Musical Instrument Classification (Sachs-Hornbostel System) (Part 2)

The following text is my summary of the Sachs Hornbostel System mainly based on the “Revision of the Hornbostel-Sachs Classification of Musical Instruments” by the MIMO Consortium (2011) and its 2017 Addenda, as published on ICOM Internation Committee of Museums and Collections of Instruments and Music. Other supplementary resources contributed to this summary are also provided in the section “References & Resources” below.

Table of Contents

4. Aerophones

• Definition:
  • Aerophones are instruments that produce sounds by the vibration of air.
• Aerophones are categorised by how the air is set into vibration.
  • Reed instruments that make sounds by a flow of air in which the reed is the primary vibrator are also aerophones.
• Types of aerophones:
  • Free aerophones
  • Wind instruments (proper)

41. Free Aerophones

• Definition:
  • The vibrating air is not confined inside the instrument; sound is created from the vibration of air on or around a spinning or whirling object.
• Types of free aerophones
  • Displacement free aerophones
  • Interruptive free aerophones
  • Plosive aerophones

411. Displacement free aerophones

• Definition:
  • A periodic displacement of air occurs to the alternate flanks of a sharp edge wien the air-stream meets the edge, or the edge is moved through the air.

Examples:

Sword-blade

(Photo from Pickpik)

Whipcracking/Goaßlschnalzen (origin: Germanic peoples of Bavaria, Apline areas, Austria, and Hungary)

412. Interruptive free aerophones

• Definition:
  • The air-stream is interrupted periodically.
• Types of interruptive free aerophones
  • Idiophonic interruptive aerophones/reeds
  • Non-idiophonic interruptive instruments

412.1 Idiophonic interruptive aerophones or reeds free aerophones

• Definition:
  • The air-stream is directed against a lamella, setting it in periodic vibration to interrupt the stream intermittently.
    • Reeds with a “cover” also belong to this group – a tube in which the air vibrates to add roundness and timbre to the sound made by the reeds instead of producing the sound.
• Types of idiophonic interruptive aerophones or reeds
  • Paired/Concussion reeds
  • Beating reeds
  • Free reeds
  • Ribbon reeds
  • Retreating reeds

412.11 Paired / Concussion reeds
412.12 Beating / Percussion reeds
412.13 Free reeds
412.14 Ribbon reeds
412.15 Retreating reeds
412.11 Paired / Concussion reeds

• Definition:
  • Two lamellae make a gap which closes periodically during their vibration

412.12 Beating / Percussion reeds

• Definition:
  • A single lamella periodically opens and closes an aperture.
• The primary action of beating/percussion reeds is “beating” or “closing”.
• Types of beating reeds
  • Individual beating reeds (412.121)
  • Sets of beating reeds (412.122)

Examples:

Bulp horns (maybe) (individual beating reeds)

412.13 Free reeds

• Definition:
  • The lamella vibrates through a closely-fitting slot.
• Usually, sound is produced by blowing air or having air pushed by bellows through a chamber.
• The free reeds’ pitch is determined by its mass, length, and flexibility.
• Types of free reeds
  • Individual free reeds (412.131)
  • Sets of free reeds (412.132)

Examples:

Bawu/巴乌 (origin: China) (individual free reed)

Button accordion (sets of free reeds) (origin: Europe)

Concertina (sets of free reeds) (origin: Europe)

Bandoneóns (popular in Argentina and Uruguay):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIfVzZWyHok&list=PL3tFrp-3cLmp6PyYyP9_bjkwpVV527IMq&index=6&ab_channel=TheoU

Sheng/笙 (sets of free reeds) (origin: Chinese mouth organ)

Harmonica (sets of free reeds) (origin: Western mouth organ)

Reed organ/pump organ (origin: Europe)

Harmonium (origin: Europe)

412.14 Ribbon reeds

• Definition:
  • The air-stream is directed against the edge of a stretched band or ribbon.

412.15 Retreating reeds

• Definition:
  • Elements naturally or artificially sprung together that separate periodically when blown.
• They are usually wood or cane aerophones of tubular form， with a proximal open end and a distal end created by natural node that is split in half, or built in two halves that are closed with a binding.
• The primary action of the closed reed is “retreating” or opening”

Examples:

Deer call (ippaki-ni) (origin: Japan)

See:https://collections.mfa.org/objects/50721

412.2 Non-idiophonic interruptive instruments

• Definition:
  • The interruptive agent is not a reed.
• Types of non-idiophonic interruptive instruments
  • Rotating aerophones
  • Whirling aerophones

412.21 Rotating aerophones
412.22 Whirling aerophones
412.21 Rotating aerophones

• Definition
  • The interruptive agent rotates in its own plane.

Examples:

Siren

Whirring disc

412.22 Whirling aerophones

• Definition:
  • The interruptive agent turns on its axis.

Examples:

Whirly tube/corrugaphone

Bullroarer (origin: Papua New Guinea, Australia, Brazil, South Africa, and North America)

413. Plosive aerophones

• Definition:
  • The air is made to vibrate by a single density stimulus condensation shock (compression or release).
• Types:
  • Explosive aerophones
  • Implosive aerophones

413.1 Explosive aerophones
413.2 Implosive aerophones
413.1 Explosive aerophones

• Definition:
  • The air is forced out.

Examples:

Pop guns

413.2 Implosive aerophones

• Definition:
  • The air is forced in.

Examples:

Drumbone

Shantu (origin: West Africa)

42. Wind instruments (proper)

• Definition:
  • The vibrating air is confined within the instrument itself.
• Types of wind instruments:
  • Edge-tone instruments that are not flutes
  • Edge instruments or flutes
  • Reedpipes
  • Labrosones
  • Membranopipes

420. Edge-tone instruments that are not flutes

Examples:

Widgeon whistles

Sheepdog Whistle

421.  Edge instruments/flutes

• Definition:
  • A narrow stream of air is directed against an edge to excite a column of air in a reedless tube or a body of air in a cavity. This sets the air into vibration, creating sound.
• Types of edge instruments/flutes
  • Flutes without duct
  • Flutes with duct or duct flutes

421.1  Flutes without duct

• Definition:
  • The player himself creates a ribbon-shaped stream or air with his lips by blowing a jet of air against a sharp edge.
• Types of flutes without duct
  • End-blown flutes
  • Side-blown/transverse flutes
  • Vessel flutes (without distinct beak)
  • Notch flutes

421.11 End-blown flutes
421.12 Side-blown / transverse flutes
421.13 Vessel flutes
421.14 Notch flutes
421.11 End-blown flutes

• Definition:
  • The player blows against the sharp rim at the upper open end of a tube/pipe.
• Types of end-blown flutes
  • Single end-blown flutes (421.111)
    • Flutes without duct can be
      • Without fingerholes
      • With single fingerhole
      • With two or more fingerholes
    • Sub-categories of single end-blown flutes:
      • Open single end-blown flutes (421.111.1)
        • Definition:
          • The lower end of the flute is open.
      • Stopped single end-blown flutes (421.111.2)
        • Definition:
          • The lower end of the flute is closed.
      • Partly stopped single end-blown flutes (421.111.3)
        • Definition:
          • The lower end of the flute is partly closed.
  • Sets of end-blown flutes/panpipes (421.112)
    • Definition:
      • The instrument has several end-blown flutes of different pitch that are graduated in length and joined together in a raft, curve, or bundle shape.
        • Sub-categories of sets of end-blown flutes/panpipes
          • Open panpipes (421.112.1)
          • Stopped panpipes (421.112.2)
          • Mixed open and stopped panpipes (421.112.3)

Examples:

Shakuhachi/尺八/しゃくはち (origin: Japan) (open single end-blown flutes with fingerholes)

Hotchiku/法竹 (origin: Japan) (open single end-blown flutes with fingerholes)

Palendag/pulalu/pupala/lumundeg/pelendag (origin: Philippine)

Ney/نی / نای‎ (origin: Middle East)

Xiao/箫 (origin: China)

Paixiao/排箫 (origin: China)

Siku/antara/zampoña (origin: the Aymaras of Perú and Bolivia)

Wot/โหวด (origin: Laos and the Isan region of northeastern Thailand)

Nai (origin: Romania)

Jodia Pawa (origin: Kutch of Western India)

421.12 Side-blown / transverse flutes

• Definition:
  • The player blows against the sharp rim of a hole in the side of the tube.
• The pipe is usually held to the right of the musician when played.
• Types of side-blown flutes
  • Single side-blown flutes (421.121)
    • Sub-categories of single side-blown flutes:
      • Open side-blown flutes (421.121.1)
      • Partly-stopped side blown flutes (421.121.2)
      • Stopped side-blown flutes (421.121.3)
        • They can be
          • With fixed stopped lower end (421.121.311), or
          • With adjustable stopped lower end (421.121.312)
  • Sets of side-blown flutes (421.122)
    • Sub-categories of sets of side-blown flutes
      • Sets of open side-blown flutes (421.122.1)
      • Sets of stopped side-blown flutes (421.122.2)

Examples:

Bansuri/बांसुरी (origin: India)

Silingat nose flute (origin: Malaysia)

Ohe Hano Ihu (bamboo nose breath) (origin: Hawai)

Western Concert Flutes

421.13 Vessel flutes

• Definition:
  • vessel flutes are flutes in which the body is vessel-shaped instead of tubular-shaped.
• They are often made from clay or wood, and are played by blowing into a hole or whistle mouthpiece.
• Vessel flutes can be found in Africa, East Asia, New Zealand, and South America.

Examples:

Ocarina

Jug

Conch

Gemshorn

Molinuka (origin: Lithuania)

Xun/埙（origin: China)

Handflute

421.14 Notch flutes

• Definition:
  • The player blows into a notch at the top of the tube.
  • Treat as 421.11.
• Notch flutes can be
  • open, or
  • stopped
• They can also be
  • with fingerholes, or
  • without fingerholes
• Types of notch flutes
  • single notch flutes (421.141)
  • sets of notch flutes/panpipes (421.142)

421.2 Flutes with duct/duct flutes/fipple flutes

• Definition:
  • A narrow duct directs the air stream the sharp edge of a lateral orifice.
• Types of flutes without duct
  • flute with external duct
  • flute with internal duct
  • flute with internal duct formed by an internal baffle (natural, node, block of resin) plus an external duct

421.21 Flute with external duct
421.22 Flute with internal duct
421.23 Flute with internal duct formed by an internal baffle plus an external duct
421.21 Flute with external duct

• Definition:
  • The duct is outside the wall of the flute; this group includes flutes with the duct chamfered in the wall under a ring-like sleeve and other similar arrangements.
• Types of flute with external duct
  • Single flutes with external duct (421.211)
    • Sub-categories:
      • Open flutes (421.211.1)
        • Open flutes can be
          • Without fingerholes (421.211.11)
          • With fingerholes (421.211.12)
          • Partly-stopped flutes (421.211.2)
        • Stopped flutes (421.211.3)
  • Sets of flutes with external duct (421.212)

Examples:

Fujara (origin: Central Slovakia)

Suling (origin: Southeast Asia)

421.22 Flute with internal duct

• Definition:
  • The duct is inside the tube.
• Flutes with internal duct can be
  • Without fingerholes, or
  • With fingerholes
• Flutes with internal duct can also be
  • With fixed stopped lower end, or
  • With adjustable stopped lower end
• Types of flutes with internal duct
  • Single flutes with internal duct (421.221)
    • Sub-categories:
      • Open flutes with internal duct (421.221.1)
      • Partly-stopped flute with internal duct (421.221.2)
      • Stopped flutes with internal duct (421.221.3)
      • Vessel flutes with duct (421.221.4)
  • Sets of flutes with internal duct (421.222)
    • Sub-categories:
      • Sets of open flutes with internal duct (421.222.1)
      • Sets of partly-stopped flutes with internal duct (421.222.2)
      • Sets of stopped flutes with internal duct (421.222.3)
      • Sets of dissimilar flutes with internal duct (421.222.4)
        • Definition:
          • Two or more flutes of more than one kind (open, partly stopped or stopped) are combined to form a set

Khloy/ขลุ่ย/ខ្លុយ/ပုလွေ (origin: the Khmer people)

Flabiol (origin: Catalan cobla)

Whistle

Willow flute/seljefløyte/sälgflöjt/pitkähuilu/kārkla stabule/ švilpynė (origin: Nordic countries)

Tin whistle/penny whistle/flageolet (origin: the Celtic people and Australia)

Recorder

Double/Triple Flageolet

Calliope

421.23 Flute with internal duct formed by an internal baffle plus an external duct

422. Reedpipes

• Definition:
  • The column of air is made to vibrate by the periodic access of an air stream produced by means of a lamella or lamellae.
• Types of reedpipes
  • Reedpipes with double/quadruple reeds (oboes)
  • Reedpipes with single reeds (clarinets)
  • Reedpipes with a reed which vibrates through a closely fitted frame
  • Dilating reeds

422.1 Reedpipes with double/quadruple reeds (oboes)

• Definition
  • Double reedpipes havea reed (usually a flattened stem) of a pair of lamellae that periodically open and close, controlling the flow of air.
• Double/quadruple reedpipes can be
  • With cylindrical bore, or
  • With conical bore
• They may also be
  • With fingerholes, or
  • Without fingerholes
• Types of double/quadruple reedpipes
  • Single reedpipes with double/quadruple reeds (422.11)
  • Sets of reedpipes with double/quadruple reeds (422.12)

Examples:
Duduk/դուդուկ (single double reed reedpipe with cylindrical bore with fingerholes) (origin: Armania)

Piri/피리 (single double reed with cylindrical bore with fingerholes) (origin: Korean)

Galician gaita (origin: Galicia and Northern Portugal)

Great Highland bagpipe/a’ phìob mhòr (origin: Scoland)

Bassoon (origin: Europe)

Hne/နှဲ (origin: Myanmar)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUV870rSvHE&list=PLfaxzjsOMdsRSIb6LvG4AedYxqhLMpK7h&ab_channel=MRTVWebportal

Oboe (origin: Europe)

Zurna/զուռնա/зурла/сурла (origin: Central Eurasia, Western Asia and parts of North Africa)

Crumhorn (origin: Europe)

Aulos/αὐλός (origin: Ancient Greek)

422.2 Reedpipes with single reeds (clarinets)

• Definition
  • The pipe has a single beating “reed” consisting of a lamella which periodically opens and closes an aperture, controlling the flow of air.
• single reedpipes can be
  • With cylindrical bore, or
  • With conical bore
• They may also be
  • With fingerholes, or
  • Without fingerholes
• Types of reedpipes with single reeds
  • Individual reedpipes with single reeds (422.21)
  • Sets of reedpipes with single reeds (422.22)

Examples:

Clarinets

Chalumean (origin: Europe, late Baroque and early Classical eras)

Alboka (origin: Basque People)

Launeddas (origin: Sardinia)

Zhaleika/Žalejka/жале́йка/брёлка (origin: Belorussia, Russia and Ukraine)

Pibgorn (origin: Wales)

Mashak/mushak baja  (origin: Nothern India, Nepal, Pakistan and Afghanistan)

Ganurags (origin: Latvia)

Birbynė (origin: Lithuania)

Xaphoon (individual reedpipe with single reeds with cylindrical bore with fingerholes)

Saxophone (origin: Europe) (individual reedpipes with single reeds with conical bore)

Tárogató (origin: Hungary, Romania)

Aulochrome (sets of reedpipes with single reeds)

Mijwiz/مجوز‎‎ (origin: Middle East) (sets of reedpipes with single reeds)

Zummara (origin: Egypt) (sets of reedpiples with single reeds)

Argul/يرغول‎ /أرغول (origin: Egypt & Palestine) (sets of reedpipes with single reeds)

422.3 Reedpipes with a reed which vibrates through a closely fitted frame

• Definition
  • In determining the frequency of vibration, the air column must be the dominant partner, as is the case for fingerhole instruments, otherwise the instrument belongs to the free reeds.
• Types of reedpipes with a reed which vibrates through a closely fitted frame
  • Single reedpipes with free reeds (422.31)
  • Double reedpipes with free reeds (422.32)
  • Horns with free reeds (422.33)

422.4 Dilating reeds

• Definition
  • The reed consists of one or more longitudinal slits in the upper end of a stalk of soft materials such as rice stalk or grass. The “reed” area is wholly enclosed within the mouth.
• Sound Production:
  • “When the slit end is held in the mouth and blown, the slit rapidly opens and closes, the sides of the slit moving away from each other and hence retreating, and the top of the instrument dilating slightly to allow the slit to open” (see “Dilating Reeds” by Jeremy Montagu).
• Types of dilating reeds:
  • Dilating reeds without fingerholes (422.41)
  • Dilating reeds with fingerholes (422.42)

Examples:
Fadno (origin: the Sami people of Scandinavia)

(Photo by Leif Wäppling)

423. Labrosones/Lip-reed instruments)

• Definition:
  • Labrosonesare lip vibrating instruments. The air-stream passes through the player’s causing lips, causing the air to vibrate within a tube or column creating sound.
• Sound Production:
  • Using the overtone series and the fundamental resonant frequency of the instrument, the player can move up and down the notes of the scale using a combination of embouchure, air resistance, hand stop and valves.
• Types of labrosones:
  • Natural labrosones
  • Chromatic labrosones

423.1 Natural labrosones

• Definition:
  • Without additional devices to change pitch other than lengths of tube (crooks etc.) to set the nominal pitch preparatory to playing.
• Types of natural labrosones
  • Conches (423.11)
  • Tubular labrosones (423.12)

423.11 Conches
423.12 Tubular labrosones
423.11 Conches

• Definition:
  • A conch (pronounced “konk”) shell – the shell of several different kinds of sea snails – serves as a labrosone.
• Types of conches
  • End-blown conches (423.111)
    • Sub-categories of end-blown conches:
      • Without mouthpiece (423.111.1)
      • With mouthpiece (423.111.2)
        • Definition:
          • Material has been added to the tube to form a mouthpiece
  • Side-blown conches (423.112)

Examples:

Shell Trumpet

Horagai or Rappakai/法螺 (origin: Japan)

Shankh/शंख (origin: Hinduism)

423.12 Tubular labrosones

• Types of tubular labrosones:
  • End-blown labrosones (423.121)
    • Sub-categories of end-blown labrosones:
      • End-blown straight labrosones (423.121.1)
      • End-blown labrosones with curved or folded tubes (423.121.2)
  • Side-blown labrosones (423.122)
    • Definition:
      • The embouchure is in the side of the tube.
    • Sub-categories of side-blown labrosones:
      • Side-blown straight labrosones (423.122.1)
      • Side-blown curved labrosones (423.122.2)

• • Sucked (tubular) labrosones (423.123.1)
    • Sub-categories of sucked (tubular) labrosones
      • Sucked labrosones without mouthpiece (423.123.11)
      • Sucked labrosones with mouthpiece (423.123.12)

• Tubular labrosones can be:
  • Without mouthpiece, or
  • With mouthpiece
    • Definition:
      • Material has been added to the tube to form a mouthpiece

Examples:

alphorn (origin: the Alps)

Didgeridoo (origin: Australia)

Bugle

Waqra phuku (origin: Peru)

“Broto” tree-root horn (origin: the Broto people of the Banda ethnic group, Central African Republic)

Central African brotos, a musical tradition under threat

Lur/lure/lurr (origin: Europe)

Shofar/שׁוֹפָר‎ (origin: the Jewish people)

Nolkin (origin: Chile)

423.2 Chromatic labrosones

• Definition:
  • The labrosones have extra devices to alter the pitch while playing.
• Types of chromatic labrosones:
  • Labrosones with fingerholes (423.21)
  • Slide trumpets (423.22)
  • Labrosones with valves (423.23)

423.21 Labrosones with fingerholes
423.22 Slide Trumpets
423.23 Labrosones with valves
423.21 Labrosones with fingerholes

• Definition:
  • The instrument uses holes along its body, which are covered by fingers or by finger-operated pads (keys).
• Types of labrosones with fingerholes
  • With cylinder bore (423.211)
  • With [narrow] conical bore (423.212)
  • With [wide] conical bore (423.213)

Examples:

Cornett/cornetto (origin: Europe) (423.212)

Keyed trumpet (origin: Europe) (423.213)

423.22 Slide Trumpets

• Definition:
  • The tube can be lengthened by extending a telescopic section of the instrument whilst it is played.

Examples:

European trombone (origin: European)

423.23 Labrosones with valves

• Definition:
  • The tube is lenghened or shortened by connecting or disconnecting auxiliary lengths of tube, changing the sounding pitch to produce the notes of the chromatic scale in any key.
• Types of labrosones with valves
  • Valve bugles (423.231)
    • Definition:
      • The tube is predominantly conical.
    • Sub-categories of valve bugles:
      • With narrow bore (423.231.1)
        • Valve bugles with narrow bore can be:
          • With short air column (less than 2m) (423.231.11)
          • With long air column (more than 2m) (423.231.12)
      • With wide bore (423.231.2)
  • Valve horns (423.232)
    • Definition:
      • The tube is of intermediate bore profile.
    • Sub-categories of valve horns
      • With narrow bore (423.232.1)
        • Valve horns with narrow bore can be:
          • With short air column (less than 2m) (423.232.11)
          • With long air column (more than 2m) (423.232.12)
      • With wider bore (423.232.2)
  • Valve trumpets (423.233)
    • Definition:
      • The tube is predominantly cylindrical
    • Types of valve trumpets
      • With short air column (less than 2m) (423.233.1)
      • With long air column (more than 2m) (423.233.2)

Examples

Flugelhorn (origin: Europe) (423.231.11)

Wagner tuba (origin: Europe) (423.231.12)

Euphonium (origin: Europe) (423.231.2)

Cornet (423.232.11)

French Horn (423.232.12)

Trumpet (423.233.1)

424. Membranopipes

• Definition:
  • The column of air is made to vibrate by the irregular access of an air stream created by a membrane that periodically opens and closes an aperture.

• Type membranopipes:
  • Single membranopipes (424.1)
    • Sub-categories:
      • With cylindrical bore (424.11)
        • Sub-categories:
          • without figerholes (424.111)
          • with fingerholes (424.112)
      • With conical bore (424.12)
        • Sub-categories:
          • Without fingerholes (424.121)
          • With fingerholes (424.122)
  • Sets of membranopipes (424.2)
    • Sub-categories:
      • With cylindrical bore (424.21)
        • Sub-categories:
          • Without fingerholes (424.211)
          • With fingerholes (424.212)
      • With conical bore (424.22)
        • Sub-categories:
          • Without fingerholes (424.221)
          • With fingerholes (424.222)

425. Ridged tubes

• Definition:
  • A column of air is excited by a flow of air through a tube which has internal ridges.
• Types of ridged tubes
  • Whirled tubes (425.1)
    • Definition:
      • A ridged tube is made of a flexible material which is whirled to create an air flow by centrifugal force.

5. Electrophones

• Definition:
  • Electrophones are instruments that primarily use electrical means to generate acoustic sounds.
    • Sounds are created with mechanically-driven signal sources, electronically stored data or electronic circuitry to produce electrical signals that are passed to a amplifer or a loudspeaker to deliver sound.
  • Types of electrophones:
    • Electro-acoustic instruments and devices
    • Electromechanical instruments and devices
    • Analogue electronic instruments, modules and components
    • Digital instruments, modules and components
    • Hybrid analogue/digital configuration
    • Softwares

51. Electro-acoustic instruments and devices

• Definition:
  • Electro-acoustic instruments are modules and configurations of acoustic, vibratory mechanisms and electronic circuitry such as transducers, pickups, and amplifiers used to deliver a signal to an amplifier or loudspeaker.
• Types of electro-acoustic instruments and devices:
  • Electro-acoustic idiophones
  • Electro-acoustic membranophones
  • Electro-acoustic chordophones
  • Electro-acoustic aerophones
  • Transducers

511. Electro-acoustic idiophones

• Definition:
  • The vibration or radiation originated in the solid material are converted into electrical signals, which are then connected to an instrument amplifier and loudspeaker.

Examples:

Fender-Rhodes Electric Piano (origin: America)

Wurlitzer electric piano (origin: America)

512. Electro-acoustic membranophones

• Definition:
  • The vibration of a stretched skin or membrane is converted into electrical signals, which are then connected to an instrument amplifier and loudspeaker.

Examples

Microphones on a drum kit

513. Electro-acoustic chordophones

• Definition:
  • The vibration of the string on a resonant body is converted into electrical signals, which are then connected to an instrument amplifier and loudspeaker.

Examples

Neo-Bechstein electric piano (origin: Germany)

Electric Guitar

514. Electro-acoustic aerophones

• Definition:
  • The vibration of air on a resonant body is converted into electrical signals, which are then connected to an instrument amplifier and loudspeaker.

Example

EWI

Flute with microphone

515. Transducer

• Definition:
  • A transducer is a device that converts acoustical or mechanical energy to electrical energy. The output is referred to as an audio signal.

Examples

Microphones

Loudspeakers

Pick-ups

52. Electromechanical instruments and devices

• Definition:
  • The electromechanical instruments and devices include configurations of electrically excited silent, mechanical moving parts with encoded patterns, and electronic circuitry. The movement enables the encoded patterns to be transduced into an analogue fluctuation of an electric current.
• Types of electromechanical instruments and devices
  • Tone wheel instruments
  • Photoelectric electromechanical instruments
  • Record/playback devices
  • Electromechanical samplers
  • Electromechanical sound processing devices

521. Tone Wheel Instruments
522. Photoelectric electromechanical instruments
523. Record/playback devices
524. Electromechanical samplers
525.Electromechanical sound processing devices
521. Tone Wheel Instruments

• They include electromagnetic, electrostatic, photoelectric instruments.

Examples

Hammond M100 Tonewheel Organ

522. Photoelectric electromechanical instruments

To be researched

523. Record/playback devices

Examples

Otari-MX5050 Tape Machine

Tape Recorder EMI BTR/2

524. Electromechanical samplers

Examples

Akai MPC60

Akai MPC2000

Akai S1000

Mellotron

Chamberlin

525.Electromechanical sound processing devices

Examples

Spring line reverberation unit

Tape echo

Flangers

53. Analogue electronic instruments, modules and components

• Definition:
  • In order to produce sound, constantly changing electrical signals are transmitted to a loudspeaker. Electric signals are produced by electronic circuitry. Modules and configurations comprising analogue fully electronic instruments used to generate, process and communicate electronic signals and/or signal sequences.
• Types of analogue electronic instruments, modules and components
  • Analogue synthesizers and other electronic instruments with thermionic valve or solid state circuitry
  • Voltage control sources
  • Other analogue modules or configurations

531. Analogue synthesizers and other electronic instruments with thermionic valve or solid state circuitry

• Types of analogue synthesizers and electronic instruments with thermionic valve or solid state circuitry:
  • Analogue synthesizers and other electronic instruments with electronic valve/vacuum tube based devices
  • Analogue synthesizers and other electronic instruments with solid state circuitry

531.1 Analogue synthesizers and other electronic instruments with electronic valve/vacuum tube based devices

• Definition:
  • The devices and instruments use thermionic valve (vacuum-tube) to generate and/or process electric sound signals.

Examples

Trautonium (origin: Germany)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uaWrdbvhg1Q&ab_channel=Trautonist

Treremin

ondes Martenot

Ondioline

Clavioline

531.2 Analogue synthesizers and other electronic instruments with solid state circuitry

• Definition:
  • The devices and instruments use solid state circuitry (transistor and/or analogue integrated circuitry) to generate and/or process electric sound signals.
• Types of analogue synthesizers and other electronic instruments with solid state circuitry
  • Using additive synthesis (531.21)
  • Using subtractive synthesis (531.22)
    • Sub-categories:
      • Modular analogue synthesizers (531.221)
      • Preset analogue synthesizers (531.222)
        • Sub-categories:
          • Preset, monophonic analogue synthesizers (531.222.1)
          • Preset, partially or fully polyphonic analogue synthesizers (531.222.2)
  • Using hybrid subtractive and additive synthesis (531.23)

Examples

Stylophone

See also:

https://www.horniman.ac.uk/object/2012.136.1/

Oberheim Four Voice Analog Synthesizer

See also:

https://www.horniman.ac.uk/object/M1-1998/

532. Voltage control sources

• Types of voltage control sources:
  • Control voltage sequence generators
  • Controllers and interfaces

532.1 Control Voltage Sequence Generators

• Definition:
  • They include envelope generator, low frequency oscillator, sequencer, slew generator, peak amplitude follower/envelope follower, sample and hold.

Examples

Analogue sequencer

532.2  Controllers and Interfaces

• Definition:
  • They include human interface devices, keyboards, foot switches, sensors, wheels, touchpad.

533. Other analogue modules or configurations

• Types:
  • Analogue modules
  • Analogue configurations
  • Modules communicating between devices/signal convertors other than transducers

533.1  Analogue modules

• Definition:
  • They include audio signal generators; analogue signal combining, modifying, reproducing and processing devices
• Types of analogue modules
  • Audio signal generators
  • Signal modifiers or processors

533.11 Audio Signal Generators
533.12 Signal Modifiers or Processors
533.11 Audio Signal Generators

• Definition:
  • Oscillators producing sine, square and saw tooth waves, beat frequency oscillator and heterodyne systems.

Examples

Ring modulator

533.12 Signal Modifiers or Processors

• Definition:
  • Analogue signal combining, modifying, reproducing and processing devices

Examples

Mixer

Amplitude Modifier

533.2  Analogue configurations

• Definition:
  • These include mixer consoles (also containing filters, ring modulators etc.), sequencer based configurations, experimental configurations, sound sculptures.

Examples

BBC Mark III Radio Mixing Desk

Funktionsgenerator

533.3  Modules communicating between devices/signal convertors other than transducers

54. Digital instruments, modules and components

• Definition:
  • These include modules and configurations containing devices to digitally design and process electronic sound signals and/or sequences of signalsElectrical signals generated in the form of quantized sequences of pulses are converted to continuous signals that activate a loudspeaker.
• Types of digital instruments, modules and components
  • Digital synthesizers
  • Digital control sources and interfaces
  • Digital signal mixing, modifying, reproducing and processing devices
  • Digital samplers and sampling synthesizers
  • Digital record/playback devices
  • Other digital modules, components or configurations
  • Digital modules communicating between devices/signal convertors

541. Digital synthesizers

• Definition:
  • A digital synthesizer is a synthesizer that uses digital signal processing (DSP) techniques to make musical sounds.
• Types of digital synthesizers
  • Using frequency modulation synthesis (541.1)
    • Sub-categories:
      • Without fixed keyboard controllers (541.11)
      • With fixed keyboard controllers (541.12)
  • Using additive synthesis (541.2)
    • Sub-categories:
      • Without fixed keyboard controllers (541.21)
      • With fixed keyboard controllers (541.22)
  • Using phase distoriton techniques (541.3)
    • Sub-categories:
      • Without fixed keyboard controllers (541.31)
      • With fixed keyboard controllers (541.32)
  • Using physical modelling techniques (541.4)
    • Sub-categories:
      • Without fixed keyboard controllers (541.41)

Examples

Access Virus B

Roland D-550

Yamaha DX7 (541.12)

Synclavier

Roland XV-5080

Kawai K5 (541.22)

Casio CZ series (541.32)

Yamaha VL70 (541.41)

542. Digital control sources and interfaces

• Definition:
  • This includes human interface devices, keyboards, joy-sticks/wheels, touchpad/touch screen, foot switches, sensors, detectors of environmental change.

Examples

Yamaha QX7

MIDI Controller

543. Digital signal mixing, modifying, reproducing and processing devices

• Definition:
  • They include timbre modifier, filter device, amplitude modifier, amplifier device, reverb modifier

Examples

Digital Delay

544. Digital samplers and sampling synthesizers

Examples

Korg DSS-1

545. Digital record/playback device

Examples

Zoom Audio Recorder

546. Other digital modules, components or configurations

547. Digital modules communicating between devices/signal convertors

55. Hybrid analogue/digital configurations

• Definition:

• • Devices with analogue oscillators and digital filters.

56. Software

• Definition:

• • Software refers to computer programs, mostly digital audio workstations (DAWs). DAWs are electronic systems designed primarily for recording, editing, and playing back digital audio.

Examples

Harrison Mixbus 32c

Bitwig Studio

Mechanical Instruments

• Definition:
  • Mechanized instruments that use servomechanisms or some type of mechanism to produce sounds.
• They were popular in the mid-1800s to early 1900s.

Examples:
Hurdy Gurdy (origin: Europe during medieval times)

Mechanical Fusion

References & Resources

• Revision of the Hornbostel-Sachs Classification of Musical Instruments by the MIMO Consortium (2011)
• 2017 Addenda to the MIMO Hornbostel Sachs classification of Musical Instruments (2017, CIMCIM Working Group on Classification)
• CIMCIM (ICOM International Committee of Museums and Collections of Instruments and Music)
• Musical Instrument Museum Online (MIMO)
• Berklee Online – World Music Composition Styles Online Course
• Wikipedia: List of Musical Instruments
• All The Musical Instruments of the World: Classification of Musical Instruments
• Bamboo Instruments
• ISKO Encyclopedia of Knowledge: Hornbostel-Sachs Classification of Musical Instruments by Deborah Lee
• Encyclopedia of Percussion by John Beck
• Origin & Development of Musical Instruments by Jeremy Montagu
• Geographical Distribution of the Musical Bow by OTIS T. MASON
• Dan Moi World Music Instruments
• Musicologist Jeremy Montagu’s Website
• Música Para Ver World Instruments
• Horniman Museum & Gardens “Musical Instrument Collection”
• Galpin, F. W. “The Whistles and Reed Instruments of the American Indians of the North-West Coast.”Proceedings of the Musical Association 29 (1902): 115-38. Accessed November 22, 2020. http://www.jstor.org/stable/765327.
• Virtual Instrument Museum