Theremin

Hm.

the theremin is very much present in lots of Yann Tiersen's music, tho ...and i think my fave piece of theremin music at the moment is Saint Saens's "The Swan" as performed by Clara Rockmore (th.) and Nadia Reisenberg

There's an awesome documentary on the guy who invented the theremin; I don't remember what it's called, but apart from documenting his discovery of this instrument (as well as a great deal of footage of it in use), it also delves into his time in the employ of the KGB deciphering and deconstructing codes & messages and such. Anybody know what that's called?

V

Did Sonic Youth ever use one? I seem to recall it being stolen during the great U-Haul theft and them having to borrow one from Jon Spencer.

My friends Adam and Jason had some wacky idea about Public Enemy going theremin and would enjoy saying, in a Chuck D voice - "now I bust theremin!" The mock up/mash up of this event sadly never materialized.

A Roland SH-101, actually.

went to see EAR at the Garage and Pram supported. Stereolab also played (secret gig type thing under the name Soop). each band had their own theremin = 3 on stage at the same time.

Bill Bailey has been seen on tv using one.

I always thought that the studio recordings DID use a real theremin, but since the band was unacustomed to using it, they had something similar built to replace it for touring...

http://207.70.82.73/pages/descriptions/02/223.html

Fishbone's "Psychotic Friends Nuttwerks" features the theremin on every song.

-- Amateur(ist) ([email protected]), May 9th, 2005.

I just got this -- wow, it's fantastic! The Saint-Saens made me, like, weep.

and the chick theremin player in the moog documentary was pretty rad.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ONJfp95yoE

Ha! I came here to post that link too. Not necessary then.

Worth the revive, though.

moley how is the theremin at your place holding up these days?

I have two and they are both excellent. One of the two is my love's, and only this weekend she was 'playing' it on stage. We both agree that every weird woman needs a theremin.

The other theremin was hand made by an uber-geeky acquaintance of mine and can actually control another synth via cv/gate. He recently offered to give it a tune-up. It's been thrashed around Australia - I use it in much the same way as guitarist - say someone like KK Downing - more concerned with expressive diving and climbing than melody would play a whammy bar solo.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mW0B1sipLBI

There's a "power trio" in Rhode Island, Allysen Callery & the Land of Nod, that's made up of acoustic guitar, upright bass and theremin. I need to hear this.

Help Me by Timo Maas and Kelis has some good theramin, sampled from The Day the Earth Stood Still I believe.

theremin mug

http://vimeo.com/432353

I've owned a Bob Moog-signed Etherwave theremin for 10 years now and I've only had to replace the power supply once. It has worked completely flawlessly for years, which is especially surprising considering I am a very clumsy person and most of the shows it was used on were punk rock shows. It has a lot of wear and tear but totally works.

This theremin (and another of the same model) were used in the Spooks album "Death From Beyond the Grave", a synth-garage band that features members of the Black Lips and Deerhunter. You can hear songs at http://vimeo.com/3872448 and http://vimeo.com/2127460

Only a new problem started creeping in recently. The pitch on the theremin is in a much higher range than it ever was, and it is impossible to get it tuned to a lower range. I wonder if anyone has had experience with these and would know what I should do for an easy fix. My knowledge of electronics is pretty limited but I know some basic repair.

As for wear on the pitch side of the theremin: I lost the bolt that fastens the pitch rod to the main box. Also the pitch rod itself has been bent a little bit at an angle. Also I think the whole unit is a little loose in the connections so possibly taking it apart and screwing everything back together tighter may make a difference....?

Stereo Total - Orange Mécanique

I just covered it in my song project:
http://ohrensause.wordpress.com/2010/08/18/243-stereo-total-orange-mecanique-2005/

I'm trying to do a cover of "Telstar" by the Tornados using theremin as lead instrument, and damn, it's one of the most difficult songs I've ever tried to play w it!

in theremin news
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stobfk1Mfjk

ISO
DIRECTIONAL
INDUCTIVE
OSCILLATOR
TECHNOLOGY

i <3 moog

theremin doorbell:

http://www.techbites.com/20090915511/myblog/ingenuity/theremin-doorbell-calling-the-tune.html

http://femurdesign.com/theremin/

I wrote a novel about Lev Sergeyvich Termen and Clara Rockmore. Out next week in Canada, June in the USA. Would love for any curious ilxors to check it out.
http://usconductors.byseanmichaels.com/

Cool. Any US appearances planned in addition to the Canadian ones

Wow.

thanks curmudge! i'm going to be visiting New York, Boston, Philly, Baltimore, DC, Durham, Asheville and Atlanta between June 23 and July 4; and then hopefully LA/SF/Portland/Seattle? in late July! Hopefully with thereminists in tow!

Remind us closer to that time too. Will need to notify a local DC theramin player and my alt-weekly.

theremin of course...

Will-do.

Me + books + theremins on the east coast, if you're curious. Would love to meet ilxors!

Saturday, June 21, 2014 • Boston, MA - Porter Square Books with thereminist Jon Bernhardt
Monday, June 23, 2014 • Brooklyn, NY - Greenlight Book Store with thereminist Rob Schwimmer
Tuesday, June 24, 2014 • New York, NY - McNally Jackson bookstore, an event hosted by the extraordinary music/books blog Largehearted Boy
Wednesday, June 25, 2014 • Philadelphia, PA - Philadelphia Mausoleum of Contemporary Art with thereminist Mano Divina and a screening of the theremin documentary 21st Century Classical Music
Thursday, June 26, 2014 • Baltimore, MD - Atomic Books with thereminist Robby Neubauer and Fulton Lights
Friday, June 27, 2014 • Washington, DC - Kramerbooks with thereminist Arthur Harrison
Sunday, June 29, 2014 • Durham, NC - Letters Bookshop with thereminist Dave Yarwood
Wednesday, July 2, 2014 • Asheville, NC - The Moog Factory with Duet for Theremin and Lap Steel
Thursday, July 3, 2014 • Atlanta, GA - Highland Inn Ballroom with A Capella Books and Duet for Theremin and Lap Steel

Will try to go to McNally Jackson. Thanks for heads up.

I mentioned this on another thread, but since this one was specifically created by the author for this book:

http://www.cbc.ca/books/2014/11/scotiabank-giller-prize-2014-the-winner.html

(er, or not...guess I should've noticed those pre-sean posts.)

As you can imagine
There are a lot of smiling faces in Montreal right now
Congrats Sean!

Well done Sean!

This is a huge deal. Congratulations!

thank you so much!!

I am reading this! It's good!

Sean, your book was the most-fought-over item at my book club's secret santa-style book swap evening tonight. I didn't end up with it unfortunately, but lots of people excited abt it.

that's so bewildering and nice. hope whoever got it enjoys it; maybe they'll be kicking themselves and wishing they went for that iphone case.

Google doodle about Clara Rockmore today is nice. :)

:)

http://www.google.com/logos/doodles/2016/clara-rockmores-105th-birthday-5705876574830592.3-hp2x.jpg

Yeah, I noticed that. Love Rockmore so much.

Y'all have to hear the insane, operatic theremin playing (Rob Schwimmer) on this version of Round Midnight:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4phFiDdCkY

When I interviewed him recently, I told him that when I first heard that track I thought it was a vocalist. But more than anything it reminds me of the "singing sword" from Knighty Knight Bugs, the cartoon where Bugs Bunny battles the Black Knight (aka Yosemite Sam in armor).

I've done events with many of the major thereminists in the world at this point, and Rob's my favourite - so beautifully musical. i think i cried when he played "the swan" in brooklyn.

Wow there are some great resources on this thead. Going to check out some of this material. Though I see that many previous posters have pointed out erroneous attribution of singing saw and other instruments for the true Theremin!

Any love for Armen Ra around these parts?

Theremin + Klaus Nomi = a classic combination that makes so much sense once you hear it

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyGi3YJgTdQ

Who can resist some pure 90s Cyberpunk theremin abuse?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huijoa0nIeI

All hail psycho bitch, rise above yourself!