strumentali

Strumentali is the plural form of the Italian adjective strumentale and is used to describe things relating to instruments or to instruments in general. In everyday language, the noun closest to the concept is strumento, with its plural strumenti; strumentali is more commonly encountered as an attribute rather than a standalone noun.

In music, strumentale designates works or parts of works that are performed without vocal lines. Phrases such as brani strumentali, pezzi strumentali, or parti strumentali are common in concert programs and music criticism, signaling instrumental pieces as opposed to vocal or sung selections. The term can also appear in catalogues or score annotations to distinguish sections intended for instruments alone, rather than singers.

Outside music, strumentale describes things used as instruments or tools. It can modify nouns like attrezzature strumentali (instrumental equipment) or strumenti strumentali in a broad sense, indicating equipment or devices designed to accomplish a task. The sense is general and overlaps with phrases indicating tools or implements used in a given field.

Etymology traces strumentale to strumento, from Latin instrumentum, meaning tool or device. The form strumentali follows standard Italian agreement, applying to masculine and feminine plural nouns.

See also: strumento, strumentazione, strumentale. The term is widely understood in Italian-speaking contexts and appears across musicology, journalism, and technical prose to denote instrumental characteristics or equipment-related meaning.