String instrument String instrument String instruments, stringed instruments, or chordophones are musical instruments that produce sound from vibrating strings when the performer plays or sounds the strings in some manner. Musicians play some string instruments by plucking the strings with their fingers or a plectrum—and others by hitting the strings with a light wooden hammer or by rubbing the strings with a bow. In some keyboard instruments, such as the harpsichord, the musician presses a key that plucks the string. With bowed instruments, the player rubs the strings with a horsehair bow, causing them to vibrate. With a hurdy-gurdy, the musician operates
Howard Skempton among which are some for instruments rarely used in the western tradition: the hurdy-gurdy ("Concerto for hurdy-gurdy and percussion" (1994)) and the accordion ("Concerto for oboe, accordion and strings" (1997)). Some of the later works explore non-standard instrumentation: "Alveston" (2007) is scored for four trumpets, "Horizons" (2001) is scored for oboe and harp, "Ballade" (1997) is a pieces for saxophone quartet and string orchestra. Howard Skempton Howard While Skempton (born 31 October 1947) is an English composer, pianist, and accordionist. Since the late 1960s, when he helped to organise the Scratch Orchestra, he has been associated with the English school