THEORETICAL ASPECTS OF TRUMPET DESIGN ©
By Charles A. Macaluso
Abstract
Trumpet makers have designed trumpets primarily by copying best available trumpets and by trial-and-error. As a result, a huge chasm exists between trumpet maker art and applicable technologies of acoustics, mechanical vibrations, metallurgy, and fluid mechanics. The complexity of the technologies is a communications barrier between theory and practice. This paper attempts to bridge such a gulf for selected theoretical aspects of trumpet design.
INTRODUCTION
Artisan trumpet makers bring many valuable attributes to their art, including: care, craftsmanship, extensive experience, specialized capabilities, and personalized service. Trumpet makers also learn what trumpeters seek in instrument performance. However, obtaining the ultimate in performance inherently requires additional expertise in mathematics, acoustics, mechanical vibrations, metallurgy, and fluid mechanics. It is extremely rare when the artisan trumpet maker has such proficiencies.
Using selected theoretical subjects in mathematics, acoustics, mechanical vibrations, metallurgy, and fluid mechanics, this paper provides scientific and engineering means for trumpet design and explains various trumpet phenomena.
