Science of Percussion Instruments

by Rossing, Thomas D.

• ISBN13: 9789810241582
• ISBN10: 9810241585
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2001-01-01
• Publisher: WORLD SCIENTIFIC PUB CO INC

Summary

Focuses on how percussion instruments vibrate and produce sound, and how those sounds are perceived by listeners. Discusses the wide variety of percussion instruments and how they can be refined to make different vibrations and sounds.

Table of Contents

The Percussion Family	1	(4)
The Percussion Family
Historical Notes
Percussion Ensembles
References
Drums with Definite Pitch	5	(16)
Vibrations of Strings: A Little Bit of Physics
Vibrations of Membranes: Key to Understanding Drums
Timpani
Timpani Sound
Interlude: Subjective Tones and Pitch of the Missing Fundamental
The Kettle
Interlude: Sound Radiation
Tabla and Mrdanga
Acoustics of Indian Drums
References
Interlude: Sound and Hearing	21	(5)
Sound Waves
Hearing Sound
Loudness and Musical Dynamics
Sound Power Level
Masking Sounds
Loudness and Duration
References
Drums with Indefinite Pitch	26	(21)
Tom Toms
Interlude: Pitch Glide in Membranes
Interlude: Modes of a Two-Mass Vibrator
Snare Drum
Bass Drum
Conga Drums
Bongos and Timbales
Rototoms
Irish Bodhran
African Drums
Japanese Drums
Indonesian Drums
References
Interlude: Vibrations of Bars and Air Columns	47	(5)
Transverse Vibrations of a Bar or Rod
Longitudinal Vibrations of a Bar or Rod
Torsional Vibrations of a Bar or Rod
Vibrations of Air Columns
End Correction
References
Xylophones and Marimbas	52	(12)
Xylophones
Marimbas
Tuning the Bars
Resonators
Marimba Orchestras and Clair Musser
Mallets
References
Metallophones	64	(15)
Orchestra Bells or Glockenspiel
Celesta
Vibraphone or Vibes
Interlude: Thick Bars vs Thin Bars
Chimes or Tubular Bells
Triangles and Pentangles
Gamelan Metallophones
Wind Chimes
Tubaphones, Gamelan Chimes, and Other Tubular Metallophones
African Lamellaphones: Mbira, Kalimba, Likembe, Sanza, Setinkane
References
Interlude: Vibrations of Plates and Shells	79	(10)
Waves in a Thin Plate
Circular Plates
Elliptical Plates
Rectangular Plates
Cylindrical Shells
Shallow Spherical Shells
Nonlinear Effects in Plates and Shells
References
Cymbals, Gongs, and Plates	89	(18)
Cymbals
Vibrational Modes in Cymbals
Cymbal Sound
Nonlinear Behavior of Cymbals
Tam-Tams
Gongs
Chinese Opera Gongs
Bronze Drums
Crotales
Kyezee
Bell Plates
Musical Saw
Flexatone
References
Music from Oil Drums: Caribbean Steelpans	107	(21)
Construction and Tuning
Normal Modes of Vibration
Interlude: Holographic Interferometry
Modes of a Tenor Pan
Modes of a Double-Second Pan
Sound Spectra
Note Shapes
Metallurgy and Heat Treatment
Skirts
Pans of Other Sizes
Recent and Future Developments
References
Church Bells and Carillon Bells	128	(18)
The Carillon
Vibrational Modes of Church Bells and Carillon Bells
Tuning and Temperament
The Strike Note
Major-Third Bells
Scaling of Bells
Sound Decay and Warble
Sound Radiation
Clappers
Bell Metal
References
Handbells, Choirchimes, Crotals, and Cow Bells	146	(18)
Vibrational Modes of Handbells
Sound Radiation
Sound Decay and Warble in Handbells
Timbre and Tuning of Handbells
Scaling of Handbells
Bass Handbells
Choirchimes
Chinese Quing
Crotals
Cow Bells
References
Eastern Bells	164	(18)
Ancient Chinese Two-Tone Bells
Vibrational Modes of Ancient Two-Tone Bells
Intervals Between the Two Tones
Temple Bells in China
Korean Bells
Japanese Bells
Other Asian Bells
References
Glass Musical Instruments	182	(10)
The Glass Harmonica
Vibrational Modes of a Wineglass
Rubbing, Bowing, Striking
Selecting and Tuning the Glasses
Verrophone
Glass Bells
The Glass Orchestra
Glass Instruments of Harry Partch and Jean-Claude Chapuis
Other Glass Instruments
References
Other Percussion Instruments	192	(11)
Anklung
Deagan Organ Chimes
Other Deagan Instruments
Instruments of Harry Partch
Mark Tree
Instruments of Bernard and Francois Baschet
Lithophones
Ceramic Instruments of Ward Hartenstein
Thunder Sheet
Typewriter
Reference
Name Index	203	(3)
Subject Index	206