›Instrumentalität‹

With the technological developments of the 20th and 21st century, the notion of the musical instrument is constantly being challenged. Electronic and digital musical instruments increasingly blur the distinction between instruments and non-instruments. This volume raises the both fundamental and complex question of a contemporary notion of the instrument in the context of media-instrumental practices. Bringing together historical and contemporary discourses from different instrument-related fields, the author adds cultural and medial aspects to the notion of the musical instrument. Finally, the concept of ›instrumentality‹ allows for a rethink of musical instruments within an ensemble of culture-specific and dynamic criteria.