Acoustic and aerodynamic determinants of the sound quality of flutes

Abstract

A theoretical description of the interaction of a plane jet with an acoustic flow field is presented, along with a discussion of the interaction of this jet with the lip of a tube resonator to produce a self-sustained oscillation. This description is related to the sound production mechanism in flutes of various families, and the factors controlling pitch, overblowing, and harmonic development of the sound are discussed. Performance techniques are also briefly described. Despite the reasonable success of this description, it is pointed out that the concept of a mixing region conceals our ignorance of the aerodynamic processes taking place, and in particular the role of vorticity. It is surmised that invocation of these processes will prove necessary to a proper understanding of details of the art of embouchure-hole and head-joint design.