Non-linear propagation characteristics in the evolution of brass musical instruments design

Arnold Myers (1) , Joël Gilbert (2) , Bob Pyle (1) , Murray Campbell (1)

1 Edin. - University of Edinburgh
2 LAUM - Laboratoire d'Acoustique de l'Université du Mans

The capacity of brass instruments to generate sounds with strong high-frequency components is dependent on the extent to which the bore profile supports non-linear propagation. At high dynamic levels some instruments are readily sounded in a cuivré (brassy) manner: it is now recognised that this phenomenon is due to shock wave generation. Non-linear propagation is also evident to some extent in playing at lower dynamic levels and contributes to the overall tonal character of the various kinds of brass instrument.

Domaines: Acoustique [physics.class-ph]; Acoustique [physics.class-ph]

Arnold Myers, Joël Gilbert, Bob Pyle, Murray Campbell. Non-linear propagation characteristics in the evolution of brass musical instruments design. International Congress on Acoustics (19th ICA), Sep 2007, Madrid, Spain. ⟨hal-00475592⟩