240 Mr. Willis on the Vowel Sounds, 



then in direct order again, and so on in cycles, each cycle 

 being merely the repetition of bd, but the vowels becoming less 

 distinct in each successive cycle. The distance of any given 

 vowel from its respective center points a, c, &c. being always 

 the same in all. 



No. 2. 



lEAOU UOAEIIEAOU UOAEIIEAOU 



a, b, c, d, e, 



If another reed be tried whose wave =a,c, (No. 2.) the centers 

 of the cycles a,, c,, e,, &c. will be at the distance of the sonorous 

 wave of the new reed from each other, but the vowel distances 

 exactly the same as before, so that generally, if the reed wave 

 ac = 2a, and the length of the pipe producing any given vowel 

 measured from a = v, the same vowel will always be produced 

 by a pipe whose length = 2na ± v, n being any whole number. 



When the pitch of the reed is high, some of the vowels 

 become impossible. For instance, let the wave of the reed 

 = ac (No. 3.) where \ac is less than the length producing U. 



No. 3. 



lEA <) U 



U ■ O A E 1 • 

 a be 



In this case it would be found that the series would never 

 reach higher than O; that on passing b, instead of coming to U, 

 we should begin with O again, and go through the inverse 

 series. In like manner, if still higher notes be taken for the 

 reed, more vowels will be cut off. This is exactly the case in 

 the human voice, female singers are unable to pronounce U and O 

 on the higher notes of their voice. For example, the proper 

 length of pipe for O, is that which corresponds to the note c". 



