The Physics of Musical Instruments

2nd Rev. Ed., with 485 illustrations.

Although the history of musical instruments is nearly as old as civilization itself, the science of acoustics is quite recent. By undestanding the physical basis of bow instruments are used to make music, one hopes ultimately to be able to give a 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 acoustic measurements. Indeed, form 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 tone quality, and in some cases even major features of the sounding mechanism have only recently been unraveled. This book describes the result of such acoustical investigations -intellectual and practical exercices of great fascination.

Addressed to readers with a reasonable grasp of physics who are not put off by a little mathematics, this book discusses most of the traditional instruments currently in use in Western music.

It serves as a comprehensive reference for those undertaking research in the field.

CONTENIDO:

-Preface
-Preface to the first edition
I. Vibrating Systems
1. Free and Forced Vibrations of Simple Systems
2. Continous Systems in One Dimension: Strings and Bars
3. Two-Dimensional Systems: Membranes, Plates and Shells
4. Coupled Vibrating Systems
5. Nonlinear Systems
II. Sound Waves
6. Sound Waves in Air
7. Sound Radiation
8. Pipes, Horns and Cavities
III. String Instruments
9. Guitars and Lutes
10. Bowed String Instruments
11. Harps, Harpsichords, Clavichords and Dulcimers
12. The Piano
IV. Wind Instruments
13. Sound Generation by Reed and Lip Vibrations
14. Lip-Driven Brass Instruments
15. Woodwind Reed Instruments
16. Flutes and Flue Organ Pipes
17. Pipe Organs
V. Percussion Instruments
18. Drums
19. Mallet Percussion Instruments
20. Cymbals, Gongs, Plates and Steel Drums
21. Bells
VI. Materials
22. Materials for Musical Instruments
-Name Index
-Subject Index