The most authoritative method of classification of musical
instruments at present is that by Mahillon, Hornbostel and Sachs
(MHS method). But I hold there are at least three problems to
this classification, as follows:
First, it lacks a standardized criteria for subclassification
of musical instruments.
Second, the question arises whether so-called "reed
instruments" might belong in the "aerophones" category or
not, at least as far as the method of producing sound is concerned.
Third, in the primary classifications, "electrophones"
seems to be a heterogeneous category.
Though some scholars have pointed out these questions, especially
regarding the first problems, and although some methods
for classification have been proposed, no new theories as a substitute
for the popular MHS method have so far found acceptance
with a majority of scholars.
Taking an idea from instrumental acoustics, a field which has
recently made rapid progress, I have worked out a new method
for primary classifications based upon the sound producing object
—that object which produces the first physical vibrations in the
process of making a sound. I have also symbolically patterned
the shapes which form the main bodies of various musical instruments
and have subordinately classified them under these types.
An outline of my classification method is as follows:
Category
Air-vibrating instruments
Reed-vibrating instruments
String-vibrating instruments
Stick-vibrating instruments
Tongue-vibrating instruments
Plate-vibrating instruments
Membrane-vibrating instruments
Loudspeaker-vibrating instruments
Types
Cylinder, Ball, Whip
Cylinder, Cone, Spiral, Box
Column, Board, Cylinder,
Box, Projection, Bar, Bow,
Half-bow
Column, Prism
Fork, Board, Box
Board, Disk, Tub, Gong, Bell,
Cylinder, Ball
Tub, Bowl, Jar, Goblet, Cylinder,
Sandglass, Double-bowl,Double-goblet
Box
新・楽器分類法
KH_003_1_002.pdf
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