A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Reed
REED (Fr. Anche; Ital. Ancia; Germ. Blätt, Rohr). The speaking part of many instruments, both ancient and modern; the name being derived from the material of which it has been immemorially constructed. This is the outer silicious layer of a tall grass, the Arundo Donax or Sativa, growing in the South of Europe. The substance in its rough state is commonly called 'cane,' though differing from real cane in many respects. The chief supply is now obtained from Frejus on the Mediterranean coast. Many other materials, such as lance-wood, ivory, silver, and 'ebonite,' or hardened india-rubber, have been experimentally substituted for the material first named; but hitherto without success. Organ reeds were formerly made of hard wood, more recently of brass, German silver, and steel. The name Reed is, however, applied by organ-builders to the metal tube or channel against which the vibrating tongue beats, rather than to the vibrator itself.
Reeds are divided into the Free and the Beating; the latter again into the Single and the Double forms. The Free reed is used in the harmonium and concertina, its union with Beating reeds in the organ not having proved successful. [See Free-Reed, vol. i. p. 562.] The vibrator, as its name implies, passes freely through the long slotted brass plate to which it is adapted; the first impulse of the wind tending to push it within the slot and thus close the aperture. In 'percussion' harmoniums the vibrator is set suddenly in motion by a blow from a hammer connected with the keyboard. [See Harmonium, vol. i. p. 667b.] The Beating reed is that of the organ and clarinet. In this the edges of the vibrator overlap the wind-passage so as to beat against it. In the organ reed, however, the brass tongue is burnished backwards so as to leave a thin aperture between it and the point of the channel against which it strikes; this the pressure of wind at first tends to close, thus setting it in vibration. In the clarinet, the reed is flat and spatula-like (hence the German name Blätt opposed to Rohr in the oboe and bassoon), the mouthpiece being curved backwards at the point to allow of vibration. [See Clarinet.] The Double reed has already been described under oboe and bassoon [See Oboe; Bassoon.] It is possible to replace it in both these instruments by a single reed of clarinet shape, beating against a small wooden mouthpiece. The old Dolcino or Alto-fagotto was so played in the band of the Coldstream Guards by a great artist still living, Mr. Henry Lazarus, when a boy. The double reed, however, much improves the quality of tone, and gives greater flexibility of execution to both the instruments named above.