How did tape become part of ensembles that included live musicians?

The integration of tape into ensembles with live musicians emerged as it became evident that electronic media would not replace instrumental performance. Rather than functioning as a standalone medium, the tape recorder began to be utilized as an additional instrument within an ensemble.1

This practice was largely motivated by a desire to overcome the visual monotony of concert performances where audiences had nothing to observe but a loudspeaker. By incorporating tape alongside live performers, composers could create a more dynamic stage presence while exploring the unique sonic possibilities of the medium. This evolution eventually led to the development of "live electronic music," where the role of the tape recorder is sometimes restricted or replaced by real-time electronic transformation of acoustic instruments, often guided by aleatory or improvisatory scores.1