Ultraviola

Ultraviola is a term used in experimental music and speculative fiction to denote an imagined instrument and related sonic practices that extend the capabilities of the traditional viola beyond its ordinary range and timbre. The name combines ultra- (beyond) with viola, signaling a forward-looking or avant-garde concept rather than a standard instrument.

In musical contexts, ultraviola refers to prototypes or project concepts that pair a viola—acoustic or electric—with electronic processing, ultrasonic transducers, and spatial amplification. Performances may involve extended techniques such as high-pressure bowing, artificial harmonics, multiphonics, tapping on the body, feedback loops, and live-processed soundscapes that reveal new textures not present in conventional viola playing. Some contemporary composers imagine an ultraviola as a modular system with sensors and actuators that alter resonance in real time.

In fiction and design discourse, ultraviola often appears as a symbol of techno-organic fusion or future orchestras where instruments are augmented by digital and sonic technologies. The concept serves to explore questions about authorship, instrument identity, and the relationship between performer and machine.

Although not a standard instrument, ultraviola has appeared in theoretical discussions, commissioned compositions, and art-science projects since the early 2000s, illustrating trends toward blur between acoustic practice and electronic augmentation.

See also: Viola; Extended technique; Electronic music; Ultrasonics; Sound sculpture.