The theremin was invented by Lev Sergeyvich Termen (Leo Theremin) in 1920. Theremin was a physicist, who, while trying to improve the radio, stumbled upon a unique musical instrument. It was a box full of coils and vacuum tubes, with two antennae–one vertical rod and one horizontal loop. He discovered "that moving his hands near two large metal plates caused a change in a signal coming from the apparatus." Thus, a player does not touch the instrument. He creates sounds by moving his hands before the antennae. The relationship between the hands and the antennae is called "capacitance."
The operating principle underlying the theremin is called heterodyning, mixing two signals of different frequencies and extracting the difference. This effect is produced by the pitch circuit that uses two radio-frequency oscillators, one fixed and one variable.
The operating principle underlying the theremin is called heterodyning, mixing two signals of different frequencies and extracting the difference. This effect is produced by the pitch circuit that uses two radio-frequency oscillators, one fixed and one variable.
According to Jason Barile, of the Center for Intelligent Systems (CIS), Vanderbilt School of Engineering, "When you play a Theremin, you essentially become part of the circuit. The simplicity of the design is the most interesting technical aspect of the instrument to me. There are no mechanical or moving parts involved–it’s just pure electricity."
Professor Theremin originally called his instrument the Aetherphon. It was meant to be a classical instrument. He played it in Russia in 1921 and debuted it in Europe in 1927. In the United States, he developed a theremin ballet troupe and organized an ensemble that played at Carnegie Hall.
He sold the patent rights to the instrument–now called the theremin–to the Radio Corporation of America (RCA) in 1929. It produced theremins commercially. They were purportedly playable by anyone "who can hum a tune."
Professor Theremin originally called his instrument the Aetherphon. It was meant to be a classical instrument. He played it in Russia in 1921 and debuted it in Europe in 1927. In the United States, he developed a theremin ballet troupe and organized an ensemble that played at Carnegie Hall.
He sold the patent rights to the instrument–now called the theremin–to the Radio Corporation of America (RCA) in 1929. It produced theremins commercially. They were purportedly playable by anyone "who can hum a tune."
...But its wavy, eerie, quivering tones, has been just the thing to create feelings of fear and trepidation.
