The Theremin
Leon(Lev) Sergeivitch Termen, 1917-19

Links
Theremin world
Theremin info
Termin plays the Theremin
Obsolete.com
virtual Theremin
Earthwave Pro-Moog

The principles of beat frequency or heterodyning oscillators were discovered by chance during the first decades of the twentieth century by radio engineers experimenting with radio vacuum tubes. Heterodyning effect is created by two high radio frequency sound waves of similar but varying frequency combining and creating a lower audible frequency, equal to the difference between the two radio frequencies (approximately 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz). the musical potential of the effect was noted by several engineers and designers including Maurice Martenot, Nikolay Obukhov, Armand Givelet and Leon (or Lev) Sergeivitch Termen the Russian Cellist and electronic engineer. source

The Theremin (Aetherophone) was the first instrument / controller to use the effect of the bodies capacitance on the heterodyning effect to influence artistic expression. This method of sound production became the standard until the invention of the transistor. Its eary sound regularly spilled into film soundtracks of the mid 20th C.

I love the sci-fi nature of this instrument. It is one of the most widely known electronic synthesisers, and probably the first gestrual control interface for musical expression. ( all around 1920!) The theremin has been one of the most influential instruments of the 20th Century, simply because it offered people a totally new take on synthesized sound and instrument design / playing.

Submitted by
Daniel Hirschmann

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