|
|
| Line 1: |
Line 1: |
| − | {{ready}}{{images OK}}
| |
| | | | |
| − | A '''musical instrument''' is a [[tool|device]] constructed or modified with the purpose of making [[music]]. In principle anything that, produces [[sound]], and can somehow be controlled by a [[musician|person playing it]], can serve as a musical instrument. The expression, however, is reserved generally for items that have a specific musical purpose. The academic study of musical instruments is called [[organology]].
| |
| − |
| |
| − | ==Types of musical instruments==
| |
| − | Instruments are often divided by the way in which they generate the initial source of sound:
| |
| − |
| |
| − | ===Instruments that generate sound from matter in its solid-state===
| |
| − | *'''[[Vocal music|Voice]]''', that is, the human voice, is an instrument in its own right. A [[singer]] generates sounds when airflow from the lungs sets the [[vocal cords]] into [[oscillation]]. The fundamental frequency is controlled by the tension of the vocal cords and the [[timbre|tone quality]] by the formation of the vocal tract; a wide range of sounds can be created.
| |
| − | [[Image:0404070926.jpg|thumb|right|A steel string acoustic guitar]]
| |
| − | *'''[[String instrument]]s''' generate a sound when the string is plucked, strummed, slapped, etc. The [[frequency]] of the wave generated (and therefore the note produced) usually depends on the length of the vibrating portion of the string, its linear density (mass per unit length of string), the tension of each string and the point at which the string is excited; the [[timbre|tone quality]] varies with the construction of the resonating cavity. Examples: [[guitar]]s, [[violin]]s and [[sitar]]s. '''Electric string instruments''' generate sound by a pickup placed under strings. The [[electric guitar]] and the [[bass guitar|electric bass]] are the most famous examples, but there is a wide variety of new instruments, because the electro-magnetic amplification generates new possibilities. Other Examples: [[3rd Bridge|3rd bridge overtone koto]], electric baritone, [[Yuri Landman|electric cymbalom]].
| |
| − |
| |
| − | *'''[[Percussion instrument]]s''' create sound when struck. The shape and material of the part of the instrument to be struck and the shape of the resonating cavity, if any, determine the sound of the instrument. Examples: [[drum]]s, [[Bell (instrument)|bells]] and [[cymbal]]s.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | *'''[[Friction instrument]]s''' are any instrument that use friction to create sound. For example the [[Glass harmonica]].
| |
| − |
| |
| − | *'''[[Lamellophone]]s''' create a sound by the plucking of lamellas made from different materials (metal, raphia etc.). These Instruments are tunable, so they do not belong to the [[idiophone]]s. An example is the [[Mbira]].
| |
| − |
| |
| − | ===Instruments that generate sound from matter in its gaseous state===
| |
| − | *'''[[Wind instrument]]s''' generate a sound when a column of air is made to vibrate inside them. The [[frequency]] of the wave generated is related to the length of the column of air and the shape of the instrument, while the [[timbre|tone quality]] of the sound generated is affected by the construction of the instrument and method of tone production. The group is typically subdivided into :
| |
| − | **[[Woodwind]] instruments, such as the [[saxophone]],[[clarinet]], [[oboe]] and [[flute]],
| |
| − | **[[Brass instruments]], such as the [[trumpet]], [[trombone]] and [[French horn]].
| |
| − |
| |
| − | [[Image:Hydraulophone45jets091.jpg|thumb|Waterflute (reedless) hydraulophone with 45 finger-embouchure holes, allowing an intricate but polyphonic embouchure-like control by inserting one finger into each of several of the instrument's 45 mouths at the same time.]]
| |
| − |
| |
| − | ===Instruments that generate sound from matter in its liquid state===
| |
| − | *'''[[Hydraulophone|Water instrument]]s''' generate pressure waves by oscillation, turbulence, or similar disturbance in water. Water instruments are like woodwind instruments in some ways, except that the operative fluid (liquid) is for the most part incompressible fluid, as compared with wind (air) which is highly compressible. Water instruments are called hydraulophones and work best underwater, but are often designed so that they can be heard in a surrounding air medium even though they are typically water-filled or operate in-part underwater.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | ===Instruments that generate sound from matter in its plasma state===
| |
| − | *'''[[Plasmaphone|Plasma instrument]]s''' generate pressure waves by oscillation of matter in a high-energy state such as plasma. Examples include the [[ionophone]], the predecessor of the modern loudspeaker, and the [http://itp.nyu.edu/nime/2007/proc/nime2007_118.pdf plasmaphone], an acoustic instrument that generates sound in response to direct manipulation of plasma by a musician's fingers.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | ===Quintephones (instruments that generate sound informatically)===
| |
| − | [[Image:Quintist Ariel Garten performing with live band at The Power Plant.jpg|thumb|Quintephone as part of live performance. Using brainwaves the quintist directly interfaces to a music synthesizer, playing along with the other band members. A closed-loop system functions analogously with a [[regenerative receiver]].]]
| |
| − |
| |
| − | Instruments generate sound either acoustically (from matter in its solid, liquid, gaseous, or higher-energy state), or informatically, from matter in its state of Quintessence (Quintessence, also known as Idea, was the fifth-classical element of Plato and Aristotle). [http://itp.nyu.edu/nime/2007/proc/nime2007_118.pdf]
| |
| − |
| |
| − | Instruments that generate sound from quintessence (Idea) use some form of computation, algorithm, or calculative process, whether by analog circuits (as in the Theremin), by digital circuits (as in modern software synthesizers), by mechanical computing (as in the use of the phonograph disk as a sampling instrument), or by optical means (as in instruments like the [[Optigan]]).
| |
| − |
| |
| − | *'''[[Electronic instrument]]s''' generate sound through electronic means. They often mimic other instruments in their design, particularly keyboards, drums and guitars. Examples: [[synthesizer]]s and [[theremin]]s.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | *'''[[Quintephone|Mechanical computation, synthesis, or sampling instruments]]'''
| |
| − | Instruments like the [[Phonograph|turntable]] generate sound mechanically, although they record specific samples. Other similar instruments have been built that use mechanical computing rather than electronic computing in order to achieve sound synthesis, storage and recall of sound samples, and mechanical manipulation of sound samples.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | *'''[[Quintephone|Sound synthesis using optical computation, optical sampling, optical storage, and the like]]'''. Instruments like the Optigan use optical storage media. Other similar musical instruments have been made from motion picture film projectors that have an optical sound track.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | *'''[[Quintephone|Sound production by neural networks]]'''. Sound can also be produced by a neural network such as the human brain. This sound can be brought out raw (as in a performance at ICMC 2007) or can be post-processed by passing it through various pitch transposers, and even using it to control other instruments as was done in the DECONcert series ["DECONcert," Proceedings of the [[International Computer Music Conference]], August 2007, Copenhagen, Danmark].
| |
| − |
| |
| − | ===User-interfaces for musical instruments===
| |
| − | Regardless of how the sound in an instrument is produced, many musical instruments have a keyboard as the user-interface.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | *'''[[Keyboard instrument]]s''' are any instruments that are played with a [[musical keyboard]]. Every key generates one or more sounds; most keyboard instruments have extra means ([[Piano#Pedals|pedal]]s for a piano, [[Organ stop|stops]] for an organ) to manipulate these sounds. They may produce sound by wind being fanned ([[organ (music)|organ]]) or pumped ([[accordion]]), vibrating strings either hammered ([[piano]]) or plucked ([[harpsichord]]), by electronic means ([[synthesizer]]) or in some other way. Sometimes, instruments that do not usually have a keyboard, such as the ''[[Glockenspiel]]'', are fitted with one. Though they have no moving parts and are struck by mallets held in the player's hands, they possess the same physical arrangement of keys and produce soundwaves in a similar manner.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | ===Musical instrument classification===
| |
| − | Many [[musical instrument classification|alternate divisions and further subdivisions of instruments]] exist. To learn about specific instruments, consult the [[list of musical instruments]] or [[list of archaic musical instruments]].
| |
| − |
| |
| − | ==History==
| |
| − | The solid and gas classes of instruments are mentioned in ancient sources, such as Egyptian inscriptions, the Bible and the many thousand year old Hindu Vedas, and probably predate recorded history. The human body, generating both vocal and percussive sounds, may have been the first instrument. Percussion instruments such as stones and hollow logs are another likely candidate. For instance, nine-thousand-year-old bone flutes or recorders have been found in Chinese archeological sites.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | Instruments that make sound from matter in its liquid or plasma state, as well as instruments that make sound informatically, e.g. optical, mechanical, or electrical (analog or digital) computing are somewhat newer.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | ==Related articles==
| |
| − |
| |
| − | *[[Extended technique]]
| |
| − | *[[Folk instrument]] - a description and a list
| |
| − | *[[Music lessons]]
| |
| − | *[[New interfaces for musical expression]]
| |
| − | *[[Orchestra]]
| |
| − | *[[Shorthand for orchestra instrumentation]]
| |
| − | *[[Custom-made instrument]]
| |
| − | {{Music portal}}
| |
| − |
| |
| − | [[Category:Art, music, literature, sports and leisure]]
| |
| − | [[Category:Music]]
| |
| − | {{credits|168923021}}
| |
