Where are the new (acoustic) musical instruments?

Started by XB-70 Valkyrie, December 02, 2019, 03:41:40 PM

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XB-70 Valkyrie

In your opinion, what is the newest acoustic musical instrument that can be said to have had a significant (or even interesting/amusing) impact on music composition and performance? Of course, major innovations like the origin of the violin family, valved horns, various types of organ actions, the piano, single reeds (clarinets, saxophones) from past centuries would certainly qualify.

But what is the most recent one? It seems that in the past, there was an interest in development of musical instruments, but not so much so today--or is that a fair statement? Do we have to look at non-western cultures to see any recent examples?

What about this one?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncJY-RBLyD0

:laugh:
If you really dislike Bach you keep quiet about it! - Andras Schiff

dissily Mordentroge

#1
Not so much a new instrument but an interesting adaption, the Stuart & Sons grand piano. I prefer the treble region to most of today's Steinways but Börsendorfer still wins in my opinion.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-09-15/worlds-first-108-key-concert-grand-piano-built-by-australian/10246340
All that's required are composers willing to write for the extended range or transcribe others works.
Not much of that happening as far as I can discover.

Sadly the audio quality on this clip makes the exercise somewhat pointless - -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IMe9u4KOew

None of the instruments listed in the link below are very recent. The one I hate is the 'musical saw'. Enough to make me run out of the room screaming!
https://spinditty.com/genres/Classical-Music-Written-For-Unusual-Instruments

The few acoustic instruments have been invented but to suggest they could be used in classical compositions is a far stretch. Instance the
Like the Singing Ringing Tree of East Lancashire they're passive in that only waves or wind can induce then to 'sing'.

And I can't imagine anyone writing a concerto for Pyrophone also know as the fire organ. Powered by propane and gasoline 'music' is produced by explosions.

We might just get away with nominating the Zeusaphone, a dangerous, high-voltage plasma speaker run from a Tesla coil.

Just about passing the test as a playable instrument, if not to my ears listenable, is the Glass Harmonica. Not new though, it's been standing audiences teeth on edge now for many decades.

It would appear that most if not all recently invented musical instruments are digital in nature. Possibly this is why so much modern/pop music sounds so damned awful?