Theremin!

[Chris Peryagh]

I ordered a Moog Etherwave Theremin earlier which should be with me in a few weeks (the less expensive one in the horizontal black case), and surprised I didn't get one sooner.

Only the other day I saw John Otway supporting Bad Manners which inspired me to get one, and though he didn't use it as a melody instrument but for special effects (and in his cover of 'Crazy Horses') I have seen it played by a Russian woman who was a close friend of Mr. Theremin, and she is hailed as a Theremin Virtuoso (can't remember her name, but I think she lives in New York).

Can't wait! Finally an instrument that hasn't got any keywork mechanism, reeds, mouthpieces, strings, pedals (though some effects pedals may be added over a period of time!) and hardly any physical contact with!

[Rackety Sax]

I believe Lydia Kavina is her name.

There's an exceptionally fascinating documentary on Lev/Leon Theremin called Theremin: An Electronic Odyssey. Theremin left the U.S. for the Soviet Union in the late thirties, either to escape debt or because he was kidnapped by Soviet agents, depending on which story you believe. Apparently people in the U.S. thought he was dead, and the filmmakers discovered that he was still living in the Soviet Union. His return in 1991 in his early 90s is captured in the documentary. If memory serves, in the video he is re-acquainted with Clara Rockmore, the greatest theremin virtuoso of all time who worked with Theremin when he was developing the instrument.

[Chris Peryagh]

Was Clara Rockmore in the documentary? She must be the one I'm thinking of (though I thought she was Russian, maybe she married an American or changed her name as Rockmore isn't exactly the most Russian sounding of surnames!) - he made her an electronic birthday cake that rotated, and the candle lit when she went near it. In her flat she's got huge diamond-shaped speakers and plays one of the old valve Theremins.

Lydia Kavina is definitely too young, and she plays a modern Theremin:

http://www.lydiakavina.com

Just seen on her site there's to be a Theremin workshop held by Lydia sometime this year in London!

[Rackety Sax]

My recollection is that Clara Rockmore was in the documentary, but I saw it when it came out about 12 years ago. Still, I'm pretty sure. According to Wikipedia: Clara Rockmore (born Clara Reisenberg, Vilnius, Lithuania, March 9, 1911; d. New York City, May 10, 1998) is generally considered to be the most accomplished performer ever of the theremin electronic musical instrument.

She performed theremin recitals with her sister accompanying her on piano.

Clara Rockmore at Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clara_Rockmore)

At first I thought you meant you saw her play live - or did you?

Anyhoo, if you haven't seen the documentary, it is really terrific - one of those cases of fact being stranger than fiction, especially when Mr. Theramin re-emerges after being taken for dead for 55 years.

Somebody needs to get busy and write a double concerto for saxophone, theremin, and orchestra.

[Chris Peryagh]

I saw her on the documentary when it was first aired in the UK, pretty amazing performer!

I'll have to dig out my old VHS tapes to find it now!

[Rackety Sax]

And the story comes full circle: Lydia Kavina began studying theremin with Theremin when she was a 9-year-old in Moscow and Theremin was in his 80s:

http://www.lydiakavina.com/pictures/lydia_termen.jpg

[Pete Thomas]

Good luck

I have an Elysian Theremin and its bundles of fun.

[Rackety Sax]

That's really got to be a fiendishly difficult instrument to try to get a grasp of. :twisted:

I wonder what thereminists find to complain about in the absence of bad reeds, bad chops, or whatever. Maybe that the air is too humid?

[Tom779]

I play theremin a bit but find it by far the hardest instrument to play properly that I play (others are sax violin bass and mandolin) but you can make some pretty cool noises easily enough especially if you have a few fx pedals.

[Dr_sax]

I just enjoyed this song:
mW0B1sipLBI

[Giganova]

I love Thermins!

Chris: Now you can create your own horror movie sound track! :D

[Giganova]

I just enjoyed this song:
mW0B1sipLBI
This guy is really good! I love how they scratch on the carpet :mrgreen:

[Eeviac]

Theremin is great!!

You have to learn to tune/adjust the Etherwave, it will go out of adjustment. If you build the kit, FOLLOW THE SCHEMATIC, and I used a piece of metal foil rather than their cheesy counterpoise.

You'd better have a GOOD ear, because there are no frets or keys or anything. In fact, I took a bit of violin and astounded my teacher with my ear, and I consider the violin to be easy-peasy compared to the theremin.

That being said, I LOVE the theremin and encourage everyone to get one!! Learn by playing Christmas carols and little-kid songs first, the ones you've heard so much they're practically imprinted onto your DNA.

There are some great Theremin vids on YouTube, very inspiring.

As much as I love the theremin, I discovered two things: First, it's hard to take around and play, you need 2 dedicated power plugs. And secondly, as usual the chinese beat us to it, and came up with the same sound, thousands of years ago. Theirs doesn't need juice to run and is called the erhu.

[Sebastian]

hey Eeviac, are you a Man or Astroman fan? That's the only time I've heard of an EEVIAC computer

[Eeviac]

Greatest.

Band.

Evar.

Well, except for all the OTHER greatest bands ever, but yeah, one of the top tier for sure. I love MOAM!

[Zacharias]

Check out Angelo Moore...he is a sax player / poet and uses saxes from nino to bass and plays theremin as well. He plays in the band Fishbone but you can check him out at Angelo Moore or Dr. Madd Vibe.

[Eeviac]

There is a band in San Francisco that plays theremin, along with other stuff, I kind of meant to go see 'em but then basically my life imploded and until I have good street musician skills (and want to learn to be a decent caricaturist too - I want to have sure survival skills) I can't check out anything in SF.

Ultimately I want to be able to at least play well enough to make a living on the street, and also be able to draw faces well, there's no security in regular jobs or banks or anything like that these days, but street entertainer skills will always see you right. Once I have those skills developed, I can go back to SF and probably get a good clarinet teacher, see some great bands, etc.

PS most of the caricaturists out there on the street suc azz. My favorite is the one guy who draws the SAME FACE then puts in different skin color, hair, etc to fit the subject's race, sex, age. It's hilarious. I think the better artists are finding gigs in parties, in restaurants etc and don't have to be on the street.

Theremin's a great instrument, but you have to have a REALLY good ear to play it right, and you have to have electricity, it's that 2nd thing that's scared me away from it.

[Thudmother]

Put that Theremin through some distortion & crank it up.

you tube clip -watch @ 5:20 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kA_dSBLp1A8)

[Chris Peryagh]

Theremin's a great instrument, but you have to have a REALLY good ear to play it right, and you have to have electricity, it's that 2nd thing that's scared me away from it.

Can't you use a 12v car battery (or maybe something a bit less dangerous) to power both the thrermin and a small amp? And have a trolley to cart them around on.