On ihe Properties of Wind Injlrumtnts, 



219 



why this fliape In the holes is fo univerfally adopted. As every aperture muft regulate two 

 founds, it may juftly be confidercd a deCrable requifite, that the width of every wind in- 

 ftrument fliould be fo proportioned, that the interval between each of thofe founds pro- 

 duced with the leaft effort, and thefe propagated by incrcaCng the force of the current, 

 Ihall equal either an odave or a twelfth. Several adventitious circumftances, however, 

 often deftroy the harmonical relation which might otherwife refult from the dimenfions of 

 the tube. 



The harmonical part of the fcalc of the German-flute is nearly true, bnt the fame part 

 of the fcalc of thofe inftruments, whofe founds are propagated by the vibrations of a piece 

 of reed, are generally very imperfect. I fliall only make a few obfervations refpedting the 

 clarionet, as I have made no experiments with any other inftrument of this kind. 



The pitch of the higher notes in the fcale of the clarionet depends very much upon the 

 ftrength of the reed, when the inftrument is only blown, and the reed not prefled by the 

 lips of the performer. A reed that is ftrong enough to perform the higher founds In tunc, 

 unaffifted by preffure, will foon fatigue the performer, and fcarcely play the founds of the 

 low«r fcale : on the contrary, a reed that is flender enough to play the loweft fucceflion of 

 founds full, will not play the fcale of twelfths true, unlefs it be preffed ftrongly by the lips* 

 and If any of the holes are widened fo much as to produce the requifite pitch In the har- 

 monical found, then its progenitor will be made too high, compared with another found 

 which (hould be Its o£tave : thus It happens, that adjufting the fizes of the holes to the 

 founds In one part of the fcale, deftroys their conformity In another part. It is however 

 abfolutely neceffary, that the oftaves {hould be true, and that the reed fliould be fo flender 

 as not to fatigue the performer ; and therefore the higher founds are generally made in 

 tune with the lower, by prefllng the reed — a method which Is not agreeable, and requires 

 much pradice to regulate. 



If every aperture of an Inftrument only regulated the pitch of one found inftead of tyuOf 

 the temperament of the fcale might be eafily adjufted, but from the limited number of holes 

 that can be conveniently managed by the fingers, a ferles of diatonic notes could fcarcely 

 be carried through two oftaves. An Inftrument upon this principle, I have frequently 

 thought however, would fervc very well, for performing the bafe, or fome part between 

 the bafe and the treble, accordingly I have couftrufted one In the fhape of Fig. 7, with a 

 reed like a clarionet. 



Fig. 8. is a fe£lion, which contains the proportionate length and breadth of the Inftru- 

 ment upon a fcale of one fifth of the real Cze. The infide of the tube A is five lines in 

 breadth, and feven In depth. To this tube Is fixed the piece which carries the reed, and 

 two other pieces or branches B and C, which have the fame dimenfions as A. Tliere is 

 alfo a fmall pipe reprefented under the figures i, 2, 3, 4, which opens Into this tube. The 

 inftrument has nine apertures on Its higher fide marked i, i, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, which are 

 clofed by the fingers; end two on its under fide marked 9, 10. The ninth hole Is clofed 

 bj a valve or key, and the tenth by the thumb of the left hand. The end of the fmall pipe 



Ffa at 



