Invention and Engineering

Experimental musical instrument

An experimental musical instrument (also called a custom-made instrument or invented instrument) is a musical instrument that modifies or extends an existing instrument or class of instruments, combines features of different instrument families, or introduces a new way of producing or controlling sound. Experimental instruments may be acoustic, electroacoustic, electronic or digital, and may be constructed from conventional instrument parts, newly fabricated components, household objects, industrial materials or electronic devices. The category includes relatively simple modifications, such as objects inserted between the strings of a prepared piano, as well as purpose-built instruments employing non-standard tunings, resonators, interfaces or sound sources. Some combine acoustic mechanisms with amplification or electronic processing. In a digital musical instrument, a physical controller or gestural interface is connected to a computer-based sound-generation system, and the relationship between a performer's actions and the resulting sound is determined by a configurable mapping. Experimental instrument building has been associated with experimental music, electronic music, sound art, microtonal music and the design of new interfaces for musical expression. Prominent twentieth-century composers and builders include Luigi Russolo, Harry Partch, John Cage, Ivor Darreg and Hans Reichel.

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See also

• ▸List of Jamaican inventions and discoveries
• ▸Church architecture in England
• ▸CGR 2nd Class 2-6-2TT

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