When talking about the ‘rare’ in music, why not spot some curious music instruments. When asked to enumerate some music instruments most would mention the popular piano, violin, cello, flute, harp, organ, guitar and so on. Hardly would anyone’s list be headed by the curious name ‘theremin’. And this instrument does deserve some attention that I’m gonna pay to it today.
Theremin was invented in 1919 by the Russian physicist Lev Termen, who, on arriving to the USA was called Leon Theremin (thus the name of the invention). The marvelous thing about the instrument is that its construction allows playing without actually touch the instrument itself: it consists of two antennae, one responsible for the pitch, and the other one – for the volume. You can play by ‘touching the air’ between those two and adjusting the melody with your vertical and horizontal moves. It’s quite challenging I should say – constant skill training is required.
Leon Theremin was forced back to the Soviet Union in 1938 having to leave behind his studio, work, family and friends. However, during those years he managed to leave tangible work for his disciples. One of his best students is Clara Rockmore – a violinist who after having some health problems with hands switched to theremin and became world’s most outstanding theremin player.
In the 1930-ies theremin was quite promoted. Theremin music could be heard in popular movies (The Day the Earth Stood Still, The Lost Weekend, etc.), in music bands’ creativity (Led Zeppelin, Hand People, the Bonzo Doo Dah Dog Band, etc.). Today, there is no that ‘boom’ in theremin’s fame but it is still produced, played and valued.
Theremin was invented in 1919 by the Russian physicist Lev Termen, who, on arriving to the USA was called Leon Theremin (thus the name of the invention). The marvelous thing about the instrument is that its construction allows playing without actually touch the instrument itself: it consists of two antennae, one responsible for the pitch, and the other one – for the volume. You can play by ‘touching the air’ between those two and adjusting the melody with your vertical and horizontal moves. It’s quite challenging I should say – constant skill training is required.
Leon Theremin was forced back to the Soviet Union in 1938 having to leave behind his studio, work, family and friends. However, during those years he managed to leave tangible work for his disciples. One of his best students is Clara Rockmore – a violinist who after having some health problems with hands switched to theremin and became world’s most outstanding theremin player.
In the 1930-ies theremin was quite promoted. Theremin music could be heard in popular movies (The Day the Earth Stood Still, The Lost Weekend, etc.), in music bands’ creativity (Led Zeppelin, Hand People, the Bonzo Doo Dah Dog Band, etc.). Today, there is no that ‘boom’ in theremin’s fame but it is still produced, played and valued.
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