Изобретения и изобретатели. Учебно-справочное пособие для изучающих английский язык - страница 15

Construction. The saxophone combines in its construction the single reed and mouthpiece of the clarinet, a metal body, and a widened version of the conical bore of the oboe. The body contains openings, covered by keys, which can be opened or closed in groups by means of finger plates, operated by the fingers of either hand. Most saxophones are curved at the end and resemble the bass clarinet; a few, such as the soprano saxophone, are straight and resemble the standard clarinet. The most common saxophones are the soprano, the alto, the tenor, and the baritone. The tone quality ranges from soft, flutelike, and mellow to brassy and metallic.There is some debate amongst players as to whether the curve affects the tone or not.

Materials. Nearly all saxophones are made from brass. After completing the instrument, manufacturers usually apply either a coating of clear or colored lacquer, or plating of silver or gold, over the bare brass. The lacquer or plating serves to protect the brass from corrosion, to enhance sound quality, and/or to give the saxophone an interesting visual appearance.

Other materials have been tried with varying degrees of success. Prior to 1960, some instruments were plated with nickel as a cheaper alternative to silver; prior to 1930, it was common for instruments to be sold with a bare brass finish (without lacquer or plating).

band music оркестровая музыка

bass бас, басовый

brass instrument медный духовой инструмент

clarinet кларнет

flute флейта

jazz джаз

oboe гобой

wind instrument духовой инструмент

bell раструб (в частности у духовых музыкальных инструментов), расширение

body корпус

bore отверстие

finger plate наборный диск, пластина

keys клапаны, клавиатура

mouthpiece мундштук

opening отверстие

reed язычок в музыкальных инструментах (в фаготе, гобое, саксофоне)

gold золото

lacquer лак

nickel никель

silver серебро

appearance внешний вид

brassy металлический (о звуке)

finesse тонкость, изящество

flexibility гибкость, переналаживаемость

level уровень

mellow мягкий, неторопливый

tone звук, тон

create создавать

curve изгибать

enhance усиливать, улучшать

protect защищать, предохранять

realize осуществлять, выполнять