The techniques used by the Western Pennsylvania Skylighters to produce music with pyrotechnic whistles are described. Whistle tubes of various diameters and lengths are used to produce individual notes. The tubes, containing small amounts of compressed whistle composition, are fired electrically. Construction details are given for producing very reproducible notes over five musical octaves. Our experience in improving the tonal quality of the music produced, as well as suggested areas for further improvement, is discussed.
Pyrotechnics produce irritating and obscuring smoke.
High- nitrogen materials have been investigated for use in pyrotechnic compositions to reduce smoke production. Compositions containing dihydrazino-tetrazine have been found to produce brilliantly colored flames with little or no smoke or ash production. The preparation of dihydrazino-tetrazine is also discussed. An old model of pyrotechnic reactions is presented in such a way that modern pyrotechnists are able to create new formulations using the principles of chemical stoichiometry but without having to know the exact products of the reaction involved. According to the model, pyrotechnic reactions occur in two distinct steps.