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Concept information

Preferred term

412.132Sets of free reeds   Link to MIMO collections

Definition

  • Reed instruments that are free aerophones are sounded by a flow of air in which the reed is the primary vibrator. In sets of free reeds the air-stream is directed against a set of lamellae, setting them in periodic vibration to interrupt the stream intermittently. The lamellae vibrate through a closely-fitting slot. The instrument is tuned by mechanical action on the lamellae. Each reed may have a resonator in which the air vibrates only in a secondary sense, not producing the sound; generally recognizable by the absence of fingerholes. NB: in instruments like the Chinese sheng, where the bamboo pipes act as an acoustic coupler, the fingerholes do not serve to modify the pitch and are therefore not equivalent to the fingerholes of other pipes. Reed organ, mouthorgan, accordion. (en)

Broader concept

Notation

  • 412.132

URI

http://www.mimo-db.eu/HornbostelAndSachs/236

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