Aerophones
Aeorophones: sound instruments that make air vibrate to create a sound. According to the definition by MIMO, in aerophones “the air is what vibrates”. In this group instruments with a reed are also included, because although the first thing that vibrates is the reed itself, the sound is produced through an air flow”1. To these we need to add others that, although the first vibration is created by the lips, as in the case of reed instruments, the sound is produced through an air flow. The air body that makes the aerophones vibrate could be the one inside the instrument (in a tube or receptacle) or free air outside. The last-named are ‘free’ aerophones; the former are also called ‘wind instruments’. The following sub-groups can be distinguished among the aerophones:
1.1 | Flutes:
To produce the sound, “a small air flow is sent to an edge and the air body contained inside a tube or receptacle vibrates.” The organological criteria to classify this type of instrument are very varied: if the edge is a simple notch cut in the tube or receptacle, or if it is a sharp edge or window cut transversally; if it has a special tube to channel the air flow or if it is channelled with the lips; in the case of having this tube, if it is inside the instrument or outside it; if the other end of this tube is open or closed; if this tube is placed straight with the lips (straight flutes) or at an acute angle (semi-oblique or oblique flutes); if the tube or receptacle has holes to give different notes; and, among those that have holes, how many fingers or hands are needed to cover them, depending on their number. Bearing in mind all these variants and the characteristics of the flutes that are known in the Basque Country, we have distinguished these classes:
1.1.1 Single-handed straight flutes with mouthpiece
1.1.2 Two-handed straight flutes with mouthpiece
1.1.4 Semi-oblique or oblique flutes
1.1.8 Toys that makes a noise (flute-type)
1.2 | With a reed:
“The vibration of the air body is produced by letting the air flow pass periodically through one or more plates". In other words, the vibration of one or more flexible plates called “reeds” through a fine current of air (blown or by bellows), and this vibration makes the air inside the tube or receptacle vibrate, closing and opening the passage of air. The criteria for classifying aerophones with reed are also varied: if they have a single or double reed; if these reeds vibrate on another body (the tube or another reed) or if they have a free reed; if they have holes to give tones or not; if the tube is conical or cylindrical; if they have a single free reed or several.
Here we have distinguished the following classes:
1.2.1 Single reed
1.2.2 Double reed
1.2.3 Bagpipes
1.2.4 Free reed
1.3 | Lip vibration:
“When the air current flows through the performer’s lips its vibration periodically opens up the way to the air column and leads to its vibration”. These aerophones that produce sound by lip vibration are called “trumpets” in the oldest classifications and “labrosonoros” in current ones. The classification criteria also vary. If they are straight or traverse; if they have a mouthpiece or a tube; if they have a straight or curved tube; if they have holes or not; if the tube is cylindrical or conical; if they have a valve to change the length of the tube. However, the first criterion is if they use special devices to change the tone, those that do not have them are called “natural” and those that do, “chromatic”. We have used this criterion here and have classified aerophones with lip vibration used in the Basque Country in the following way:
1.3.1 Natural
1.3.2 Chromatic
1.4 | Free aerophones:
“The air that vibrates is not inside the instrument”, it flows freely around it. Despite the existence of different classification criteria, and bearing in mind that they are not very numerous in Basque popular music, all free aerophones have been presented at the same time.
1 “AEROPHONES. The air itself is the vibrator in the primary sense. In this group can be included reed instruments sounded by a flow of air in which the reed is the primary vibrator.” (MIMO, 2001)