A pre-synthesizer electronic instrument, originally created by Maurice Martenot (prononced "mar-ten-oh") in 1928. (The French name translates literally as "Martenot waves".) The original concept of the instrument was that it would allow the performer to play continuously-variable pitches, via a thimble-like ring tied into a loop of string that ran across rollers at the left and right ends of the performance board. The performer inserted his or her right index finger into the ring, and then moved it left and right to control pitch. For control of dynamics, a small drawer opened towards the performer from the left end of the performance board; this contained a spring-loaded glass bar that was pressed down by the left hand to increase volume. Playing was always a two-handed operation as the i