instrumentoschave

Instrumentoschave is a coined term used to describe the essential set of instruments that define the sound, function, or identity of a musical work, group, or tradition. While not a standard term in most music dictionaries, it is employed in analyses and discussions to emphasize the instruments that carry most of the melodic, harmonic, or rhythmic responsibility or distinguish a style.

In practice, instrumentoschave vary by context. In a classical chamber ensemble, the violin, viola, cello, and piano often play key roles, while in a jazz quartet the piano, bass, drums, and horn may be considered instrumentoschave for the typical ensemble's voice. In electronic music, synthesizers, drum machines, and samplers may be the instrumentoschave.

Beyond music, the term can be used metaphorically to denote the essential tools or instruments in any field, such as a research lab's instrumentoschave or a design team's key tools.

Etymology: the combination of instrumentos (in Spanish/Portuguese for instruments) and chave (key) implies "key instruments." The concatenated form instrumentoschave is a neologism; in formal writing it is usually written as instrumentos clave or as two words in Spanish or Portuguese.

See also: key instruments, essential instruments, timbre, orchestration.