Monochord

A monochord (Greek μόνος monos: single, χορδή CHORD: string ) or canon is a musical instrument similar tool, which consists of an elongated resonance box over which the length is stretched by a string. This can be by means of a web which is movably mounted below it, divided. The division ratio can be read on a scale on the ceiling of the sound box. Simple division ratios result consonances, dissonances complicated.

The term also monochord instruments with multiple strings are called, whose strings are stretched in parallel across a rectangular resonator and tuned to the same note. By moving webs, the strings can be divided, which are playable on the same instrument different tones.

• 3.1 In the classroom
• 3.2 As a musical instrument 3.2.1 stringed monochords
• 3.2.2 Vielsaitige monochords

Physical principle

The drawing explains the physical principle of the monochord. To illustrate the geometric conditions, the string length is provided with a twelve -point scale. If the string is shortened with a third bar from left to right and on, arise increasingly higher notes when the string is struck or plucked near the zero point on the right flight. In case of reduction of the string on it sounds a fourth higher ( dark red) on it sounds a fifth higher (blue) and on them sounds an octave higher ( green) than the full-length string with the total length.

History

Antiquity

In ancient times, the monochord was used to demonstrate the theory of music and physical relationships. Pythagoras after his legendary discovery in the forge so have explored the division ratios of strings and developed his theory of consonance. The oldest document with a Tonsystemdarstellung on the monochord is the division of the canon by Euclid. From Ptolemy the oldest metrological refinements come in the canon. More details about the division ratios can be found in Guido of Arezzo in his writings.

Middle Ages

The late antique Roman scholar Boethius ( 480 - to 526 ) dealt in his textbook De institutione musica ( " Introduction to Music ") with the strings division of the monochord. Cassiodorus (c. 485 - 580 ) wanted with his music theory Institutiones musicae the monks of the monastery of Vivarium comprehensive information about music. Since the 10th century there were separate treatises on the theoretical foundations of music which were obtained by means of demonstration instruments.

An improved version of the medieval monochord was the key monochord, in which the string could be shortened by pressing a series of keys in different places. Such an instrument with the precursor of a piano keyboard also constructed Conrad of Saverne ( 1410-1476/1481 ). From his age in the 1460s writing Novellus musicae artis tractatus the keys monochord used by him made .. From reconstruct the key monochord was the forth in a figure of 1440 for the first time took clavichord.

Today's use

In the classroom

The monochord is still used today in physics class to illustrate acoustic phenomena, such as the relationship between pitch and string length; the formation of harmonics by harmonic pitch; and the resonance and vibration.

The monochord is next used in music lessons. Playing on the monochord is quick to learn, and the learned on the monochord principles can be applied to other instruments, such as the tuning of the guitar.

As a musical instrument

One-stringed monochords

In some countries, there are one-stringed folk instruments, which correspond to the monochord, in principle, for example, melodic played in Flageoletttechnik Djan construction in Vietnam. From the European space painted with a bow trumscheit is a historic one-stringed instrument.

In the 1950s, played the American blues musician Willie Joe Duncan, called "One- String Joe " and "One - String Willie ", a monochord for more than body length, which he called " Unitar " or " Unitarre ".

The Diddley bow is also a kind of monochord, with one string with a short stick and struck with a bottleneck, the pitch is changed.

Vielsaitige monochords

More modern designs of the monochord are often provided with many parallel strings which are tuned to the same tone and thus result in a very full sound with rich overtones. These instruments are often still referred to as the monochord, but partly also as Polychord (Greek: poly: multiple, chorda: strings). The principle of simultaneous Anstreichens many like-minded strings are already known for centuries by Bordunzithern, it produces the " bumblebee sound ," called drone ( from the French bourdon: Hummel ).

Large monochords / Polychorde one finds meditation accompaniment, in the field of wellness, as well as in alternative medicine for klangtherapheutische applications ( phonophoresis ), because their sound is perceived as pleasant and soothing. The shape of the sound box are no limits. Some of them are built as " sound furniture ", in the form of chairs, dishes or tubes, on or in which a person is lying or sitting space.

The vielsaitige monochord can be further expanded instrument technically. One possibility is the combination of several monochords that are tuned to different tones (eg root and fifth ). The Icelandic Langspil is a two-to six-string Bordunzither, which is a string with a fretted fingerboard for melody string. Another possibility is the expansion onset of moving webs or the use of Flageoletttechniken to make higher tones playable. In the newly developed Kotamo whose body corresponds to a zither, which is covered on both sides with strings, the names are joined by three string instruments: the Japanese Koto Wölbbrettzither, the Indian lute tambura and the monochord.

Other stringed instruments

There are a number of other musical instruments of other construction, which only have a string. They are often, as well as the monochord, called for this feature in their own language. These include one-stringed plucked lute ektara the Indian and the one-stringed plucked drum ektara ( Hindi ek Tar, " a string "). In East Africa, called sese or zeze in multiple languages ​​generally stringed instruments. In order to delineate the one-string, the Ugandan endingidi performs similar spike fiddle zeze kamba moja in Tanzania a string in the name ( swahili kamba, " string " and moja, "one" ).