The science of brass instruments

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Includes bibliographical references and index.This book provides an in-depth account of the fascinating but far from simple actions and processes that take place when a brass instrument is played. Written by three leading researchers in brass instrument acoustics who are also experienced brass players, it draws together the many recent advances in our understanding of the subtly interrelated factors shaping the musician's control of the instrument's sound. The reader is introduced to models of sound generation, propagation and radiation. In particular, the current understanding of the behaviour of the player's lips, the modes of vibration of the air column inside the instrument, and the radiation of sound from a brass instrument bell are explained. The functions of the mouthpiece and of mutes are discussed. Spectral enrichment arising from nonlinear propagation of the internal sound wave in loud playing is shown to be an important influence on the timbre of many types of brass instrument. The characteristics of brass instruments in contemporary use (including cornets, trumpets, french horns, trombones and tubas) are identified, and related to those of the great variety of instruments at earlier stages in the evolution of the brass family. This copiously illustrated book concludes with case studies of the recreation of ancient instruments and some of the current applications of electronics and information technology to brass instrument performance. While most of the material presented is accessible by a general readership, the topic of musical instrument modelling is developed at a mathematical level which makes it a useful academic resource for advanced teaching and research. Written by three internationally acknowledged experts in the acoustics and organology of brass instruments who are also experienced brass instrument players. Provides both an accessible introduction to brass instrument science and a review of recent research results and mathematical modeling techniques Represents the first monograph on the science underlying the design and performance of musical instruments of the brass family.Part I The Musician's Experience and The Scientific Perspective -- How Musicians Create, Perceive and Use the Sounds of Brass Instruments -- The Scientist's Perspective on Brass Instrument Behaviour -- Part II Acoustical Modelling of Brass Wind Instruments -- Buzzing Lips: The Sound Generating Mechanism in Brass Instruments -- After the Lips: Internal Propagation and Sound Radiation -- Part III Historical Evolution and Playing Properties -- Historical Evolution and Taxonomy of Brass Instrument Families -- Evaluating the Playing Properties of Brass Instruments.Online resource; title from PDF title page (SpringerLink, viewed March 10, 2021).Access restricted to registered UOB users with valid accounts.