Abstract:
The frequency and amplitude of vibration of a representative sample of reeds from American reed organs have been studied as functions of the (negative) static pressure difference between the interior and exterior of the windchest. Over a pressure range that includes the normal playing pressure of the instrument, the frequency tends to decrease in an approximately linear fashion with increasing pressure difference, but some anomalous effects are observed at higher pressures. Effects of constrictions to the airflow, simulating the effect of a partially opened pallet, have also been studied.