Ondes Martenot

Ondes Martenot monophonic, nonimitative *electrophonic instr. of the electronic type, invented by Maurice Martenot of Neuilly-sur-Seine in 1928. The tone is generated by the heterodyne action between a fixed and a variable radio-frequency oscillator, the latter being controlled by: 1) a 7-oct.-compass keyboard, 2) relative proximity of the player's hand to a horizontally stretched cord. Also called ondes musicales.