How were tape recordings combined with live instruments in electronic music?

In the context of electronic music, the tape recorder was initially viewed as a medium independent of traditional performance. However, it eventually became common to integrate tape recordings with live instruments, treating the tape recorder as an additional instrument within an ensemble.1

This approach helped address the visual monotony of concert performances that relied solely on loudspeakers. By incorporating live musicians, the tape recorder functioned as a collaborative element rather than a replacement for instrumentalists.1

A further evolution of this practice is "live electronic music," where the use of pre-recorded tape is restricted or eliminated entirely. In these performances, electronic equipment is used to transform the sounds of musical instruments in real time during the concert. These performances often utilize scores that include aleatory or improvisatory guidelines, allowing composers to incorporate spontaneous musical elements into the electronic soundscape.1