Instrumentaalsus
Instrumentaalsus is a term used in musicology and sound studies to describe a design ethos that centers on instrumental timbre, gesture, and texture as primary musical content, rather than traditional melody, harmony, or rhythm. It is applied to analyze works where the sound of instruments, their production techniques, and spatial presentation drive the listening experience.
The term emerged in scholarly discourse in the 2010s, with several authors tracing its use to discussions
Core features include a focus on timbre variety and microtiming, use of extended instrumental techniques, non-traditional
In practice, works labeled as Instrumentaalsus often invite attentive listening to the sonic fabric itself, sometimes
See also: timbre, extended technique, spectromorphology, sound installation.