ondes Martenot

Electronic musical instrument invented by Maurice Martenot (1898–1980), a French musician, teacher, and writer who first demonstrated his invention in 1928 at the Paris Opéra. A melody of considerable range and voicelike timbre is produced by sliding a contact along a conductive ribbon, the left hand controlling the tone colour.

In addition to inspiring works from Messiaen, Varèse, Jolivet, and others, the instrument has been in regular demand among composers of film and radio incidental music.