theremin info

1.)What is a theremin?


The theremin is one of the first electronic instruments. It was originally called the aetherphone, because the thereminist (never touching the instrument) seemingly plays music "out of the ether." It was invented in 1919 by Lev Sergeyevitch Termen. At the time, Russian citizen Lev Termen was working in Petrograd as a scientist in the oscillator laboratory for the Russian Military. He was working with gases and vaccum tubes when he discovered that a radio reciever would become detuned when in proximity of his body. He whipped up some blueprints and developed a prototype for an instrument with the same principle. Later, Mr. Termen changed his name to Leon Theremin. Thus the name, Theremin. Oh, boy, does he have a story or what. If you are interested in him and his instrument, watch the documentary, Theremin: An Electronic Odyssey.

2.)How does it work?

There are two antennas. The horizontal antenna is for volume control. The vertical antenna controls the pitch. The closer your hand is to the volume antenna, the softer the sound. The closer your hand is to the pitch antenna, the higher the note. So, you wave your hands in the air.

3.)Oh! Okay, but like, how does it work?

Oh. I'll copy the techinical stuff from a website called theremin-saw.com:

"The sound is produced by the interaction of two radio frequency oscillators which normally are operating above the range of human hearing. However, if one of these oscillators is slightly detuned by varying it's frequency while the other oscillator remains fixed, the difference in the frequencies (known as the beat frequency) is in the audible range and can be amplified. This process is known as heterodyning.

The vertical pitch antenna controls the variable oscillator. The electromagnetic field which surrounds the pitch antenna can be changed by the proximity of the human hand, body, or other object placed within proximity of the pitch antenna. The human body possesses a stored electrical charge, which is called its capacitance. This body capacitance can disrupt the electromagnetic field of the pitch antenna, thus affecting the variable oscillator. The closer the hand gets to the antenna, the greater the effect, and, therefore, the higher the beat frequency and the higher the pitch. The farther the hand gets away from the antenna, the less effect of the body capacitance, and, therefore, a lower beat frequency and lower pitch.

The pitch range (tessatura) can be adjusted for four, five, or sometimes more octaves. In addition the pitch can be tuned to allow for variations in playing distance from the pitch antenna (and thus the physical space between pitches) by increasing or decreasing it's sensitivity to body capacitance. The horizontal volume antenna, which is in the shape of a loop, also controls a high frequency oscillator, which when detuned by the proximity of the player's hand capacitance, lowers the sound volume. Moving the hand away from the volume antenna raises the volume. Carefully controlled up-and-down movement of the left hand (although the antennas may be reversed for left-handed thereminists) helps in the articulation of discrete notes as well as playing dynamics, crescendos, decrescendos, etc."

4.)What on earth made you want to play the theremin?

I saw an experimental music show at Tonic about four years ago with some musicians from Ciba Matto and Pamelia Kurstin played a few songs. I thought the sound was beautiful and I found the instrument fascinating. About a year later, a friend encouraged me to try it.

5.)What does it look like?

This is what mine looks like. It's a Big Briar Etherwave Theremin. I did not make mine myself, although most hard-core theremininsts buy a kit on the internet. I found Hammy already assembled in a music store below Canal Street and it cost me about $200.

I should be in my office or on the playground after school if you have any other questions.