A variety of theremin schematics can be found at discover circuits. Dec 07, 2005 then, the theremin slipped back into obscurity until the recent revival of the 1990s. Everybody knows this instrument that you can play without physical contact. An electronic odyssey stars clara rockmore, robert moog, nicolas slonimsky, paul shure the pg movie has a runtime of about 1 hr 23 min, and received a score. The original theremin used a foot pedal to control the volume and a switch mechanism to alter the pitch. Basically this instrument is called as theremin, originally cons. This is a demo of forrest mims, iiis audible light. An electronic odyssey is a documentary about the creator of the theremin musical instrument, lev sergeyvich termen aka leon theremin. All structured data from the file and property namespaces is available under the creative commons cc0 license.
Multitouch the screen or use the cursor and play with the effects to make scuzzy sounds. It is the only instrument that is played without the performer ever touching it. Here ill show you how to generate music close to it. The spooky sound of the theremin was used in several movie soundtracks during the 1950s and 1960s. Martin about the life of leon theremin and his invention, the theremin, a pioneering electronic musical instrument. An electronic odyssey 1995 this documentary explores the life of leon theremin, the inventor of an electronic synthesizer called the theremin, which uses motion to produce a sliding. This documentary is fun to watch and brings to light a lot of history that is little known. This document is provided to improve upon the documents that currently exist online. Instead, i direct the curious to the fascinating 1994 documentary theremin. With femur designs online theremin, users interactions with the screen are translated into sound thanks to that magic of javascript using the web audio api with html5.
As in the 144, and its forerunner, the southwest technical products model 142, the 145 theremin retains a heterodyne topology similar to that used by mr. Though the facts of leon theremins life merit this feature film, director steven m. An electronic odyssey 1993 starring leon theremin and clara rockmore on dvd and bluray. Theremin by oivind lange, oslo 1930s, telefunken volkstrautonium ela. The theremin produces a tone that changes in pitch and dynamic level when the player moves his hands near its antenna and loop. See him playing above in 1987 with his third wife natalia. Today, lots of bands use theremins, though many unfortunately limit themselves to using the theremin as a novelty.
Silicon chips theremin projects silicon chip theremin. To learn much more about the inventors fascinating life story, be sure to see steven m. Theremin simulator lets you play the unique electronic. In this experiment, i have designed an optical theremin using a 555 timer ic. Theremin, electronic musical instrument invented in 1920 in the soviet union by leon theremin also called lev termen. An html version of the instruction manual is also available. He attended brown university in rhode island, where he was exposed to the socially conscious films of frederick wiseman.
Theremin an electronic odyssey 1993 sheds light on the early era of electronic music. It consists of a box with radio tubes producing oscillations at two soundwave frequencies above the range of hearing. An electronic odyssey or albert glinskys book theremin. The theremin holds a place in history as the first manufactured electronic musical instrument, and is credited with laying the foundation for all electronic music to come. An electronic odyssey in 1993, the instrument has enjoyed a resurgence in interest and has become more widely used by contemporary musicians. Theremin play your own musical synth with delay, feedback. An electronic odyssey is a documentary on both the theremin, the instrument, and prof. Martin by frankie demarco, cinematographer on vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the. Theremin is a open hardware and open software theremin project. It is a story about a man with a passion for electronics and music, a man with an inventive and radical mind. An electronic odyssey attempts to chronicle the history of the first electronic instrument, named the theremin after its inventor leon theremin.
This prototype evolved into a production model theremin in 1920, this was a unique design, resembling a gramophone cabinet on 4 legs with a protruding metal antennae and a metal loop. Soviet inventor leon theremin shows off the theremin, the. Jul 25, 2008 instead, i direct the curious to the fascinating 1994 documentary theremin. With leon theremin, robert moog, clara rockmore, nicolas slonimsky. That is until the 1950s when robert moog began building his own theremins and the instrument gained some degree of popularity in the decades following. The modular system consists of a rc or lc heterodyne oscillator module and a micro controller up module with interface and supply circuits. The device that bears his name produced a strange, undulating, alternately threatening and soothing sound that didnt exist in nature, noted a new york times writer, and when it was first used in classical music compositions during the. Martin chooses to focus on theremins eponymous invention, a strange musical instrument which predated the synthesizer in the field of electronic sound. The spooky sound of the theremin was used in several movie soundtracks during the. A profile of russian leon theremin, inventor of the worlds first electronic musical instrument.
This page was last edited on 6 december 2014, at 06. It follows his life, including being imprisoned in a soviet gulag, and the influence of his instrument, which came to define the sound of eerie in 20thcentury movies, and influenced popular music as. It is the kind of movie that requires a musical score only the theremin possibly could supply. Then, the theremin slipped back into obscurity until the recent revival of the 1990s. An electronic odyssey dec 31, 2012 a very very cool documentary on the inventor of one of the most imaginative musical instruments ever constructed the theremin. An electronic odyssey, written, directed, and produced by steven m. Used in countless sciencefiction film scores, the theremin also appears on more recordings these. An electronic odyssey click to enlarge apart from crumb, this film by steven m. An electronic odyssey was released, and the instrument gained perhaps its highest level of popularity to date among musicians and filmmakers. Whisked away by the kgb, theremin spent his remaining days after a stay in siberia as an inverntorforthestate, a prolific yet unnamed soviet cog. Wienbridge theremin this circuit is a basic theremin with only a pitch control.
Theremin definition is a purely melodic electronic musical instrument typically played by moving the hands in the electromagnetic fields surrounding two projecting antennae. Martin chooses to focus on theremin s eponymous invention, a strange musical instrument which predated the synthesizer in the field of electronic sound. One of the very first electronic instrument, invented by the russian physicist and cellist leon theremin in 1919. And if youre intrigued enough, you can buy your very own theremin made by moog. Russian scientist leon theremin 18961993 was the onceforgotten inventor who created the worlds first electronic musical instrument. A documentary about the inventor of the first electronic synthesiser instrument and his subsequent life after he was abducted by the kgb as well as a history of his instrument. Though the facts of leon theremin s life merit this feature film, director steven m. Used in countless sciencefiction film scores, the theremin also appears on. You begin with interest, and then you pass through the stages of curiosity, fascination and disbelief, until in the last 20 minutes, you arrive at a state of dumbfounded wonder.
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