| Terms |
Usage |
| mouthpipe |
A tapered tube into which a mouthpiece is inserted
directly. The end is flared and/or reamed to accept the taper of
the mouthpiece shank. Usually, horns and trombones have mouthpipes.
A trombone mouthpipe is more commonly called a leadpipe, but this is a
misnomer. |
| leadpipe |
A tapered tube onto which a receiver is soldered to
accept the mouthpiece. The leadpipe is not flared to accept the
mouthpiece, and is usually designed to continue the taper of the
instrument begun by the mouthpiece backbore. Usually trumpets,
cornets, and tubas have leadpipes. |
| first branch |
The beginning of the taper just after the valve
section. It is usually the first tube following the valve section.
Subsequent branches are numbered sequentially. The last branch is
the bell. |
| valve |
Any device which can re-direct the air column,
usually to lengthen or shorten the effective length of the tube in order
to change the length of the fundamental wave. Chromatic brass
instruments have a minimum of three valves. |
| piston |
A round tube through which transverse at least three
tubes used to redirect the air column. A piston is depressed to
change the interplay of tubes, and springs back into its resting
position when released. This is the moving part of a piston valve. |
| rotor |
A round rod into which are cut channels, and which
rotate on bearing surfaces to redirect the air column. Rotors are
operated through linkages to finger paddles, and turn on their bearings
until stopped at the correct position. This is the moving part of a
rotary valve. |
| water key |
A valve which can be closed during normal use so that
the air column does not leak, and which can be opened to facilitate the
removal of accumulated condensation in the instrument. Also called
a spit valve. |
| receiver |
Any tube designed to hold a removable tube.
Slide receivers are of necessity cylindrical. Mouthpiece receivers
are reamed to the proper taper. |
| slide |
Any tube assembly designed to be moved on, or removed
from, the instrument, usually to affect intonation, and sometimes in
order to facilitate the removal of accumulated condensation. |
| shank |
The tapered end of a mouthpiece which is fit into the
instrument. |
| crook |
Any curved portion of a tube, but usually referring
to a tube bent so as affect a 180 degree turn. |
| bow |
The crook just before the bell flare. |
| bell |
The flared end of the instrument which includes, at
least, the part of the tube is angled 45 degrees or more the centerline
of the air column, up to the rim. |
| back branch |
The branch attached to the bow, opposite to the bell. |
| casing |
The fixed portion of the valve which connects
the instrument's tubing, and which contains the moving portion.
|
