Table of Contents
Advertisement
REFERENCE MANUAL
INTRODUCTION
The Altura Theremin MIDI Controller by Zeppelin Design
Labs emulates the behavior of the early electronic instrument
invented by Russian physicist Léon Theremin in 1920. Léon's
device features a pair of antennae that act as plates of two
capacitors. The player's hands serve as the capacitors' ground
plates. As the player moves his right hand closer to one
antenna, the device emits an eerie tone that rises in pitch. As
the player moves his left hand farther away from the other
antenna, the tone becomes louder. The device is very sensitive
and responsive, and makes wonderful, spooky music – but it is
very tricky to play. The performer can only play by ear: there
are no frets in mid-air!
BACKGROUND
Léon Theremin (1896 - 1993) was working on early
radio designs for the Soviet government when in 1920 he
accidentally built a device that emitted a weird but pleasant sound. He developed it into a musical
instrument which he initially called the Thereminvox. In 1927 he left the USSR to tour Europe in
promotion of his invention, performing to large audiences and receiving mixed reactions. His tour took
him and his wife Katia to New York where he opened a laboratory and studio, patented the Theremin,
licensed its manufacture to RCA, performed with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, performed at
Carnegie Hall with a theremin ensemble, and invented an electronic cello. In 1930 he conducted the
first-ever concert of an electronic orchestra.
In the early 1930's the Soviet consulate demanded Theremin
divorce Katia (?!). He proposed to his young and beautiful protégé
Clara Rockmore; she turned him down and Theremin instead
married Lavinia Williams, a young and beautiful dancer in his
employ. In 1938 he suddenly disappeared -- his wife said he had
been kidnapped by Russian agents.
Clara Rockmore rose to prominence as the world's pre-eminent
thereminist; in the 40's a podiatrist-thereminist named Hoffman
made a living cutting records and performing the soundtracks
for such classic films as "The Day The Earth Stood Still"; in the
50's a trombonist named Tanner put Hoffman out of work with
his electro-theremin, a different device that sounded similar but
was much easier to play; in '66. Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys
8
Alexandra Stepanoff playing the theremin
on NBC Radio, 1930
Advertisement
Table of Contents
