Elaborate on the concept of extended techniques on traditional instruments and explain their contribution to sonic expansion.

Extended techniques on traditional instruments refer to unconventional methods of playing that go beyond the standard, historically established ways of producing sound. These techniques explore the full sonic potential of an instrument, pushing it beyond its intended limits and creating a wider range of timbres, textures, and sound events. This approach is often used in contemporary and experimental music, offering composers and performers a vast palette of new sounds and expressive possibilities. Rather than being seen as a limitation, instruments are seen as a starting point for exploring unconventional musical sounds.

Traditionally, instruments were played using methods designed to produce clear pitches and tones within the framework of conventional music. Extended techniques, however, often prioritize timbre, noise, and unconventional articulations over pitch and melody. This can involve a variety of manipulations and alterations, ranging from altering the way the instrument is held or manipulated, to preparing the instrument with various objects that interfere with the production of sound. For example, on string instruments like the violin or cello, extended techniques include bowing near the bridge or fingerboard to produce high-pitched squeals, using the bow to strike the strings percussively, or plucking the strings with various objects like drumsticks or plectrums. These actions create timbres very distinct from traditional bowed or plucked sounds. Composers such as Iannis Xenakis would often use string instruments in these ways to create complex textures in his pieces, and not merely for harmonic or melodic purposes. He would explore these techniques to create sounds that would be unavailable through traditional modes of performance.

Wind instruments also lend themselves to a wide array of extended techniques. For example, a flute player may produce multiphonics (playing two or more pitches simultaneously) through specific fingerings and embouchure techniques, or use air sounds without a specific pitch. Clarinetists might produce slap tongue sounds by quickly withdrawing the tongue from the reed, or perform key clicks by manipulating the instrument's keys. Similarly, brass players might use techniques such as flutter tonguing (rapidly rolling the tongue while playing) or growling (producing a distorted, raspy sound), to create unique sound effects. These actions are not usually taught in traditional instrumental methods but have been developed to explore the sonic possibilities of each instrument. The sounds produced are not only beyond standard performance techniques but are often unmusical by traditional standards.

Percussion instruments are often explored with extended techniques, expanding their sonic possibilities far beyond traditional uses. Percussionists might play a marimba with the butt ends of the mallets, or use unusual materials like bows or brushes on the surface of a cymbal or drum. They might play on the rim or the shell of a drum or explore other objects around the instrument. Prepared piano, another common technique, involves inserting various objects between or on the piano strings, resulting in a percussive sound with unique timbres and textures. This was championed by John Cage who believed these actions would unlock new sonic possibilities within a traditional instrument. These techniques often produce sounds that are percussive, metallic, and noisy, expanding the expressive range of the piano into areas typically associated with percussion instruments.

Extended techniques contribute to sonic expansion by pushing the boundaries of instrumental sounds and exploring new timbral possibilities. They provide a means to create sounds that are often not typically associated with traditional instruments, blurring the lines between the categories. They enable composers to use instruments for more than traditional harmonic and melodic elements. By exploring these sounds, composers and musicians can expand the expressive range of their instrument, going beyond their traditional function. These techniques also encourage performers to engage with their instruments in new and creative ways, fostering innovation and experimentation. The emphasis is not only on how to produce sounds but in discovering new sounds and methods of creating music. These explorations have led to new methods of playing, new sound possibilities, and a richer and more diverse landscape of musical performance.

In summary, extended techniques on traditional instruments are a crucial aspect of experimental music, contributing to sonic expansion by pushing the limits of traditional performance practices, discovering new sounds, and enriching the expressive possibilities of the instrument. They offer a means to create new and unique musical experiences by exploring new sounds and methods of creation that previously might not have been considered a part of the musical palette. This approach has profoundly changed the landscape of modern music.