018). L’analyse de stabilité linéaire pour évaluer la facilité d’émission des cuivres. Etude comparative de trombones ténor et basse. Proc. 14e Congrès Français d’Acoustique, Le Havre, France.
Grey, J. M. and Moorer, J. A. (1977). Perceptual evaluation of synthesised musical instrument tones. J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 61, 1270–1277, https://doi.org/10.1121/1.381508.
Hartmann, W. M. (2004). Signals, Sound, and Sensation, 5th corr. printing. New York, Springer.
Hartmann, W. M. (2013). Principles of Musical Acoustics. New York, Springer.
Logie, S. (2012). An Acoustical Study of the Playing Characteristics of Brass Wind Instruments. Ph.D. thesis, University of Edinburgh.
Luce, D. and Clark, M. (1967). Physical correlates of brass instrument tones, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 42, 1232–1243, https://doi.org/10.1121/1.1910710.
Petiot, J. F., Kersaudy, P., Scavone, G., MacAdams, S. and Gazengel, B. (2017). Investigations of the relationships between perceived qualities and sound parameters of saxophone reeds. Acta Acust. United Ac. 103, 812–829, https://doi.org/10.3813/AAA.919110.
Roederer, J. (2009). The Physics and Psychophysics of Music. New York, Springer.
Schwab, B. and Schultze-Florey, A. (2004).Velopharyngeal insufficiency in woodwind and brass players. Med. Probl. Perform. Arts 19, 21–25.
Stevenson, S. (2009). Experimental Investigations of Lip Motion in Brass Instrument Playing. Ph.D. thesis, University of Edinburgh.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2021 Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Campbell, M., Gilbert, J., Myers, A. (2021). The Scientist’s Perspective on Brass Instrument Behaviour. In: The Science of Brass Instruments. Modern Acoustics and Signal Processing. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-55686-0_2
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-55686-0_2
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-55684-6
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-55686-0
eBook Packages: Physics and AstronomyPhysics and Astronomy (R0)