What is a theremin?
Q: What is a theremin?
A: The Theremin is one of the first fully electronic musical instruments. It was invented by Russian inventor Léon Theremin in October 1920 and it is played without being touched. The control section has two metal antennae to sense the positions of the player's hands, with one hand controlling the pitch and the other hand controlling the volume.
Q: How does a theremin produce sound?
A: To play the theremin, the player moves their hands around two metal antennas which generate electric signals that are amplified and sent to a loudspeaker. This produces an "alien," surreal, eerie-sounding portamento, glissando, tremolo, and vibrato sounds.
Q: What type of music is associated with a theremin?
A: The sound of a theremin has been used in film soundtracks such as Spellbound, The Lost Weekend, Ed Wood, Mars Attacks! and The Day the Earth Stood Still. It has also been used in art music (especially avant-garde and 20th century "new music") and popular music genres such as rock and pop.
Q: Who was one of the first musicians to include parts for a theremin in orchestral pieces?
A: Russian composer Dmitri Shostakovich was one of the first to include parts for a theremin in orchestral pieces including his score for 1931 film Odna.
Q: When was the Theremin invented?
A: The Theremin was invented by Russian inventor Léon Theremin in October 1920 after the outbreak of Russian civil war.
Q: How did its invention come about?
A: Its invention grew out of a search for ways to detect movement.
Q: Was it used by any specific studios or organizations? A: Yes, it was used by BBC Radiophonic Workshop who provided electronic sounds demanded during mid-century using thermanins.
