[Trombone-l] Acoustics of brass instruments

[Samuel Keyser]

In the recent thread about how brass instruments respond to noise  
sources created at the lips, I don't recall any mention of the vocal  
tract itself.  This resonances of the vocal tract are also excited by  
noise at the source.  The process is called "coupling."  The most  
likely affect of coupling in the vocal tract is to affect amplitude  
in the horn itself as well as certain harmonics.  My guess is that  
when you hear a trombone player's sound and recognize it as Trummy  
Young, or Dorsey, or Watrous, etc. what you are in part recognizing  
is the tonal cloak that coupling lays over the resonances of the horn.

I don't know if coupling has been studied in detail.  If not, it's  
probably worth it.

Jay