Music
is unique. It’s a form of interpretation and expression that has no equal. The
emotion that can be evoked with the simplicity of strumming the strings of a
guitar and poetic prose is a high that only an artist would understand. But at
the core of that emotion is the instrument. And the key to making that
instrument work, well, its science.
As
a musician myself I’ve taken the initiative to search out some of the strangest
and most unique musical instruments from all over the world. This is the first
in what I hope will become a long running monthly segment of “Sing a Song of
Science!”
Whether
it’s your first toot of the Recorder in grade school or you go on to become the
next Louis Armstrong there are reasons those sounds are produced, not to mention
the sounds themselves. Be it woodwind, brass, string, or percussion; air
movement, vibration, frequency and harmonics, all come into play.
Now
we don’t need to talk about all the minor and tedious details of all these
things as they really aren’t that important for what we’re going to be talking
about. The art of creating music using the aforementioned equipment has been
around since time immemorial. However, a very unique instrument has only been
around for about 100 years.
It’s
made a niche home for itself in science fiction movie jingles and even helped
the burned out psychedelic metal-heads add to their already peculiar sound. It’s
how this machine works that is the true marvel. The Theremin or Etherphone as
it was originally called, sounds as strange as the name, so to understand this
crazy instrument, we have to go back to the beginning of the 20th
century.
I’m Not Touching You…
Other
than the tonal qualities the Theremin produces the other thing that sets this
incredible instrument apart is the fact that there is no direct contact between
the device and the user. The way the machine works is there are two antennae’s.
The performer moves their hands between the two metal rods to manipulate the
sounds that come out of it. One controls the frequency (the pitch) and the
other controls the amplitude (the volume). The configuration can be switched to
accommodate left or right handed players.
The
Theremin operates on the Heterodyne Principle. This principle was first crafted
by Canadian Engineer, Reginald Fessenden in 1901. The Heterodyne Principle
works by crossing two different radio signals, each one undetectable to the
human ear alone, thereby producing a different frequency, one that can be heard. I know what you’re saying,
“who cares? Why is this so important?” Crossing two frequencies led to the
invention of the vacuum tube. Do you like rock concerts? I thought so. Well
without the vacuum tube early rock concerts would have been rather quiet since
that’s one of the main ingredients in an amplifier for guitars. (Another point
for Science!)
Some
versions of the Theremin have a control knob for the volume; however the
classic works on the above described principles. The hands of the Thereminist
disrupt the signals producing different pitches, which are the notes, and
different volumes, in order to go pianissimo or fortissimo. (Quiet or really
loud)
But
who invented this unique instrument? Surely he had to be a brilliant mind to
find a way to manipulate sounds like this. Well I assure you, this Russian
inventor and physicist was quite brilliant indeed. He was also trying to make
something very different from the Theremin initially as well.
After
all, what would the Russian military want with an instrument?
From Russia to
Carnegie Hall
When
Léon Theremin was contracted by the Russian military at the turn of the 20th
century they were expecting proximity sensors. What they got was an instrument
that impressed Lenin himself. After demonstrating the Theremin for the Russian
dictator, Theremin was asked to teach him how to play it, and his instrument
went into mass production. In 1928, after Léon came to the United States, to
New York, he patented his device and it went into production over here, where
it found itself just as successful.
Unfortunately
the general public didn’t have access to this musical wonder. This was a time
of great poverty here and the common man would be lucky to own six strings for
his acoustic around then. However amongst the sycophantic community, it found
itself a good home.
The
inventor or Vacuum Tubes was good at this instrument, but he wasn’t nearly as
good as Clara Rockmore. A childhood prodigy, Clara was accepted into the
Imperial Conservatory of Saint Petersburg at the age of 5 for the violin! Not
only is that one heck of an achievement, it’s one that has never been
duplicated. Clara still remains the youngest student to walk the Conservatory
halls.
When
she and Theremin (the inventor and the invention) crossed paths it was a
perfect fit. She loved the instrument and to this day remains probably one of
the most renowned musicians to use it. She suggested many improvements to Léon,
such as a more responsive volume control. She even developed the strange
fingering system used to play the instrument accurately, no easy task.
In
1938 it’s widely believed that Theremin was the victim of kidnapping by Russian
KGB agents and whisked back to Russia to work on spy technology for the
Kremlin. His instrument however went on to enjoy huge fame, finding it being
performed at grand halls from The Albert Hall all the way to Carnegie. From the
50’s on the Theremin has been used in many science fiction movie soundtracks,
(perhaps most notably the theme to Star Trek’s strange tones are commonly
confused for Theremin music. The Beach Boys on the other hand in their number
one hit “Good Vibrations” incorporated the Theremin quite nicely.)
Léon
returned briefly to New York shortly before his death in 1993. Had his work not
been interrupted who knows what kind of instruments we’d have now (or other
inventions for that matter) unfortunately that isn’t how the cards fell. He
returned to Russia, where he passed away peacefully in 1993. His Theremin
however, still lives on.
He
also invented the Electric Cello and the Rhythmicon.
From “Leningrad” to
“The Big Bang Theory”
As
I mentioned above the Theremin has been enjoying a long life in the world of
the entertaining arts. This is very strange to me because it doesn’t have any
of the qualities of a classic instrument. So what makes the Theremin so
enticing? It’s otherworldly sound of course! The sounds are akin with the
macabre noises we associate with what we imagine an incoming alien aircraft
sounds like.
That’s
why it has enjoyed long careers on TV shows like “Midsomer Murders” and in
films like “The Day the Earth Stood Still”. But did you know without the
Theremin the performing arts wouldn’t exist like they do today? Theremin (the
inventor) practically invented the display by coupling the odd sounds of his
device with dancing and flashy dress of female performers moving around a stage
to the beat.
Here’s
a list showing the diversity of places you can spot the Theremin.
-
The
Big Bang Theory – Season 04 – The Bus Pants Utilization
-
The
Beach Boys – Song – Good Vibrations
-
Led
Zepplin – Songs – “No Quarter” and “Whole Lotta Love”
-
A
“White Castle” television ad used the Theremin
- “Andrew Joron’s” book “Constellations for Theremin” its used as a literary device.
-
Destroy
All Humans – 2005 Video Game – Soundtrack
The
list goes on, with modern age bands using the Theremin in their music still and
it still pops up sometimes in soundtracks for TV and films. His vacuum tube may
have been the most important addition to the music world in the long run, but
as far as I’m concerned, the Theremin will always deserve center stage.
-
Ryan
Sanders
Thanks for reading! If you would like
to learn more about the Theremin or its inventor, or to see and hear the device
in action, follow any of the links below. Feel free to share this on Facebook
and Twitter guys! Happy learning!
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