EP1324310A1 - Mouthpiece for a musical instrument with a reed - Google Patents

Abstract

The mouthpiece (10) comprises a reed (12) and a ligature for fixing the reed to the mouthpiece. An insert (14) is inserted between the reed and the mouthpiece for optimizing the vibratory behavior of the reed by modification of the mouthpiece table (20). The insert consists of a thin plastic or metal film with a chamfered profile and provided with an adhesive.

Description

The present invention relates to instruments with a single swing reed, especially clarinets and saxophones, which have a hole forming an air column vibrated by the player to generate sounds. It relates more particularly to its part comprising a spout, a reed and a ligature intended to be mouthpieces to breathe air into the instrument and vibrate the air column. In this document, this part, is called mouthpiece, to avoid any confusion with the word "Mouth", which here exclusively designates the manner of taking the instrument in the mouth. The spout has a table including a portion curved and a substantially flat portion, intended to serve as a support for the reed.

To fully understand how this type of instrument works, we advantageously refer to the work entitled "Clarinet my friend" Ernest Ferron, IMD editions 1994.

Clarinetists complain, since the invention of their instrument, there is more of three centuries, difficulty in obtaining reeds that meet perfectly to their expectation. Also, instrument makers and inventors have strived to improve the performance of mouthpieces and reeds. Today, it is not so much the accuracy of the reed bill, made in reed, which is involved, but rather the intrinsic irregularities of the matter that composes it.

We can consider a reed as a spring whose characteristics vary depending on its shape, the structure of the material, its rate humidity and fatigue and processing, chemical and structural fibers it contains, due to aging and light.

It often happens that the reed is good in itself, but that it does not interact satisfactorily with the spout on which it is placed. The clarinetist in take another one or rework it then to adapt it more intimately to this beak, activity that requires significant know-how.

It has also been proposed devices intended to be associated with the mouthpiece, to make the most of the available reeds, for example particular models of ligatures. Such a solution is described in the document US 1,896,814. In the instrument described, the beak has a groove in his table, and the ligature is arranged so that it can exert a pressure in the throat to flex the reed and modify thus opening.

Document US 3,791,253 describes a ligature provided with a removable part and likely to come to rest on the reed. By moving this piece longitudinally, it is possible to modify the elastic characteristics of the reed.

Document US 2,224,719 provides for the addition of a pressure spring on the inner face of the reed, the fixing and the pressure being ensured by a screw engaged in a hole in the reed. This solution modifies also the elastic characteristics of the reed. Furthermore, the fact of the breaking can significantly change their behavior, and in a way hardly predictable.

In these three cases, the spectrum of possible modifications remains limited to one setting. However, it appears that in addition to the elasticity of the reed, which can be modified by the devices described in documents US 3,791,253 or US 2,224,719, or the dimension of the opening between the spout and the end reed, modifiable by means of the device described in the document US 1,896,814, five parameters relating to the interaction of the beak and the reed play an essential role. Three relate to the curved portion of the table, namely its length, curvature and lateral asymmetry. To this are added the interface conditions between the reed and the mouthpiece, and the inclination of the reed in reference to the vault of the room.

The purpose of the present invention is to overcome these drawbacks and to allow better control of these parameters.

• un bec muni
  • d'une chambre, comprenant une voûte, une paroi opposée à la voûte, et deux parois latérales, et d'une perce, destinées à permettre l'écoulement de l'air et la circulation des ondes sonores vers le baril puis le tube de l'instrument, et
  • d'une première table comprenant une portion incurvée, disposée latéralement de part et d'autre de la chambre et formant l'extrémité des parois, et une portion sensiblement plane disposée au-dessus de la chambre et de la perce, dans le prolongement de la portion incurvée,
• une anche comportant
  • un talon, destiné à être fixé au bec,
  • un biseau destiné à vibrer, et
  • une deuxième table, s'étendant sur toute sa longueur et formant l'une des faces du talon et du biseau,
  agencée pour prendre appui, par la partie de sa table associée au talon contre la portion plane de la première table, et
• une ligature, pour assurer l'assemblage de l'anche sur le bec.

According to the invention, the mouthpiece comprises:

• a spout fitted
  • a chamber, comprising a vault, a wall opposite to the vault, and two side walls, and a bore, intended to allow the flow of air and the circulation of sound waves towards the barrel then the tube the instrument, and
  • a first table comprising a curved portion, disposed laterally on either side of the chamber and forming the end of the walls, and a substantially flat portion disposed above the chamber and the bore, in the extension of the curved portion,
• a reed with
  • a heel, intended to be fixed to the spout,
  • a bevel intended to vibrate, and
  • a second table, extending over its entire length and forming one of the faces of the heel and the bevel,
  arranged to bear, by the part of its table associated with the heel against the flat portion of the first table, and
• a ligature, to ensure the assembly of the reed on the beak.

In this mouthpiece, the spout and the reed define between them an opening intended to allow air to penetrate, to generate sound vibrations. The air then flows into the chamber and into the bore, in a direction general called longitudinal.

It is characterized in that it comprises, moreover, present during the sound production, a spacer sandwiched between the tables of the spout and the reed, and arranged so that the relative position of the spout and the reed, and consequently the reed's vibration conditions, vary in depending on the position of the interlayer.

In this mouthpiece, the interlayer is advantageously removable and covers at least part of the curved portion of the first table. In this way, the length and / or curvature of the curved portion can be changed, and a longitudinal displacement allows its characteristics to be finely modulated.

The present invention also relates to a spacer intended to equip such a mouthpiece. This interlayer has a chamfer at least one of its ends, intended to be arranged facing the bevel of the reed.

It is possible to adjust the size of the opening and the characteristics of the curved portion of the table with a spacer comprising a body adjacent to the chamfer, in the form of a thick film linearly dependent on the longitudinal dimension.

Advantageously, the film consists of a superposition of sheets thin attached to each other, the number of overlapping sheets going decreasing to form the chamfer.

To allow a fine correction, it is necessary that the angle at the top of the chamfer is weak, advantageously less than 3 °.

The shape of the chamfer of the interlayer makes it possible to modify the characteristics of the curved portion of the table. Several forms are possible, chosen according to the modifications to be made. The chamfer can thus as well be straight as convex or concave.

To prevent too large a portion of the room from being obscured by the interlayer, its end comprising the chamfer is provided with a cutout practiced throughout its thickness and arranged laterally in its part median. This cut defines two fingers arranged so as to take support on the curved portion of the spout table, and a notch defined by these fingers and intended to clear access to the room.

The choice of material plays a role in the working conditions of the reed on beak. It is also necessary that the material used makes it possible to confer the desired shape in the interlayer. It is thus interesting to call upon a material capable of being worked by plastic deformation, for example an aluminum alloy.

In the case where the interface must be made of a weakly elastic material, it is interesting to make the interlayer in a plastic material.

If the latter is of the thermoformable type, the desired shapes can beings obtained by simple and inexpensive means, by heating and crushing of the parts to be deformed.

It appeared that by providing the interlayer, on a portion of one of its sides, with a repositionable adhesive layer, it is possible ensure safe and easily adjustable positioning. This layer can also act on the interface conditions between the reed and the mouthpiece. The thickness and the surface can therefore be adjusted accordingly. In general, however, the layer does not completely cover the interlayer, so that it can be take off easily.

• Les figures 1 et 2 montrent un embouchoir de clarinette selon l'invention respectivement vu en perspective et de son côté destiné à recevoir une anche, défini comme « dessus » dans la présente description, et
• Les figures 3 et 4 illustrent respectivement vus de dessus et de côté, différents types d'intercalaires susceptibles d'équiper l'embouchoir selon l'invention.

Other advantages and characteristics of the invention will emerge from the description which follows, given with reference to the appended drawing, in which:

• FIGS. 1 and 2 show a clarinet mouthpiece according to the invention respectively seen in perspective and on its side intended to receive a reed, defined as “above” in the present description, and
• Figures 3 and 4 illustrate respectively seen from above and from the side, different types of spacers capable of equipping the mouthpiece according to the invention.

In Figures 1 and 4, the scales are not respected. More precisely, the thicknesses of the dividers have been greatly exaggerated, so that their shape is visible.

The mouthpiece shown in Figures 1 and 2 is of the type intended to equip a clarinet. A similar model can be adapted to a saxophone or any another instrument with a single swing reed. It has a spout 10, a reed 12 and a ligature which has not been shown in the drawing, in order to avoid it overload. It further comprises an insert 14, disposed between the spout 10 and reed 12, the structure and function of which will be specified below.

Conventionally, the spout 10 has an oblong shape, with a front part 16 intended to be fitted, and a cylindrical rear part, forming a tenon 18, and arranged to be fixed to the barrel of the clarinet. The front part 16 comes from a substantially conical shape, truncated by two surfaces 20 and 22. Surface 20 forms a table comprising two portions one of which 20a, substantially planar, is close to the tenon 18, and the other 20b, curved occupies the front of the beak 10.

The lug 18 is of generally cylindrical shape and carries, at its periphery and in an ad hoc concentric recess, a cork seal 24, intended to ensure a tight connection with the barrel.

The surface 22 constitutes the part of the beak called chin rest and forms, with the surface 20, an acute angle, which defines the whistle shape of the end of the beak, in its part to be mouthed.

The spout 10 is crossed by a channel, connecting the surface 20 to the central part tenon 18, and intended to ensure the passage of air from the mouth to the instrument body. It consists of a room 26 - delimited by a vault 26a, a wall opposite the vault and hidden in the drawing, and two walls 26b - opening in portion 20b to define the part of the spout usually called light, and of a bore 27, slightly shaped conical, concentric to the tenon, opening into the chamber and extending into the barrel and then into the clarinet tube, not shown to the drawing. The hole 27 delimits a column of air vibrated under the effect oscillations of the reed and whose frequency defines the sound emitted.

The reed 12 consists, in a manner well known to those skilled in the art, of a plate made from a portion of reed of the Arundo donax species , having a flat underside which constitutes a table 28, a heel 30, curved on the opposite side to the table 28, which serves as a support for the ligature to fix the reed 12 on the spout 10, and a bevel 32, whose thinned structure ensures its vibration . In Figure 1, the reed is shown above the spout, so as to leave visible the tab 14. The table 28 has however been marked with dotted lines in its working position, identified by the reference 28 '.

The interlayer 14 is formed from a film of stable material, for example in aluminum or plastic. As can be seen in Figures 3 and 4, it has a rear part 34, forming the body of the interlayer and according to its shape, to modify the distance and the inclination of the reed 12 with reference to the spout 10, a front part 36 intended to adjust the characteristics of the curvature of the portion 20b, and a central part 38 connecting the front 36 and rear 34 parts. This middle part 38 is called to extend the front part 36 or the rear part 34, depending on the position longitudinal of the insert on the spout 10. The distinction between these three parts 34, 36 and 38 is therefore above all functional and not exclusively morphological, and it depends on the curvature of the curved portion 20b of the spout table used. The limits between parts 34, 36 and 38 indicated on the Figures 3 and 4 are therefore approximate, as said curvature is not known a priori.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, the thickness of the rear part 34 is constant. The front part has a chamfer 40, better visible in Figure 4, tapering towards the end of the spout 10 as well as two fingers 42 and 44 each extending on one side of the chamber 26 and partially covering the end of the side walls 26b and defining a cutout 46 making it possible to prevent the chamber 26 from being obstructed, even if the interlayer 14 is placed far forward on the spout 10.

Until now, the reed was pressed directly by its table 28 against the portion plane 20a of the spout 10. Because of the curved shape of the portion 20b, the front parts of the mouthpiece 10 and the reed 12 are spaced from one another and form an opening 48 opening into the chamber 26 and allowing the clarinetist to produce a sound by beating the reed, by injecting the air. Relative to the reed, the interlayer 14, affixed to the surface 20 and partially covering the surface 20b, forms a new table, called here virtual, having another curvature and / or another length of the portion curved, depending on the shape of the front part 36 and median 38, if applicable applicable.

The quality of the sounds emitted depends on many parameters, in particular the body of the instrument, but also of the reed 12 and the way in which it vibrates on the mouthpiece 10. However, this part of the instrument is very sensitive to minute differences in structure and surrounding conditions, thermal, hygrometric and barometric. Whenever a clarinetist occurs, he must choose a reed adapted to the work to be performed, to the tone of the instrument used and the acoustic environment. To increase the probability of having an optimal reed, the clarinetist must make it "Maturing" a large number, which is costly and time consuming. In addition, the The optimal operating period for each reed is quite short.

The interlayer 14 provides a simple, economical and original to the problem mentioned above, in particular because it adapts to any type of spout, without requiring any prior modification. Such a solution also allows a teacher to direct their student to techniques more suitable mouthpiece and support, developing flexibility and sensitivity to variations in tone.

As will be explained below, the presence of this insert 14 modifies the conditions for connecting the reed 12 to the mouthpiece 10, and thereby the quality of the sound, depending on the shape, position and material of the interlayer 14.

• La dimension de l'ouverture comprise entre le bec et l'extrémité de l'anche,
• La longueur, la courbure et l'asymétrie latérale de la portion incurvée de la table,
• Les conditions d'interface entre l'anche et le bec, et
• L'inclinaison de l'anche en référence à la voûte de la chambre.

More specifically, it has been observed that, for a given reed, the quality of the sounds generated depends, among other things, on:

• The size of the opening between the spout and the end of the reed,
• The length, curvature and lateral asymmetry of the curved portion of the table,
• The interface conditions between the reed and the beak, and
• The inclination of the reed in reference to the vault of the room.

All these parameters can be adjusted by a suitable choice of the interlayer, more particularly of its shape, of the material constituting it, and its location on the spout 10. Its displacement can be significant, as can be seen in Figure 2, where tab 14 has been shown in middle position, in solid lines, and in retracted position, in dotted lines, the displacement being indicated by a double arrow.

Figures 3 and 4 show a range of dividers, allowing to ensure such adjustments, respectively seen from above and from the side. Sure these figures, the references were only put on a part of them only, to avoid overloading the drawing.

The interlayer 14 shown in a is rectangular in shape, cut from a film of constant thickness. It is intended to be interposed between the flat portion 20a of the spout and the table 28 of the reed 12. The material chosen will define the interface qualities, while the thickness will ensure the adjustment of the opening 48. This insert may also include a chamfer, as shown in FIG. 4, seen from the side, in h or in i . In this case, it may slightly overflow onto the curved portion 20b, however little enough not to obstruct the chamber 26 too much.

The spacers shown in b , c , d , e , and f allow a strong engagement on the curved portion 20b, thanks to the cutout 46 with which they are provided, defined by the fingers 42 and 44. This cutout 46 can have several shapes. Thus, it is in half-ellipse in b and trapezoidal in c . In d , we find the trapezoidal shape, completed by a triangular structure. The spacers shown in e and f have only two very short fingers 42 and 44, so that the cutout 46 is small. It is completed by holes 50 made in the front part 36, and protruding in the middle part 38.

The interlayer 14 shown in perspective in g in FIG. 4, has a shape very simple, with rear 34 and middle 38 parts of constant thickness, while the front part 36 forms the chamfer 40. It can be produced by superimposition of thin sheets, from a few µm to a few hundredths of millimeters thick, e.g. thermo-adhesive plastic, sheets being fixed to each other by heating. The tab a advantageously a thickness of between 0.01 and 0.2 mm.

The embodiment illustrated in h is similar to g in its structure, the chamfer 40 however being regular and without stairs. Such a structure can be produced by means of an aluminum alloy sheet, the edges of which would be flattened in a rolling mill. In i , the angle of the chamfer 40 is greater than in h . Practice shows that this angle is advantageously less than 3 °, typically 0.1 to 0.3 °.

The embodiments shown in j , k and l are provided with a curved front portion 36. The rear part 34 is inclined towards its free part at j , decreasing towards the middle part 38 in k , while at l , the tab shown does not have a rear part. These latter structures allow, by the bulging of the front part 36, a reduction in the length of the curved portion of the virtual table of the spout. The support conditions of the reed 12 on the portion 20a of the table of the spout, and therefore of the opening 48, can be modified as a function of the structure of the rear part 34.

The interlayer presented in m has a thick rear part 34 which decreases towards the middle part 38, thus considerably modifying the support conditions of the reed 12 on the portion 20a of the table of the spout 10. Its front part 36, forming the chamfer 40 has a concave shape, which only slightly modifies the shape of the portion 20b in its front part, whereas it strongly modifies its part close to the portion 20a. In this way, the length of the virtual table is increased.

It thus appears that, by the addition of a spacer between the reed and the beak of a simple swing reed instrument, it is possible to control much more effective the interaction between the reed and the beak, and so make the most of the reeds available.

It will be noted that in the embodiments illustrated in FIG. 4, the rear part 34, forming the body of the interlayer 14, has a thickness z which can be expressed in a linear relationship, a function of the longitudinal dimension, according to the equation z = ax + b, where a and b are two real constants. More precisely, when a is positive, the thickness of the interlayer increases from the middle part 38. b is equal to the thickness of the interlayer 14 at the interface between the middle parts 38 and rear 34 when we place the origin of the x-axis at this location. It is obvious that other forms are possible, but taking into account the thicknesses involved, a linear type relationship is generally sufficient to ensure an appropriate correction.

To facilitate the installation of the interlayer, while allowing its displacement, its face intended to be brought into contact with the table of the spout 10 is advantageously coated with a layer of repositionable type adhesive such as those marketed by 3M ® (USA). This layer of relatively soft material changes the interface conditions between the reed 12 and spout 10, which is why it may be advantageous if it is not applied only over a small portion of the length of the interlayer, chosen as a function of the goal sought. In any case, it is preferable that it does not cover completely the surface of the interlayer, to facilitate its detachment.

It is obvious that the embodiments given here represent only one example of possible solutions. Other materials could thus be used in use, chosen for their rigidity, elasticity or ability to absorb a vibration, as well as for their ease of implementation.

It is also possible to provide other forms of dividers, both at level of its front part 36, of its rear part 34 than of its middle part 38. It is thus possible to have a thickness varying laterally, such so that the interlayer is thicker on the edges, or on the contrary more thin, or with lateral asymmetry, so that the curvatures of the virtual table are not the same on both sides of room 26. Such a provision makes it possible to correct the effect of asymmetry of the clarinetist's mouth, as well as that of the reed, and a more progressive control of sound power.

In order to improve their subjection to the spout 10, it is also possible to make spacers provided with lateral positioning means, made by folding its front part 36, engaging in chamber 26 and / or conforming to the shape of the outside of the spout 10.

The solution described with reference to a clarinet mouthpiece is, of course, also applicable to other instruments with a single swing reed, especially on the saxophone. The dimensions of the dividers will then be adapted to that of the instrument.

It is also possible to place several dividers, superimposed or juxtaposed, to obtain the desired effect.

Generally, the interlayer 14 is affixed to the table of the spout 10. It can however, also be applied to table 28 of reed 12.

In order to facilitate the adjustment of the position of the interlayer, it is advantageous to provide it with a graduation to control its longitudinal position by reference to the beak.

Claims (15)

Mouthpiece for reed instrument, comprising: a spout (10) provided a chamber (26) comprising a vault (26a), a wall opposite the vault, and two side walls (26b) and a bore (27), intended to allow the flow of air and circulation sound waves to the barrel and then to the instrument tube, and a first table comprising a curved portion (20b), arranged laterally on either side of the chamber (26) and forming the end of said walls (26b), and a substantially planar portion (20a) disposed above of the chamber (26) and the bore (27), in the extension of the curved portion (20b), a reed (12) comprising: a heel (30), intended to be fixed to the spout, a bevel (32) intended to vibrate, and a second table (28), extending over its entire length and forming one of the faces of the heel (30) and the bevel (32), arranged to bear, by the part of its table (28) associated with the heel (30) against the flat portion (20a) of the first table, and a ligature, to ensure the assembly of the reed (12) on the spout (10), in which the spout (10) and the reed (12) define between them an opening (48) intended to allow the air to penetrate, to generate sound vibrations, and which then flows into the chamber (26) and the bore (27) in a so-called longitudinal general direction,
characterized in that it further comprises, present during sound production, an interlayer (14) sandwiched between the tables of the spout (20) and the reed (28) and arranged so that the relative position the spout (10) and the reed (12), and consequently the vibration conditions of the reed (12), vary according to the position of the interlayer (14). Mouthpiece according to claim 1, characterized in that said insert (14) is removable and covers part of said curved portion (20b). Interlayer (14), intended to be clamped between the reed (12) and the spout (10) of a mouthpiece according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that it has a chamfer (40) at the 'at least one of its ends intended to be disposed opposite the bevel (32) of the reed (12). An interlayer according to claim 3, characterized in that it comprises a body (34) adjacent to the chamfer, in the form of a film of thickness (z) linearly dependent on the longitudinal dimension (x). An interlayer according to claim 4, characterized in that said film is formed from a superposition of thin sheets fixed to each other, the number of superimposed sheets decreasing to form said chamfer (40). Interlayer according to one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the angle at the top of said chamfer (40) is less than 3 °. An interlayer according to one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that said chamfer (40) is of convex shape. Interlayer according to one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that said chamfer (40) is of concave shape. Interlayer according to one of claims 3 to 8, characterized in that its end (36) comprising said chamfer (40) is provided with a cutout (46) formed throughout its thickness and disposed laterally in its middle part. An interlayer according to claim 9, characterized in that said cutout (46), intended to better clear the access to the chamber (26), is defined by two fingers (42, 44) arranged so as to bear on said curved portion (20b). Interlayer according to one of claims 3 to 10, characterized in that it is formed from a material capable of being worked by plastic deformation. A spacer according to claim 11, characterized in that said material is an aluminum alloy. Interlayer according to one of claims 3 to 10, characterized in that said material is a plastic. An interlayer according to claim 13, characterized in that said material is of the thermoformable type. Spacer according to one of claims 3 to 14, characterized in that at least part of its surface intended to be in contact with the reed (12) and / or the spout (10) is provided with an adhesive layer repositionable type.

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