Augmented instruments are special instruments that demonstrate the desire to expand the sound possibilities of already existing musical instruments.
To speak about augmented instruments, we first need to agree on what exactly we are going to speak about.
We have two distinct words. First " instrument" .
So we are going to talk about musical instruments, but instruments that are already known to the public, to musicians and composers. It is thus a known instrument, for which there is a repertoire of works, a pedagogy to know how to play the instrument, and musicians who play it.
Then, we have the term " augmented ".
The augmentation consists in expanding the sonority of the known, classical, standardized instrument. The augmentation can act on sound different parameters of the instrument: its range, its dynamic or its timbre.
Thereby the augmentation of an instrument only makes sense in comparison to a well recognized instrument. It is only in relation to such that we can talk about an augmented instrument.
Instrumental augmentation is the search for new sonorities and as a consequence, an experimental and temporary action.
The Sampo is a great example of a universal solution for instrument augmentation. Picking up the acoustic sound with a microphone and giving access to real-time modulation of the audio signal using simple gestures thanks to a set of expression pedals, it is a practical, portable and non-intrusive means for augmenting pretty much any acoustic instrument.
In addition to configurations with effects, it is possible to play pieces with tape, or sound files. This opens to the performer the doors to a vast repertoire of mixed music works, ready to play.
The Sampo has been designed with the performer in mind, ensuring great expressiveness and easy access to augment his or her instrument.
The Modalio is another example of an augmented instrument, but this time dedicated to a specific instrument: the organ. The Sampo and the Modalio are based on the same principle and offer the same sound possibilities.
We present here a small series of articles illustrating the various developments in augmented instruments throughout history.