Transmission of Musical Sounds. 233 



to the next apartment. These observations will equally apply 

 to the transmission of other musical sounds, which will be 

 hereafter noticed (6, 7). 



6. 



The transmission of the sounds of those stringed instru- 

 ments which produce sustained sounds, as the violin, violoncello, 

 &c., is equally effective. The conducting-rod may be applied 

 either to the back or the front of the instrument; no precise 

 directions can be given with respect to the points at which 

 the contact should be made ; but, in general, the effect has 

 appeared to me better when the end of the conductor has not 

 been too far removed from the situation of the sound-post. 



7. 



I have been able to effect the transmission of the sounds of 

 reed wind-instruments through solid conductors as perfectly as 

 that of instruments dependent on the vibrations of sounding- 

 boards. In the clarionet, or any other reed instrument, the 

 column of air and the vibrating tongue (or reed) mutually 

 influence each other in such a manner, that whether the 

 sounds be communicated to the atmosphere from the column 

 of air, or to a solid conductor from the vibrating tongue> the 

 quality (timbre) of the sound undergoes no change. 



To connect the conducting wire, which may be of brass, and 

 about a tenth of an inch in diameter, with the tongue of the 

 clarionet, the end of the wire must be bent for about a quarter 

 of an inch, and then filed flat on both sides. This flattened 

 end must be fastened to the fixed end of the tongue by the 

 silk wrapping which usually fastens the tongue only, and the 

 angle of the bend be adjusted so as to suit the position of the 

 performer. If the sound is to be transmitted downwards, the 

 embouchure of the clarionet must be placed in the performer's 

 mouth in the usual way, viz. the tongue of the reed resting 

 on the under lip ; but if the sound is to be transmitted upwards, 

 the performer must play, as some eminent masters of this 

 instrument do, with the tongue applied to the upper lip. For 

 the bassoon or the hautbois, it is equally convenient to the 



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