Wind instruments
A wind instrument is a musical instrument that contains some type of resonator (usually a tube), in which a column of air is set into vibration by the player blowing into (or over) a mouthpiece set at the end of the resonator. The pitch of the vibration is determined by the length of the tube and by manual modifications of the effective length of the vibrating column of air. In the case of some wind instruments, sound is produced by blowing through a reed; others require buzzing into a metal mouthpiece.
Methods for obtaining different notes
Changing the length of the vibrating air column, by changing the effective length of the tube through opening or closing holes in the side of the tube. This can be done by covering the holes with fingers or pressing a key which then closes the hole. This method is used in nearly all woodwind instruments.
Changing the length of the vibrating air column, by changing the length of the tube, through engaging valves which route the air through additional tubing, thereby increasing overall tube length, thereby lowering the fundamental pitch. This method is used on nearly all brass instruments.
Changing the length of the vibrating air column, by lengthening and/or shortening the tube using a sliding mechanism. This method is used on the trombone and the slide whistle.
Making the column of air vibrate at different harmonics, without changing the length of the column of air.
All wind instruments use a combination of the first or second or third and the fourth method to extend their register.
Types of wind instruments
Wind instruments fall into one of the following categories:
Brass instruments
Woodwind instruments
A brass instrument is a musical instrument whose sound is produced by sympathetic vibration of air in a tubular resonator in sympathy with the vibration of the player's lips. Brass instruments are also called labrosones, literally meaning "lip-vibrated instruments".
A woodwind instrument is a musical instrument which produces sound when the player blows air against a sharp edge or through a reed, causing the air within its resonator to vibrate. Most of these instruments are made of wood, but can be made of other materials, such as metals or plastics.
There are two factors in producing different pitches on a brass instrument: One is alteration of the player's lip tension, and air flow. The second is the use of slides or valves to change the length of the tubing, thus changing the harmonic series presented by the instrument to the player.
The view of most scholars is that the term "brass instrument" should be defined by the way the sound is made, as above, and not by whether the instrument is actually made of brass. Thus, as exceptional cases one finds brass instruments made of wood like the alphorn, the cornett, and the serpent, while some woodwind instruments are made of brass, like the saxophone.
Although brass instruments were originally made of brass and woodwind instruments have traditionally been made of wood, the material used to make the body of the instrument is not always a reliable guide to its family type. A more accurate way to determine whether an instrument is brass or woodwind is to examine how the player produces sound. In brass instruments, the player's lips vibrate, causing the air within the instrument to vibrate. In woodwind instruments the player either:
causes a reed to vibrate, which agitates the column of air (as in a clarinet, oboe or duduk)
blows against an edge or fipple (as in a recorder), or
blows across the edge of an open hole (as in a flute).
For example, the saxophone is typically made of brass, but is classified as a woodwind instrument due to the method of vibrating the air column (by using a reed).
On the other hand, the wooden cornett and the serpent are both made of wood (or plastic tubing, in the case of modern serpents), but belong to the family of brass instruments because the vibrating is done by the player's lips.
In the Hornbostel-Sachs scheme of musical instrument classification, wind instruments are classed as aerophones.
Vocabulary
to blow – äóòè
a mouthpiece – ìóíäøòóê
a reed – ÿçè÷îê
buzzing – ãóä³ííÿ, äçèæ÷àííÿ
à valve – êëàïàí
thereby – òàêèì ÷èíîì
alteration – çì³íà
slide – êîìïîíåíò òðóáè, ùî êîâçàº
alphorn – àëüï³éñüêèé ðîæîê
to agitate – çáóäæóâàòè
Task 2. Choose the correct answer
1. The pitch of the vibration is determined by:
a. the width of the tube b. by blowing c. by the length of the tube d. by buzzing
2. Which method for obtaining different notes is used on the thrombone?
a. by lengthening and/or shortening the tube using a sliding mechanism
b. by changing the effective length of the tube through opening or closing holes
c. by changing the length of the tube, through engaging valves which route the air through additional tubing
d. Making the column of air vibrate at different harmonics, without changing the length of the column of air
3. In brass instruments the player:
a. causes a reed to vibrate b. blows against an edge or fipple c. blows across the edge of an open hole d. the vibrates the lips
4. How should the term "brass instrument" be defined?
a. by whether the instrument is actually made of brass b. by the way the sound is made c. by the pitch of the sound d. by the cost of the instrument
5. What family does serpent belong?
a. string instruments b. woodwind instruments c. brass instruments d. percussive instruments
Task 3. Put the questions to the underlined words:
a. A brass instrument is a musical instrument whose sound is produced by sympathetic vibration of air in a tubular resonator in sympathy with the vibration of the player's lips.
b. The wooden cornett and the serpent are both made of wood, but belong to the family of brass instruments because the vibrating is done by the player's lips.
Task 4. Answer the following questions:
1. What does a wind instrument contain?
2. How is the pitch of the vibration determined?
3. What are the methods for obtaining different notes?
4. What is a brass instrument?
5. What is a woodwind instrument?
6. What are two factors in producing different pitches on a brass instrument?
7. What is the saxophone typically made of?
Task 5. Retell the text.