Mechanical Music Digest  Archives
You Are Not Logged In Login/Get New Account
Please Log In. Accounts are free!
Logged In users are granted additional features including a more current version of the Archives and a simplified process for submitting articles.
Home Archives Calendar Gallery Store Links Info
MMD > Archives > March 1999 > 1999.03.10 > 03Prev  Next


Structural Resonance In Organ Pipes
By Robbie Rhodes

Joyce Brite teased me with some unusual words, including these
derivatives from the Greek stem 'xylo-', pertaining to wood:

  xyloid = like wood, having the nature of wood
  xylology = study of the structure of wood.
  xylometer = an instrument which measures the specific gravity of wood

My 7 kg dictionary of 1927 gives two meanings for xylophone:

 "1. An instrument consisting of a series of graduated wooden bars ...
  2. An instrument to determine the vibrative properties of different
  kinds of wood."

Much has been written about the wood for violins and guitars and for
the sounding boards of the piano and music box.  Brian Thornton wrote
that the Welte-style pipes he made "came to life" when built of rela-
tively thin wood salvaged from an old piano sounding board.  This
strongly suggests that the body of the wood pipe is itself vibrating,
and probably at a structural resonance.

Has anyone heard of measurements by the xylophone (#2, the measuring
instrument) which relate to the properties of organ pipe wood?  Do
studies exist about structural resonance in organ pipes?

Robbie Rhodes


(Message sent Thu 11 Mar 1999, 04:16:00 GMT, from time zone GMT-0800.)

Key Words in Subject:  Organ, Pipes, Resonance, Structural

Home    Archives    Calendar    Gallery    Store    Links    Info   


Enter text below to search the MMD Website with Google



CONTACT FORM: Click HERE to write to the editor, or to post a message about Mechanical Musical Instruments to the MMD

Unless otherwise noted, all opinions are those of the individual authors and may not represent those of the editors. Compilation copyright 1995-2024 by Jody Kravitz.

Please read our Republication Policy before copying information from or creating links to this web site.

Click HERE to contact the webmaster regarding problems with the website.

Please support publication of the MMD by donating online

Please Support Publication of the MMD with your Generous Donation

Pay via PayPal

No PayPal account required

                                     
Translate This Page