Wind instrument mute of unique timbre - has vibrating membrane exciting coiled springs of different natural frequencies

摘要

A mute for wind instruments is in the form of a hollow resonance chamber (5) which is closed on the outlet side by a membrane stretched around the opening of the resonator, with a number of oscillating elements (7-12) lying against the membrane in contact with it. The oscillatory elements may be in the form of coiled springs. The mute gives a unique timbre. Four metal helical springs (7-10) are grouped in pairs and arranged in parallel on the outlet side of the instrument. Four other helical springs (11-14) are on the reverse side of the membrane (6), also grouped in pairs and arranged in parallel but crossing the outer set of springs (7-10). The springs have different natural frequencies of vibration.