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Modeling of Wind Instruments

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Springer Handbook of Systematic Musicology

Part of the book series: Springer Handbooks ((SHB))

Abstract

Wind instruments driven by a constant pressure air reservoir produce a steady oscillation and associated sound waves. This self-sustained oscillation can be explained in terms of a lumped element feedback loop composed of an exciter, such as a reed-valve or an unstable jet, coupled to an acoustical air column resonator, usually a pipe. In this chapter this simplified model is used to classify wind instruments. Five prototype wind instruments are selected: the clarinet , the oboe , the harmonica , the trombone and the modern transverse flute . The elements of this feedback loop are described for each instrument. In simplified models the player is reduced to the role of a pressure reservoir. The player's control, also called the embouchure is however essential. This aspect is discussed briefly for each instrument.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. LAM – Institut d’Alembert, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, 4, place Jussieu, 75252 Cedex 05, Paris, France

    Benoit Fabre

  2. Laboratoire d’Acoustique, Université du Maine – CNRS, Avenue Olivier Messiaen, 72085 Cedex 9, Le Mans, France

    Joël Gilbert

  3. Zwartenberg 1, 5508 AK, Veldhoven, Netherlands

    Avraham Hirschberg

Authors
  1. Benoit Fabre
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  2. Joël Gilbert
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  3. Avraham Hirschberg
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Benoit Fabre .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Systematic Musicology, University of Hamburg, Neue Rabenstr. 13, 20354, Hamburg, Germany

    Rolf Bader

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Fabre, B., Gilbert, J., Hirschberg, A. (2018). Modeling of Wind Instruments. In: Bader, R. (eds) Springer Handbook of Systematic Musicology. Springer Handbooks. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-55004-5_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-55004-5_7

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

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