Everything about The Theremin totally explained
The
theremin is one of the earliest
electronic musical instruments, and the first musical instrument played without being touched (originally but often anglicized as,
theramin, or
thereminvox, it's also known as an
aetherphone.) It was invented by
Russian inventor
Léon Theremin (Russian: Лев Сергеевич Термен) in 1919. The controlling section usually consists of two metal
antennas which sense the position of the player's hands and control audio
oscillator(s) for frequency with one hand, and volume with the other. The electric
signals from the theremin are
amplified and sent to a
loudspeaker. The theremin is an
electrophone, a subset of the
quintephone family.
To play, the player moves his hands around the antennas, controlling
frequency (pitch) and
amplitude (
volume). The theremin is associated with "alien", surreal, and eerie-sounding
portamento,
glissando,
tremolo, and
vibrato sounds, due to its use in soundtracks such as
Spellbound,
The Lost Weekend, and
The Day the Earth Stood Still. Theremins are also used in art music (especially
avant-garde and 20th century "
new music") and in popular music genres such as
rock and
pop.
John Otway regularly uses a Theremin in his performances,
Jean Michel Jarre also used it on his album
Oxygène.
The
Ondes-Martenot is one of several similar electronic instruments using two
heterodyning oscillators, but its player has to touch it. Please see the
Similar instruments section below
History
The theremin was originally the product of Russian government-sponsored research into
proximity sensors. The instrument was invented by a young Russian physicist named Lev Sergeivich Termen (known in the West as
Léon Theremin) in 1919 after the outbreak of the
Russian civil war. After positive reviews at
Moscow electronics conferences, Theremin demonstrated the device to
Bolshevik leader
Vladimir Lenin. Lenin was so impressed with the device that he began taking lessons in playing it, commissioned six hundred of the instruments for distribution throughout the Soviet Union, and sent Theremin on a trip around the world to demonstrate the latest Soviet technology and the invention of
electronic music. After a lengthy tour of Europe, during which time he demonstrated his invention to packed houses, Theremin found his way to
America, where he patented his invention in 1928 (
Bill Bailey, English comedian also uses a theremin in live performances on his stand up tours.
In "The Ziff Who Came To Dinner" from The Simpsons, Homer becomes upset when he believes that someone is playing his theremin in the attic.
In the fifteenth episode of Mahou Sentai Magiranger "The Bride's Elder Brother ~Giruma Magi Majuna~", the Magiranger use a device known as the "Tell Me Theremin" which has supposedly not been used in 250 years.
In May, 2007, the White Castle American hamburger restaurant chain introduced a television ad featuring a theremin performance by musician Jon Bernhardt of the band The Lothars.
In the Comedy Central travel program Wanderlust, host Gerhard Reinke is a theremin enthusiast and plays the instrument alongside traditional Irish musicians in a pub.
In episode "Roger Codger" of American Dad! Stan says "I'll check out this lab, where the Theremin music is coming from" while searching for Roger the alien.
On an episode of NickJr's Yo Gabba Gabba, musician Sukho Lee plays a lullaby on the Theremin in the "Cool Tricks" segment.
In the Episode The Farnsworth Parabox of the tv show Futurama the Theremin is used extensively to cue the difference between the normal universe and the parallel universe. In addition, in a later episode's commentary, series creator Matt Groening discusses his experiences and difficulties with buying and building his own Theremin.
In books
In the novel Hannibal, Hannibal Lecter buys and plays a theremin as well as other musical instruments.
A theremin is played at a wedding ceremony in the Herman Wouk novel Marjorie Morningstar
Similar instruments
The Ondes-Martenot also uses the principle of heterodyning oscillators, but has a keyboard as well as a slide controller and is touched while playing.
The Electro-Theremin (or Tannerin) doesn't use heterodyning oscillators and has to be touched while playing, but it allows continuous variation of the frequency range and sounds similar to the theremin.
The Persephone, an analogue fingerboard synthesizer with CV and MIDI, inspired from Les Ondes Martenots or the Trautonium. The Persephone allows continuous variation of the frequency range from 1 to 10 octaves. The ribbon is pressure and position sensitive.
The Electronde, invented in 1929 by Martin Taubman, has an antenna for pitch control, a handheld switch for articulation and a foot pedal for volume control.
The Syntheremin is an extension of the theremin.
The Croix Sonore (Sonorous Cross), is based on the theremin. It was developed by Russian composer Nicolas Obouchov in France, after he saw Lev Theremin demonstrate the theremin in 1924.
The terpsitone, also invented by Theremin, consisted of a platform fitted with space-controlling antennas, through and around which a dancer would control the musical performance. By most accounts, the instrument was nearly impossible to control. Of the three instruments built, only the last one, made in 1978 for Lydia Kavina, survives today.
The Z.Vex Effects Fuzz Probe, Wah Probe and Tremolo Probe, using a theremin to control said effects. The Fuzz Probe can be used as a theremin, as it can through feedback oscillation create tones of any pitch.
The Haken Continuum Fingerboard uses a continuous, flat playing surface along which the player slides his fingers to create the desired pitch and timbre values. Describable as "a continuous pitch controller that resembles a keyboard, but has no keys."
The Beamz, a pseudo-theremin sometimes called a "laser harp" introduced in 2008 which is played by using the performer's hands to break six beams of laser light, triggering new arrangements of pre-recorded music.Further Information
Get more info on 'Theremin'.
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