(19) &   

(11) EP 2 439 731 A2

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION published in accordance with Art. 153(4) EPC

(43) Date of publication: (51) Int Cl.: 11.04.2012 Bulletin 2012/15 G10D 9/02 (2006.01)

(21) Application number: 10783016.8 (86) International application number: PCT/ES2010/070356 (22) Date of filing: 27.05.2010 (87) International publication number: WO 2010/139834 (09.12.2010 Gazette 2010/49)

(84) Designated Contracting States: (72) Inventor: Popa Tudor, Florian AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB 01138 Etxaguen de Zigoitia- Alava (ES) GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO SE SI SK SM TR (74) Representative: Ezcurra Zufia, Maria Antonia C/ Iparraguirre, 15 - 2° a (30) Priority: 04.06.2009 ES 200930263 48009 Bilbao (ES)

(71) Applicant: Popa Tudor, Florian 01138 Etxaguen de Zigoitia- Alava (ES)

(54) LIGATURE FOR THE MOUTHPIECES OF SINGLE- WIND INSTRUMENTS

(57) Ligature for wind instruments that use a single two central circles on the curved part with four upper cir- reed, consisting of a closed, rigid ligature in the form of cles and two smaller circles; thanks to the shape and a slightly conical ring and with a wall slightly curved out- material of the ligature a substantial improvement in the wards, in which the ligature is made of ebony wood with sound is obtained and also greater strength than a tra- ditional ligature. EP 2 439 731 A2

Printed by Jouve, 75001 PARIS (FR) 1 EP 2 439 731 A2 2

Description ception is represented by P (piano) and high perception of the sound is represented by F (forte). Scientifically, SUBJECT MATTER OF THE INVENTION intensity corresponds to the power with which the sound is emitted or received, as energy that crosses (pene- [0001] The subject matter of the invention is a ligature 5 trates) the space (surface) in meters per unit of time. For for the mouthpieces of single- reed wind instruments, that musicians, intensity relates to the projection of sound. use a single reed and is specified only for and [0010] C. Pitch. This is easy to distinguish and difficult . to explain, but recognisable by one’s ear with sufficient [0002] The present invention for a ligature for the precision. Scientifically, due to its frequency, intensity mouthpieces of wind instruments is characterised by the 10 and through the vibration of the instrument, sound pen- special configuration, design and materials used in its etrates in the space accompanied by a superimposition manufacture so that ease of emission, quality, pitch, pow- of single waves (in a sinuous manner) that have different er, flexibility of sound is achieved in a proportion of from intensities and frequencies. The waves that accompany 20 to 30% approximately, by improving one of the parts the main wave are bigger and have different intensities considered to be accessories, as is the case of the liga- 15 and frequencies, which determine the differences of ture, the aim of this invention. pitch. [0003] Therefore, this invention is circumscribed within [0011] Taking these properties into consideration, one the field of musical instruments and particularly among can understand the exceptional importance of accesso- wind instruments, specifically the and saxo- ries such as the mouthpiece, reed and ligature, which phone, and more precisely, of an accessory such as the 20 provide at the same time ease of use, quality in the mis- ligature. sion of sound and, therefore, the traditional flexible liga- ture has been used all these years. BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION [0012] Sound tube instruments, such as the clarinet and , are classified in: [0004] Since their definition as such, clarinets and sax- 25 ophones have undergone a great deal of development - tubes, those that have only one opening in their construction and improvement, to obtain the in- - open tubes, those that have two or more openings struments that we know today. Over the years, these improvements have been made by clarinettists and sax- The shape of these tubes may be cylindrical or conical ophonists who have worked in order to improve the tech- 30 and at the same time with a mouthpiece with a double or nical features of these instruments in all their aspects. single reed. [0005] Today, most clarinettists and saxophonists con- The clarinet and the saxophone are peculiar instruments sider without a doubt that these instruments cannot be for the following reasons: improved any more and that as a consequence, their development has been completed. 35 1. They are mouthpiece and single reed instruments [0006] In order to gain a better understanding of the at the same time. ligature, subject matter of the invention, it is necessary 2. They are considered closed tubes although in re- to understand the sound emission process of the clarinet ality they operate like open tubes. and saxophone. [0007] The sound is characterised by: 40 [0013] The clarinet and the saxophone seem to be a closed tube but at the top they have a mouthpiece to A. Height which a reed is fitted, secured with a ligature and in this B. Intensity way have a small slit between the reed and the mouth- C. Pitch piece, an opening that is almost blocked. The air pressure 45 that passes between the reed and the mouthpiece joined [0008] A. Loudness is a subjective quality of the sound together with a ligature, creates a resonance (sound which is perceived as low or high conveyed in the music waves) within the tube that vary (modulate) in accord- by means of a number of signs called notes. The sound ance with the pressure. is given by the emitting part, through the air compression/ [0014] The reed is secured by a ligature to the mouth- decompression number that creates a number of vibra- 50 piece and in the case of the saxophone and clarinet the tions (variable of sound waves), vibrations that reach the reed is single. ear in the form of sound. These vibrations are called fre- [0015] The mouthpiece of wind instruments is the por- quencies. The number of frequencies in cycles per sec- tion of tube modified with the aim of inserting the lower ond are called Hertz. Hertz determine the notes of the part in the instrument and the upper part between the musical scale in accordance with their number (from 16 55 lips (mouth) of the performer. to 20,000 per second for the human ear). [0016] The reed has its own frequency as it is associ- [0009] B. Intensity is the quality that indicates to us the ated with a sound tube (mouthpiece) secured to this with strength or weakness of the sound. In music, slight per- a ligature and has a predominant influence on the fre-

2 3 EP 2 439 731 A2 4 quency, sound and pitch of the instrument. though joined by means of butterfly nuts, it does not [0017] Therefore,the reed and ligature associated with transmit perfect sound waves to the mouthpiece of the mouthpiece play an important role as accessories in the instrument, it deforms these, bearing in mind that facilitating the quality, flexibility, uniformity and pitch of the sound waves are propagated to the instrument the instrument. 5 in a spiral manner and if small obstacles are found, [0018] Having established the exceptional importance these are deformed, with undesired consequences. of these accessories: mouthpiece, reed and ligature, I must point out that over the centuries, no changes have - The butterfly nuts and threads contribute enormous- appeared in their traditional and/or material form, espe- ly to the disturbance of sound waves and their har- cially in the case of the ligature, in spite of its vital impor- 10 monics, as these are obstacles to the passage of tance. sound waves. [0019] The ligature is a part, considered accessory or complementary, which secures the reed in the housing - The butterfly nuts that secure the ligature are in a provided for in the mouthpieces. Ligatures must exercise position below the lower lip of the mouthpiece and a specific and uniform pressure on the reed (which is a 15 on many occasions touch the chin and are very un- bamboo cane) and mouthpiece. comfortable. [0020] Taking into consideration that the reed and lig- ature create a determined frequency (sound) in the - Being made of metal, butterfly nuts rust after a time, mouthpiece, the quality of this sound will depend largely even the threads, and therefore these operate incor- on the ligature, hence the importance of the shape and 20 rectly as well as having an influence on emission. material used to make the ligature. [0021] Since the 17th century and to the present day, [0026] Therefore, the aim of this invention is to over- ligatures have been flexible and made of different mate- come the aforementioned disadvantages, by developing rials: metal, cord, plastic, leather, etc. a literature as described in the first claim, making this [0022] These ligatures have undergone small changes 25 with vibratory materials, making the pressure on the reed in their design and aesthetics, but not in their concept, uniform, allowing the perfect transmission of the sound despite their undoubted importance in the creation and waves to the mouthpiece of the instrument, as ergonom- emission of the sound. ically as possible and without the need for mechanical [0023] The conventional ligature for clarinet and sax- elements for their adjustment. ophone mouthpieces (therefore for single reed instru- 30 ments), is a ligature made from a flexible material which DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION incorporates the mouthpieces in order to secure the reed in the nozzle housing. This ligature, initially opened, in- [0027] The ligature invention for the mouthpieces of cludes one or two butterfly nuts, which are arranged per- wind instruments that use single reeds consists basically pendicularly to the axis of the mouthpiece. These butter- 35 of a closed, rigid ligature in the form of a slightly conical fly nuts are inserted in the thread of the ligature and by ring and with a wall curved slightly outwards. tightening, gradually close this, securing the reed to the [0028] The material is ebony wood, the only one that mouthpiece. has the optimum parameters for the substantial improve- [0024] The only use of this ligature is that it secures ment of the sound. It also has greater strength, taking the reed and allows the instrument to be used, without 40 into consideration that this standard ligature must secure taking into consideration the influence and importance the reed to the mouthpiece with a certain amount of firm- of this accessory. ness and physical pressure. [0025] This flexible ligature, which we might call tradi- [0029] The proposed ligature is for the mouthpieces of tional, is not trouble-free and involves a number of diffi- clarinets and their family of instruments and for the sax- culties, such as: 45 ophone and its family of instruments. [0030] The most widely used clarinets are: - The materials with which it is made are not vibratory, i.e., good sound transmitters, taking into considera- - Eb in Eflat and D tion that the mouthpiece, reed and ligature together - Clarinet in Bflat and A create the sound. 50 - Bass clarinet

- The central pressure on the reed is not uniform. [0031] The most widely used saxophones are:

- Taking into consideration the memory materials - Soprano saxophone in Bflat have, the reed, which is a bamboo cane, does not 55 - Alt saxophone in Eflat recognise the molecules of such different materials. - in Bflat - Baritone saxophone in Eflat - The fact that the ligature is flexible and open, al-

3 5 EP 2 439 731 A2 6

[0032] The mouthpieces used in all clarinets and sax- Figure 3, shows a representation of the elements ophones are identical and the only thing that differenti- and shape of a traditional ligature. ates them is the dimension of the central axis (length) and the circumference. All the other concepts are the Figure 4 shows a representation of the ligature sub- same. 5 ject of this invention. [0033] The standard ligature prototype proposed is for clarinets in Bflat and A (used in most widely in 90% of Figure 5 shows a representation of the mounted as- cases) and the high saxophone with ligature (clamp) sim- sembly of mouthpiece,read togetherwith the ligature ilar to that of clarinets in Bflat and A. subj ect of the invention. [0034] Within theligature subjectof theinvention, there 10 is a housing for the reed. PREFERENTIAL REALISATION OF THE INVENTION [0035] The advantages of this close, rigid model in comparison with the traditional, open and flexible model, [0037] With reference to the figures, a preferable real- are as follows: isation of the proposed invention is described. 15 [0038] In figure 1, we can see a mouthpiece (1) on 1. The closed, rounded and compact ligature se- which a traditional ligature is secured (2) and which is cures the reed with much greater precision, gently responsible for securing the reed to the sound tube or but firmly, transmitting to the mouthpiece and by im- mouthpiece (1). Together with the mouthpiece and liga- plication to the instrument, a total uniformity of vibra- ture, the reed is responsible for facilitating the quality, tions as it is a uniform ligature in its concept. There- 20 flexibility and uniformity and pitch of the instrument. fore, it transmits the sound gently as there are no [0039] In figure 2, we can observe a reed (3), which is obstacles to deform the sound waves. generally made from bamboo cane, thanks to which the ligature (5), subject of the invention (figure 4) is made 2. The type of material, Although rigid, ebony wood, from ebony wood, which is an excellent conductor of which is an excellent sound conductor, is the same 25 sound, both combine a similar molecular density which material used to make the instrument, in the case of has such an important influence on the flexibility and the clarinet. As it is rounded in shape (similar to the emission of the sound. sound waves), slightly conical and with specific di- [0040] In figure 3, we can observe the form of a tradi- mensions, it transmits the sound forming a common tional ligature (2) which is metallic and comprises two body with the reed and mouthpiece. This fact im- 30 butterfly nuts (4) used for securing this. This type of lig- proves substantially the ease with which the sound ature involves a number of disadvantages as described is created. Its flexibility and emission. above, as they are not made from vibratory materials, nor do they exercise a uniform pressure on the reed, nor 3. As the ligature is made from ebony wood and the do they transmit perfect sound waves to the mouthpiece reed is made from bamboo cane, they have a similar 35 about deform these; these butterfly nuts can be uncom- molecular density that combine and recognise each fortable and cause the instrument to operate incorrectly other, having a similar resonance that is very impor- due to rest or similar defects. tant in the creation, flexibility and emission of sound. [0041] Figure 4 shows a prospective representation of the ligature (5), subject of the invention, which is made 4. As it is made from wood and does not have any 40 from ebony wood; it has a generally conical configuration other added element, it is very easy to fit. Moreover, which is defined by its height, width of the upper edge, due to its size and low weight, it does not create the width of the lower edge and the thickness of the wall. inconvenience of the traditional, flexible ligature with [0042] In view of the fact that the width of one edge is butterfly nuts (threaded screws). greater than the width of the other edge it is said that it 45 has a generally conical configuration. EXPLANATION OF THE FIGURES [0043] In figure 5, the assembly of the mouthpiece (1), reed (3) and ligature (5) can be seen, all mounted, where [0036] As an aid in the description to be made below it is seen that the ligature that has two central external and in order to provide for a better comprehension of its circles (8) in the convex part, with four upper circles (7) characteristics, a set of drawings are attached to this de- 50 and two smaller circles (6). scriptive report. Its figures, which are illustrative and in [0044] Variations in materials, form, size and arrange- no way limited, show the most significant details of the ment of the component elements described in a non- invention. limiting manner, do not alter the essential nature of this invention, this being based for its reproduction by an ex- Figure 1, shows a representation of a mouthpiece 55 pert. on which a "traditional" literature is mounted.

Figure 2 shows a representation of a reed.

4 7 EP 2 439 731 A2 8

Claims

1. Ligaturefor the mouthpieces of wind instrumentsthat use a single reed characterised because it presents a closed, rigid configuration, in the form of a slightly 5 conical ring, as the width of one edge is lower than the width of the other edge, it is made from ebony wood and internally presents a housing for the reed.

2. Ligaturefor the mouthpieces of wind instrumentsthat 10 use a single reed according to the first claim char- acterised because externally it has two central, out- er circles (8) in the convex part, with four upper cir- cles (7) and two smaller circles (6). 15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

55

5 EP 2 439 731 A2

6