Effect of the player's vocal tract on the tone quality of reed woodwind instruments

Abstract

It has been argued by woodwind instrument players that the configuration of the player's vocal tract has an effect on the tone quality of the instrument when played. This matter is being investigated. The following arrangement has been set up: A “clarinet” is simulated by mounting a clarinet mouthpiece and reed on a piece of brass tubing of such length as to sound the note D3 when blown, using a foam neoprene “lip” with the reed. A microphone is attached to the mouthpiece to monitor its internal pressure. The open end of the brass tube is sealed onto the end of a 4-in.-diam tube 10 ft long filled with sound absorbing material. By attaching a vacuum cleaner to the other end of the 4-in. tube, the “clarinet” can be “blown,” as it were, in reverse, with the reed end out in the open. Various systems can now be attached to the mouthpiece and their effect on the internal waveform of the mouthpiece determined. Results so far indicate that the effect of the player's vocal tract on the instrument's tone quality should be negligible. [Work supported by the NSF.]