Wind chime
 | The examples and perspective in this article may not represent a worldwide view of the subject. (March 2009) |
Wind chimes are chimes constructed from suspended tubes, rods or other objects and are often made of metal or wood. Wind chimes are usually hung outside of a building or house and are intended to be played by the wind. Sound can be produced when the tubes or rods come in contact with a suspended central clapper, in the form of a ball or horizontal disk, or each other. Wind chimes may be used to observe changes in wind direction, depending on where they are hung.
History
Modern wind chimes have their origins in Indian wind bells. By the second century CE, these wind bells were being hung on the corners of large pagodas with the purpose of scaring away birds and evil spirits. [1]. Later, wind bells were introduced to China and were also hung in temples, palaces and homes. Japanese glass wind bells known as Fūrin (風鈴) have been produced since the Edo period [2]. Wind chimes are thought to be good luck in parts of Asia and are used in Feng Shui.
Sound
Template:Sound sample box align right
Template:Sample box end Chimes produce inharmonic (as opposed to harmonic) spectra, although if they are hung at about 1/5th of their length (22.4%)[3], the higher partials are dampened and the fundamental is brought out. This is common practice in high-quality wind chimes, which are also usually hung so the center ball strikes the center of the wind chime's length. Frequency is determined by the length, width, thickness, and material. There are formulas that help predict the proper length to achieve a particular note, though a bit of fine tuning is often needed.
In instruments such as an organ pipe, the pitch is determined primarily by the length of the air column. It is the air that vibrates. The pipe material helps determine the "timbre" or "voice" of the pipe, but the air column determines the pitch. In a wind chime, the pipe itself is being struck and the air column has little to do with the sound produced.
Materials
Wind chimes can be made of materials other than metal or wood and in shapes other than tubes or rods. Other wind chimes materials include glass, bamboo, shell, stone and porcelain[4]. More exotic items, such as silverware or cookie cutters, can also be recycled to create wind chimes[5]. The selected material can have a large impact on the sound a wind chime produces. The sounds produced are not tunable to specific notes and range from pleasant tinkling to dull thuds.
The tone will depend on factors such as the material, the exact alloy, and heat treatment and the use of a solid cylinder or a tube. If a tube is used, the wall thickness also has an impact on the tone. Tone may also depend on the hanging method. The tone quality will also depend on the material of the object that is used to hit the chimes.
Use in music
Different types of wind chimes have also been used in modern music and are listed as a percussion instrument. The following is a brief list of artists and composers who have used them:
- Oliver Messiaen: Saint-François d'Assise (one set of glass, shell and wood chimes)
- Toshiro Mayuzumi: Bugaku (one set of wood and glass chimes)
- Giles Swayne Symphony No. 1 (one set of glass chimes)
- David Sitek, of American rock band TV on the Radio, sometimes hangs a wind chime from the end of his guitar to add texture to his music[6].
Wind chime images
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A Japanese Fūrin wind chime -
A set of small wind chimes -
Wind chimes in Nagano, Japan -
Old hard disk platters used as a wind chime
References
- ^
Westcott, Wendell (1970). Bells and Their Music. G.P. Putnam. ISBN 76-77762.
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Amano, Kenichi (May 28, 2007). "Foreign tourists find real Tokyo". The Nikkei Weekly.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ "Physics of Music". Michigan Tech. Michigan Tech. 2009-01-08.
- ^ "Wind chimes". Virginia Tech Multimedia Music Dictionary. Virginia Tech. 2009-01-08.
- ^ MacKenzie, Peggy (August 25, 2007). "Crafted silver chimes hit right note; Retooled cutlery the meat and potatoes of woman's successful small business". The Toronto Star. pp. H05.
- ^ Anderman, Joan (October 15, 2008). "Connecting with TV on the Radio". The Boston Globe. pp. B07.
