GB2334130A

GB2334130A - Mouth blown, free reed, musical instrument

Info

Publication number: GB2334130A
Application number: GB9802722A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael James Pennington
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-02-10
Filing date: 1998-02-10
Publication date: 1999-08-11
Also published as: GB9802722D0

Abstract

The instrument has a circular soundbox 13 with circular reed platform or individual reeds 14, and circular casings. 10 and 11. Reeds can be arranged to play a single tune. Soundbox/reed combinations can be changed. Another application (Fig.4) mounts a circular instrument on a stand (15) which also supports a sheet music holder (20). The soundbox has reeds for the diatonic scale on one side and for the chromatic scale on the other. The soundbox/reed combination rotates within the mouthpiece band (12) a handle (16) on the casing 10 facilitates turning. A flexible extension (18) from the single mouthpiece hole, fitted with a sprung mechanism to change from diatonic to chromatic scales, at the top of the mouthpiece band, enables the player to sit within viewing distance of the casing which is marked on its edge with staves (19) and symbols representing adjacent notes. This allows learners to compare the note on the music score with the one played.

Description

FREE REED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT This invention relates to a free reed musical instrument.

Free reed musical instruments played by blowing and sucking are well established as harmonicas. Reeds are arranged on one or two straight platforms, screwed onto a straight soundbox. in the natural order of musical notes. A straight mouthpiece, screwed to the front of the soundbox, has openings to each soundbox chamber. Players slide the instrument from right to left, alternately blowing and sucking at the mouthpiece to obtain the rising diatonic scales.

Access to another reed platform and soundbox containing sharps and flats for the chromatic scale is obtained by operating a sprung mechanism on the right hand side of the instrument.

Casings. screwed to the top and bottom of the soundbox, protect the reeds and help the player to var,' the tone of the sound.

Findlng a note to play in a tune takes skill and practice. To contain all notes in a comfortable length of instrument, little space is provided between reeds: care is needed to blow or suck through a single hole. There is little scope to increase the number of reeds contained. Unskilled players usually fail to recognize when the sprung mechanism should be used to change to the chromatic scale.

In the present invention, circular, moutb blown, free reed platforms mounted on circular soundboxes or individual free reeds inserted in circular soundboxes, placed in any chosen order, are contained in circular mouthpieces and casings. They may be placed in the plane of the lines of radii, or a. right angles to it, in the plane parallel with the centre )ine, around the circumference of the circle. In this respect, circular includes all full or almost full circuit shapes.

Specific embodiments and applications of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows an instrument with reeds in the plane of the lines of radii.

Referring to the drawing, the upper 10 and lower 11 casings fit the mouthpiece 12 which contains the soundbox or soundboxes 13 and reed platforms 14 or soundboxes with individual reeds.

Figure 2 shows the instrument drawn in figure 1 open for the exchange of soundboxes 13 and reed platforms 14.

The upper casing 10 has a screw or press fit to the mouthpiece 12. The soundboxes 13 and reed platforms 14 fit closely into the circumference created by the mouthpiece and slot into protrusions that prevent lateral movement. The reeds for any tune may be arranged on a soundbox to be installed. When the upper casing 10 is replaced, it prevents vertical movement.

Figure 3 shows an instrument in the plane parallel with the centre line, around the circumference of the circle The method of changing soundboxes and reed platforms is similar but in the different plane.

Figure 4 shows an instrument in the plane of lines of radii mounted on a stand 15. The soundboxlreed combinations 13,14 are arranged in natural diatomic note order on one side and chromatic order on the other. They are held in casings, 10 and 11, the one on the side nearest the player being provided with a handle 16 near its centre. They rotate inside the mouthpiece band 17. A flexible extension 18 to a single mouthpiece hole at the top of the instrument enables a player to sit a short distance from the instrument from which point the casing 10 is visible. Change to the chromatic scale is by a sprung mechanism that operates at the junction of the extension and the mouthpiece hole. Positions on staves 19 of adjacent notes are marked on the outer part of the casing. Sheet music is mounted at the top of the stand 20 so learners can see they play the right note by comparison.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A circular, mouth blown, free reed instrument having circular reed platforms or individual reeds inserted on or in circular soundboxes and circular casings contained within a circular mouthpiece.
2. A circular free reed instrument as claimed in claim 1 having reeds placed in any chosen order, to play any specific single tune or natural orders of musical notes. according to the reed/soundbox combination selected.
3. A circular, free reed instrument as claimed in Claim 1 in which reeds are placed in the plane of the radii of the circle.
4. A circular free reed instrument as claimed in Claim 1 in which reeds are placed in the plane at right angles to the radii. parallel with the centre line, around the circumference of the circle.
5. A circular free reed instrument as claimed in Claims 1, 2 and 3 which is mounted on a stand having a sheet music holder above and a soundbox'reed combination that is free to rotate within a mouthpiece band.
6. A circular free reed instrument as claimed in Claim 5 which has reeds arranged in the natural diatonic order of music notes on one side and in chromatic order on the other.
7. A circular free reed instrument mounted on a stand as claimed in Claims 5 and 6 on which a mouthpiece band has one opening at its top which is connected to a flexible extension.
8. A circular free reed instrument as claimed in Claims 5 -7 on which the outer part of the casing is marked in the standard stave notation with the notes adjacent to it.
9. A circular free reed instrument as claimed in Claims 5 - 8 which has a handle near its centre to aid rotation of the soundbox within the mouthpiece band.