US1544426A - Indicator for the reproduction of music - Google Patents

Description

June 30, 1925.

C. R. BLUM INDICATOR FOR THE REPRODUCTION OF MUSIC Filed Jan. 6 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Invenlar L ZfiabcflBkzm JHar-ney June 30, 1925. 1,544,426

, c. R. BLUM INDICATOR FOR THE REPRODUCTION OF MUSIC 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 a b lq Jilarngf Patented June 30, 1925.

UNITED STATES CARL ROBERT BLUM, OF BERLIN-SCHONEBERG, GERMANY.

INDICATOR FOR THE REPRODUCTION OF MUSIC.

Application filed January 6, 1923.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CARL Roana'r BLUM, a citizen of Germany, residing at Berlin- Schoneberg, Germany, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Indicators for the Reproduction of Music, of which the followin is a specification.

My invention mates to the reproduction of pieces of music by any desired means, such as the human voice, musical instruments, piano players, grammophones, honographs and the like, and it is an ob ect of my invention to warrant a reproduction in that particular tempo which is peculiar to each individual piece of music. Only military and other marches and many dances have a uniform tempo and all times are reproduced in the same measure. With all other pieces of music, however, the tempo changes more or less often, frequently in the single consecutive times, and even within single measures. This very change of tempo is a material characteristic feature of such pieces of music. Their reproduction corresponds to the intention of the composer perfectly only if not only all tones, but also all tempo variations are reproduced in the most exact manner.

To warrant an exact reproduction of all sung and played pieces of music by the singer or the piano player or the violin player or the conductor of an orchestra, or by piano playing apparatus, grammophones or the like, I make use of the following means:

1. A band which is unwound from one reel and wound upon another reel and has the music piece written or rinted upon it in the usual notes and in uninterrupted succession, in such a manner, that the distance between the notes of each single measure and the length of the space occupied by each measure upon the band with relation to the speed with which the band is moved when a record is made or a recorded piece of music is reproduced) corresponds to the speed with which these notes or measures are to be reproduced.

2. Means for applying the notes to the band in a. rhythmically correct manner.

3. A stationary mark past which the band passes and which indicates to the singer or player or conductor the proper moment at which each note or measure is to be reproduced.

Serial No. 611,199.

and to unwind it from the same, and to make it travel past the stationary mark either with uniform or with varying speed, but always wlth just that speed with which the band had been traveling when the record was made.

In the drawings affixed to this specification and forming part thereof several devices embodying my invention are illustrated diagrammatically by way of example. In the drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of the noteband itself with its two reels.

Figure 2 is a like view of the means for causing theband to-travel past the stationary mark, and of means for adjusting the traveling speed of the band in conformity with the general character of the piece of music to be played.

Figures 3 and 4 are perspective views of two forms of an apparatus for preparing the note band. i

Referring to the drawin s, the note band 1 separately illustrated in igure 1 consists of a strip of durable material, such as cardboard, celluloid, linen, or the like, and has its ends wound upon reels 2 and 3. The

band has one or several staffs, 4, the single measures of which are not of equal length nor of any desired length, but Whose length is determined by the tempo in which they are to be played. Thus, of several measures of a iece of music that which is to be playe with an accelerated tempo (accelerando) occupies a shorter space than a measure that is to be played at a slower tempo (ritardando). The notes are spaced apart within the single measure in such a manner that as the band is traveling along, each note is made to travel past a stationary mark at that very moment at which it is to be played or sung. Such a mark5 (Figures 2 and 3) is arranged, for instance, in the middle of a frame 6, having an oblon slot, across which the band is made to trave If the band is moved solely by the 1-0 tation of the reel 2 which pulls it through the frame 6, the measures obtain other lengths and the notes are placed at other distances during the inscribing of the notes, that is while making the record, than if the band is uniformly moved past the mark. This is due to the increase of the diameter of the reel while the band is wound on it, in consequence of which the speed of the band 4. Means to wind the band upon the reel permanently increases. It is, therefore,

preferable, instead of pulling the band, to employ a uniformly rotating device which engages the hand between the reels.

In the modification shown in Figure 2 a clock-work 9 can be wound up by means of a crank 7 and bevel-wheels 8; the clock-work rotates by means of gear wheels 10 and 11 the spindle 12 of the reel 2 in the direction of the arrow. The reel 2 winds up the band 1 which comes from the reel 3 and passes over guide-rolls 13, as well as through the frame 6.

The singer, player, or orchestra-leader, sitting in front of the apparatus, has to pay attention solely to the moment at which the various consecutive notes arrive at the mark 5 when the respective note is to be produced. The general tempo of the respective piece of music is adjusted in correspondance with the tempo regulations prescribed in the given case and followed either with the aid of Malzels metronome or of some other time beating device, the adjustment being effected by means of a regulating device 14 (Fig. 2) which cooperates with a scale 15 and infiuences the speed of the band, for instance by braking or by changing the ratio of gearing.

The two devices illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 which serve to prepare the music band are distinguished from each other chiefly by the manner in which they are actuated.

In the modification shown in Figure 3 two writing pens or pencils 50 or the like are directed towards the front side of the strip upon which an empty staff is printed and which travels across the frame 6. The pens or pencils 50 are guided in bearings 51 and are held out of contact with the strip by springs 52. Double-[armed key levers 53 permit of pressing the one or the other pen or pencils against the strip for a shorter or longer time, and of producing in this way above or below the staff lines 54 of different lengths and which resemble Morse writing and correspond to the tempo for the time being. IVhen the piece of music has been taken down in this manner upon the strip in stenography, the strip is removed from the device in question and thereafter the true notes are manually incribed into the staff at the proper distance from each other.

Referring to the modification shown in Figure 4, the writing pens or pencils 50 are fastened to the cores of solenoids 56 which are excited from distance either by a key 57 or by a contact-producing member 58 which may for instance, be gripped by the conductor, as shown, and which causes one or the other pen or pencil to be pressed against the strip by means of the respective solenoid.

The note band and the devices operating in conformity with this invention permit of fulfilling many different purposes.

Thenote band renders valuable services as a means for teaching music in that it enables the scholar, as well as the instructor or the conductor, to study and reproduce music pieces in exact conformity to the tempo instructions of the composer. Besides, in connection with automatic music apparatus, such, for instance, as grammophones or piano players, the note band renders possible the co-operation of singers or of instrument players in perfect synchronism with the tempo of the piece of music the respective apparatus is producing, the singers or musicians reading theaccompanying music, and reproducing it, by means of the notes traveling past the mark at the rythm of the respective music-producing apparatus.

In connection with cinematogra )hic appanatus the note band permits of ta king the images in the most exact synchronism with the music, the conductor directing the actors according to the indications of the note band and this latter regulating the feedin of the film, so that the note band and the film run synchronously during the reproduction, and the parts of the musical film which have been recorded synchronously with the rhythm are reproduced also in exact synchronism with the rhythm. On the other hand, the note band may be prepared also according to the rhythm of the finished film and will then warrant exact synchronism of the pictures with the music during the reproduction. The note band may also replace the prompter.

If the note band is provided with contacts, it may control devices (grammophones or the like) which at certain parts of the music or at certain pictures produce noises such as explosions, whistles, street-noise, and like, corresponding to the respective scenery.

I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the exact details of construction or operation described and illustrated in the drawings, for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

I claim 1. A note band comprising a plurality of consecutive notes forming a musical composition having means dividing said notes into measures, the said means bein spaced apart in proportion to the tempo of the composition.

2. A note band comprising a plurality of consecutive notes formin a musical compo sition having bars dividing said notes into measures, the said notes being spaced apart within the measures in proportion to the gariations of tempo occurring within said 3. A note band comprising a plurality of consecutive notes forming a musical com osition and having a plurality of consecutive bars dividing said notes into measures, the lengths of said measures differing in pro position having means dividing said notes into measures, said means being tslpaced apart in proportion to the tempo 0 e composition, and means for moving such band past a predetermined point at uniform speed.

6. A device for preparing a note band com rising means for moving such band at uni orm speed and manually operable means for marking upon it transverse marks differently spaced apart in proportion to a predetermined tempo.

7. A device for preparing a note band com rising means for moving such band at uni orm speed and manually operable electromagnetic means for marking upon it transverse marks differently spaced apart in proportion to a predetermined tempo.

In testimony whereof I afiix m si ature.

CARL ROBERI B UM.

Images