First, your obligatory 1980's remix link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LB5YkmjalDg
Anyhow, I was thinking the other day that I hadn't seen instruments made with square tone holes. I wondered why, as one would assume that toneholes could be made to a more accurate specification -- at least from a math standpoint: no need to worry about how exact your measurement of 22/7 is.
Well, I do like pi. And pie. Apple or cherry, please.
I Googled, and I see that square tone holes have been done before ... on flutes. Check out http://artsspectrum.blogspot.com/2009/08/flutes-with-square-holes.html (and see http://www.lopatinflutes.com for more and larger pics).
Now, I know a couple of y'all have dabbled in instrument design. What do you think? It seems that this is proof-of-concept that, at the very least, a flute doesn't have to have round tone holes. Hey, according to this, there was proof-of-concept for flutes, oboes and clarinets way back in 1888.
I bet it would look great on a sax. If it works ....
BTB, I have seen square keywork before, particularly on low recorders and other 18th century and earlier woodwinds and double-reeds. I can understand why modern keywork generally isn't square: you're saving appx. 22% of metal area using a circle, rather than a square. i.e. "It costs more."
Anyhow, I was thinking the other day that I hadn't seen instruments made with square tone holes. I wondered why, as one would assume that toneholes could be made to a more accurate specification -- at least from a math standpoint: no need to worry about how exact your measurement of 22/7 is.
Well, I do like pi. And pie. Apple or cherry, please.
I Googled, and I see that square tone holes have been done before ... on flutes. Check out http://artsspectrum.blogspot.com/2009/08/flutes-with-square-holes.html (and see http://www.lopatinflutes.com for more and larger pics).
Now, I know a couple of y'all have dabbled in instrument design. What do you think? It seems that this is proof-of-concept that, at the very least, a flute doesn't have to have round tone holes. Hey, according to this, there was proof-of-concept for flutes, oboes and clarinets way back in 1888.
I bet it would look great on a sax. If it works ....
BTB, I have seen square keywork before, particularly on low recorders and other 18th century and earlier woodwinds and double-reeds. I can understand why modern keywork generally isn't square: you're saving appx. 22% of metal area using a circle, rather than a square. i.e. "It costs more."