
In particular, the theremin, ondes Martenot and trautonium were commercially produced by the early 1930s. Leon Theremin demonstrating the theremin in 1927ĭevelopments of the vacuum tube led to electronic instruments that were smaller, amplified, and more practical for performance. They predicted expansions in timbre allowed for by electronics in the influential manifesto The Art of Noises (1913). Futurists such as Francesco Balilla Pratella and Luigi Russolo began composing music with acoustic noise to evoke the sound of machinery. He predicted the use of machines in future music, writing the influential Sketch of a New Esthetic of Music (1907).

Ferruccio Busoni encouraged the composition of microtonal music allowed for by electronic instruments.

Ĭritics of musical conventions at the time saw promise in these developments.

It achieved viable public interest and made commercial progress into streaming music through telephone networks. While some were considered novelties and produced simple tones, the Telharmonium synthesized the sound of several orchestral instruments with reasonable precision. The audiences were presented with reproductions of existing music instead of new compositions for the instruments. These initial inventions were not sold, but were instead used in demonstrations and public performances. Origins: late 19th century to early 20th century įront page of Scientific American in 1907, demonstrating the size, operation, and popularity of the TelharmoniumĪt the turn of the 20th century, experimentation with emerging electronics led to the first electronic musical instruments.

During the 1920s and 1930s, some electronic instruments were introduced and the first compositions featuring them were written. The first electronic musical devices were developed at the end of the 19th century. Such electromechanical devices include the telharmonium, Hammond organ, electric piano and the electric guitar. Electromechanical instruments can have mechanical parts such as strings, hammers, and electric elements including magnetic pickups, power amplifiers and loudspeakers. Pure electronic instruments depended entirely on circuitry-based sound generation, for instance using devices such as an electronic oscillator, theremin, or synthesizer. It includes both music made using electronic and electromechanical means ( electroacoustic music). Electronic music is a genre of music that employs electronic musical instruments, digital instruments, or circuitry-based music technology in its creation.
