Theremin: An Introduction

The theremin is an electronic instrument experiencing a sort of renaissance in recent times. It initially debuted 1919, where inventor Leon Theremin introduced the world to an instrument he believed anyone could play. His ultimate goal was to create a new breed of instrument for orchestral performance, which has yet to be realized.

The theremin runs entirely off of electricity. The wooden box holds electronic components similar to the inside of an old, standalone radio. Two antennas produce two separate fields that allow the player to control pitch and volume. The vertical antennae, traditionally on the right, creates the pitch. As the hand moves closer to the rod, the pitch goes up; greater distances lowers the pitch. The curved horizontal antennae, traditionally on the left, controls volume. The hand raises and lowers the volume by moving up and down. A series of dials facing the musician allow the tone of the instrument to be changed in an almost infinite number of ways.

The theremin was initially viewed as a novelty, until Leon Theremin paired up with Clara Rockmore to present a new style of theremin play. While Leon Theremin was a solid performer, Clara Rockmore is still considered by many to be the greatest player to ever come near the instrument. Originally a violinist, her classical training was put on hold when she began to suffer from arthritis. When she heard of the theremin, she personally sought out Leon Theremin to teach her the instrument, for her medical condition would not effect her ability to play it. Rockmore's perfect pitch and artistic style made her a favorite performer from intimate parties to full size concert halls as she re-imagined the classics on the electronic instrument.

Hollywood became interested in the theremin to use it in a different way. The electronic sound of the earliest theremin seemed otherworldly to ears used to acoustic instruments. Composers began using the theremin in the scores of science fiction and horror films to enhance the mood of the piece. While more people would be familiar with the theremin driven score of The Day the Earth Stood Still, the classical aspirations of Leon Theremin were better realized with the Academy Award winning score of Alfred Hitchcock's film Spellbound.

The theremin seemed to fade into obscurity for many years, viewed as a tool almost exclusively for genre pictures. Now, two breed of artists are exploring the capabilities of the theremin. Many progressive rock bands and alternative acts are using the theremin to explore our relationship with sound in popular music, including some of the more recent albums by Nine Inch Nails. A new breed of classically trained musicians, including Lydia Kavina and Pamelia Kurstin among many others, are reinventing traditonal music and theremin techniques around the world.