I figured I'd offer a sneak peak into a mini obsession of mine. Most people only know the theremin from radio horror and mystery programmes (or even worse, Star Trek), but it's capable of making real, honest-to-goodness music, novelty be damned.
Here's a clip of the instrument's inventor, Léon Theremin, demonstrating his brainchild:
Amazingly interesting guy, that Theremin. Google him if you're ever bored, or better yet, watch Steven Martin's (no, not that Steven Martin) documentary, Theremin, An Electric Odyssey. If you do, you'll meet Clara Rockmore, the first lady of the theremin and subject of another remarkable story. But before I get to that, here she is playing Saint-Saëns' most famous melody, The Swan:
Rockmore was born in Vilnius and, like another famous Vilniusite (or is it Vilniusian?), Jascha Heifetz, she was considered a violin prodigy and ended up under the tutelage of none other than Leopold Auer at the St. Petersburg Conservatory. In fact, at only 5 years old, she was -- and remains -- the youngest student ever admitted to the school. Unlike Heifetz, however, she was forced to abandon the violin in her teens because a childhood plagued by malnutrition had weakened her bones. While this might seem the prelude to a terribly sad story, it was in fact quite the opposite. She soon discovered the recently invented theremin, and applied her musical gifts (perfect pitch, a wonderful sense of phrasing, etc...) to the new instrument. Before long she was working with Theremin himself, striving to develop and refine his invention. She even codified a theremin technical method, which is still in use today. In this last clip, which is unfortunately only audio, Rockmore and Heifetz, the two Auer alumni, team up to play Achron's Hebrew Melody:
Incidentally, if the Moog people are reading this, don't hesitate to send over one of those little Etherwave numbers of yours. It'll be put to good use, I promise.
