parainstruments

Parainstruments are a class of musical instruments that do not produce sound through direct physical interaction like striking, plucking, or bowing. Instead, their sound is generated by controlling or modulating an existing sound source. This existing sound source is typically an acoustic instrument, the human voice, or even an electronic signal.

The term "parainstrument" itself suggests a relationship with another instrument, where the parainstrument acts in a supporting or modifying role. Examples of parainstruments can be found in various contexts. In some experimental music, a performer might use a device to alter the timbre or pitch of another instrument in real-time without directly touching it. This could involve manipulating air currents, magnetic fields, or other physical phenomena that affect the primary sound.

Another interpretation of parainstruments might extend to certain electronic or electroacoustic setups where one device modifies the output of another. For instance, a complex effects processor that significantly transforms the character of an input signal could be considered a parainstrument in its relationship to the original source. The focus is on the indirect creation or modification of sound, differentiating them from instruments that produce sound de novo. The concept highlights the nuanced ways in which musical sound can be generated and manipulated.