The study of the acoustic and vibrational characteristics of musical instruments in terms of their mechanical behavior, sound emission, and characteristics started thousands of years ago, and among the physicists and mathematicians that addressed this matter, we should at least recognize Leonardo da Vinci, with his experimental water organ, and Ernst Chladni, who discovered nodal patterns on rigid surfaces such as soundboards. The growing awareness of our intangible cultural heritage and the need to better understand our roots in the field of music have contributed to increasing the efforts to extend our knowledge in this field, defining new physical parameters, extending the analysis to other musical instruments, and developing new methods to synthesize sound from musical instruments using a simple keyboard.

A Comprehensive Study Dealing With Music Of North-Eastern India With Special Emphasis On Musical Instruments Of Assam. Has Over 75 Colour Illustrations Which Add To The Usefulness Of The Book.

This book addresses core questions about the role of materials in general and of wood in particular in the construction of string instruments used in the modern symphony orchestra – violins, violas, cellos and basses. Further attention is given to materials for classical guitars, harps, harpsichords and pianos. While some of the approaches discussed are traditional, most of them depend upon new scientific approaches to the study of the structure of materials, such as for example wood cell structure, which is visible only using modern high resolution microscopic techniques. Many examples of modern and classical instruments are examined, together with the relevance of classical techniques for the treatment of wood. Composite materials, especially designed for soundboards could be a good substitute for some traditional wood species. The body and soundboard of the instrument are of major importance for their acoustical properties, but the study also examines traditional and new wood species used for items such as bows, the instrument neck, string pegs, etc. Wood species’ properties for musical instruments and growth origins of woods used by great makers such as Antonio Stradivari are examined and compared with more recently grown woods available to current makers. The role of varnish in the appearance and acoustics of the final instrument is also discussed, since it has often been proposed as a ‘secret ingredient’ used by great makers. Aspects related to strings are commented.As well as discussing these subjects, with many illustrations from classical and contemporary instruments, the book gives attention to conservation and restoration of old instruments and the physical results of these techniques. There is also discussion of the current value of old instruments both for modern performances and as works of art having great monetary value.The book will be of interest and value to researchers, advanced students, music historians, and contemporary string instrument makers. Musicians in general, particularly those playing string instruments, will also find its revelations fascinating. It will also attract the attention of those using wood for a variety of other purposes, for its use in musical instruments uncovers many of its fundamental features. Professor Neville H. FletcherAustralian National University, Canberra

'A Compendium of Musical Instruments and Instrumental Terminology in the Bible' draws on extensive historical research, comparative linguistic analysis and musical study to offer the first compilation of its kind. The volume examines the entire range of musical instruments in the Bible - stringed, wind and percussion - drawing on ancient and modern translations of the Bible and the works of rabbinic teachers, Church Fathers and medieval, renaissance and contemporary scholars. The book offers a historical survey of Hebrew instrumental music - its origins and links with neighbouring cultures, the role of instruments in the religious, social, public and private life of ancient Israel, and the system of musical education - and explores the understanding of Hebrew musical instruments in post-biblical times. This comprehensive volume will be invaluable to musicologists, archaeologists, theologians, historians, philologists and Bible translators, as well as general readers in the subject.

This 7th volume of SIMP is dedicated to two large themes that were discussed in the last Study Group Symposium held online and arranged by the Music Faculty of the University of the Visual and Performing Arts, Colombo, Sri Lanka, in March 2021: ``Re-invention and Sustainability of Musical Instruments'' and ``Instrumental Music and Food''. Thirteen contributions were compiled in this volume relating to the first theme, while seven contributions were chosen to represent the second. The first part of the contributions illustrates that musical instruments have a long and regionally intertwined history. Often it is hard to say who invented a specific type first as well as to answer if musical instruments were used symbolically or supported in any way supported regional cultural aspects, or what feature of musical instruments had the strongest impact on local developments. The last seven contributions deal with various phenomena such as banquet music, ritual music and food offerings, instrumental ambience music, and festivals.

Reprint of the original, first published in 1876.

This volume constitutes a catalogue of one hundred and sixteen idiophones and membranophones from a wide range of cultures in the collections of the Canadian Centre for Folk Culture Studies.

This book addresses key questions about the materials used for the wind instruments of classical symphony orchestra such as flutes, clarinets, saxophones, oboes, bassoons and pipe organs. The content of this book is structured into four parts. Part 1- Description of materials for wind instruments deals with wood species and materials for reeds used for making clarinet, oboe and bassoon- and, with metallic materials and alloys for - horn, trumpet, trombone, etc. Auxiliary materials associated with the manufacturing of wind instruments are felt, cork, leather and parchment. Part 2- Basic acoustics of wind instruments, in which are presented succinctly, some pertinent aspects related to the physics of the resonant air column. An important aspect discussed is related to the effect of wall material on the vibration modes of the walls of wind instruments. The methods for measuring the acoustical properties of wind instruments are presented. Part 3- Manufacturing of wind instruments, describes the technology used in manufacturing metallic tubes and pipes made of wood. Part 4 - The durability and degradation of materials addresses data about methods for cleaning wind instruments, studies factors producing degradation of organ pipes, describes methods of conservation and restoration of brass instruments and of historical pipe organs. Finally, the properties of marble are described, being the only one nondegradable and sustainable material used for pipes for organs.

Describes the museum's collection of antique instruments, traces the history of technological developments in their manufacture, and looks at music's changing role in American society.

Take a musical tour with students in grades 5 and up using Musical Instruments of the World! This 80-page text explains the history and evolution of musical instruments. It also includes information on the development of music on each continent; percussion, brass, string, and wind instruments; and a discussion on symphonies, chamber orchestras, and other ensembles. The book presents information through fun activities and interesting facts for maximum learning reinforcement. It covers music terminology extensively and includes a glossary and answer keys.