It was originally designed as an intrusion alarm. Now mainly used to warn about approaching progrockers.
13 March 2017
Chris The Siteowner
Although Otway (above) wouldn’t fit that description. By some margin my favourite ever support act for HMHB (Astoria, London, 2000) when – it has to be said – he nearly stole the show. Here he is in The Guardian talking about his “favourite piece of technology”.
Also as played by Dr.D. and I in the Coventry Music Museum earlier this year. I’m not sure if Dr.D. has any photographic evidence…
13 March 2017
GOK WAN ACOLYTE
The theme tune to ‘Midsomer Murders’ is played on a Theremin (although they seem to prefer the orchestral version these days)
13 March 2017
hendrix-tattoo
Brian’s Jones and Wilson played the theremin on The Stones track “Please Go Home” and Beach Boys “Good Vibrations” also used by Jimmy Page on Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love.”
13 March 2017
Jeff dReadnought
Always makes me think of Scooby Doo.
13 March 2017
queen of quick wit
I built one some years ago for a friend. The Bob Moog solid state circuit. He loved it. I’d quite like to build one using the RCA valve circuit some time and put it into a mahogany cabinet worthy of Clara Rockmore, but that is heading deep into Trog (q.v.) territory.
14 March 2017
Bananyogi
Any instrument that really requires perfect pitch to play well is, let’s face it, going to be excruciating in so many hands.
Even in Mr Otway’s interview he says “I’d add a tuner so that as well as just waving your arms around, you could play it in tune.”
14 March 2017
Jeff dReadnought
I’ve got one but am thinking of selling it as I haven’t touched it for years.
14 March 2017
dickhead in quicksand
Bugger the theremin – for modified hand waving, give me an ondes Martenot any day.
(Anyone who suggests that John Otway should be let in needs a quiet but stern talking-to.)
24 March 2017
dr desperate
Today’s Google Doodle (one of their Lockdown Boredom Beaters) is a revival of their interactive Theremin game from March 2016, which celebrated the 105th birthday of Clara Rockmore. She was let in because of her virtuosity on the instrument and the part she played in its development, convincing Léon Theremin to increase the number of octaves from 3 to 5. It’s archived here https://www.google.com/doodles/clara-rockmores-105th-birthday
(Incidentally, @CtSO, I do have photographic evidence of your own prowess – I’ll email it to you.)
30 April 2020
dr desperate
The instrument played by trombonist Paul Tanner on The Beach Boys’ ‘Good Vibrations’ was actually an Electro-Theremin, a Heathkit tube-type audio oscillator with an added slide bar to control pitch (as later suggested by Mr Otway) and a volume knob. It was the only one ever built, though a replica was created in 1999 for a Brian Wilson solo tour. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdt0SOqPJcg
“Pierrot tackles dub classic on theremin?” (8) PANTALEON (Pierrot = Pantaleon – clown mentioned by the Greek author Athenaeus, origin of the Commedia dell’Arte character Pantaloon; dub classic = Black Panta – from The Upsetters’ 14 Dub Blackboard Jungle; Theremin = Leon Theremin.)
5 April 2021
dr desperate
(9), obvs. (It would be difficult to answer otherwise.)
5 April 2021
EXXO
Utterly outstanding cluesmithery!
5 April 2021
professor Abelazar Woozle
I raise my glass to you, Dr. D – you’ve taken an offhand quip of mine and made it a reality!
5 April 2021
peter mcornithologist
Playing a theremin is like making love to a ghost .
27 July 2021
POP-TART MARK
True. Since my wife passed away I play my theremin during séances, but she still complains I haven’t touched her for years.
28 July 2021
ALICE van der meer
I wonder who was watching University Challenge on Monday…
28 July 2021
dr desperate
No spoilers! I was otherwise engaged on Monday evening.
28 July 2021
Cream CHEESE AND chives
Doctor! Under our idiot PM’s latest half baked plans your gig attire might get you cleaning the roads when the boys are finally back on the road.
28 July 2021
FERencváros fan
Yes indeed, Dr D. Mind how you go, or else you might be mistaken for a ‘miscreant’ getting a dose of ‘tough love.’ Guess the same goes for Boris, often to be seen sporting hi-vis attire when visiting factories, warehouses, building sites etc. Felt like I was being taken back in time to Thatcherite Britain upon hearing the story…
28 July 2021
MULDOON LIVES!
Just seen the amazing Franck Carducci and the Fantastic Squad, Mary gave us some fabulous theremin action.
biziclop
It was originally designed as an intrusion alarm. Now mainly used to warn about approaching progrockers.
13 March 2017
Chris The Siteowner
Although Otway (above) wouldn’t fit that description. By some margin my favourite ever support act for HMHB (Astoria, London, 2000) when – it has to be said – he nearly stole the show. Here he is in The Guardian talking about his “favourite piece of technology”.
Also as played by Dr.D. and I in the Coventry Music Museum earlier this year. I’m not sure if Dr.D. has any photographic evidence…
13 March 2017
GOK WAN ACOLYTE
The theme tune to ‘Midsomer Murders’ is played on a Theremin (although they seem to prefer the orchestral version these days)
13 March 2017
hendrix-tattoo
Brian’s Jones and Wilson played the theremin on The Stones track “Please Go Home” and Beach Boys “Good Vibrations” also used by Jimmy Page on Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love.”
13 March 2017
Jeff dReadnought
Always makes me think of Scooby Doo.
13 March 2017
queen of quick wit
I built one some years ago for a friend. The Bob Moog solid state circuit. He loved it. I’d quite like to build one using the RCA valve circuit some time and put it into a mahogany cabinet worthy of Clara Rockmore, but that is heading deep into Trog (q.v.) territory.
14 March 2017
Bananyogi
Any instrument that really requires perfect pitch to play well is, let’s face it, going to be excruciating in so many hands.
Even in Mr Otway’s interview he says “I’d add a tuner so that as well as just waving your arms around, you could play it in tune.”
14 March 2017
Jeff dReadnought
I’ve got one but am thinking of selling it as I haven’t touched it for years.
14 March 2017
dickhead in quicksand
Bugger the theremin – for modified hand waving, give me an ondes Martenot any day.
(Anyone who suggests that John Otway should be let in needs a quiet but stern talking-to.)
24 March 2017
dr desperate
Today’s Google Doodle (one of their Lockdown Boredom Beaters) is a revival of their interactive Theremin game from March 2016, which celebrated the 105th birthday of Clara Rockmore. She was let in because of her virtuosity on the instrument and the part she played in its development, convincing Léon Theremin to increase the number of octaves from 3 to 5.
It’s archived here
https://www.google.com/doodles/clara-rockmores-105th-birthday
(Incidentally, @CtSO, I do have photographic evidence of your own prowess – I’ll email it to you.)
30 April 2020
dr desperate
The instrument played by trombonist Paul Tanner on The Beach Boys’ ‘Good Vibrations’ was actually an Electro-Theremin, a Heathkit tube-type audio oscillator with an added slide bar to control pitch (as later suggested by Mr Otway) and a volume knob. It was the only one ever built, though a replica was created in 1999 for a Brian Wilson solo tour.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdt0SOqPJcg
20 June 2020
ALICE van der meer
Better let these guys in…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6bBpk9renc
1 April 2021
professor Abelazar Woozle
Add this bit of strangeness to the list – Pierrot tackles dub classic on theremin (that sounds like a cryptic crossword clue!) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlXWX7wp_T8
3 April 2021
dr desperate
“Pierrot tackles dub classic on theremin?” (8)
PANTALEON
(Pierrot = Pantaleon – clown mentioned by the Greek author Athenaeus, origin of the Commedia dell’Arte character Pantaloon;
dub classic = Black Panta – from The Upsetters’ 14 Dub Blackboard Jungle;
Theremin = Leon Theremin.)
5 April 2021
dr desperate
(9), obvs.
(It would be difficult to answer otherwise.)
5 April 2021
EXXO
Utterly outstanding cluesmithery!
5 April 2021
professor Abelazar Woozle
I raise my glass to you, Dr. D – you’ve taken an offhand quip of mine and made it a reality!
5 April 2021
peter mcornithologist
Playing a theremin is like making love to a ghost .
27 July 2021
POP-TART MARK
True. Since my wife passed away I play my theremin during séances, but she still complains I haven’t touched her for years.
28 July 2021
ALICE van der meer
I wonder who was watching University Challenge on Monday…
28 July 2021
dr desperate
No spoilers! I was otherwise engaged on Monday evening.
28 July 2021
Cream CHEESE AND chives
Doctor! Under our idiot PM’s latest half baked plans your gig attire might get you cleaning the roads when the boys are finally back on the road.
28 July 2021
FERencváros fan
Yes indeed, Dr D. Mind how you go, or else you might be mistaken for a ‘miscreant’ getting a dose of ‘tough love.’ Guess the same goes for Boris, often to be seen sporting hi-vis attire when visiting factories, warehouses, building sites etc. Felt like I was being taken back in time to Thatcherite Britain upon hearing the story…
28 July 2021
MULDOON LIVES!
Just seen the amazing Franck Carducci and the Fantastic Squad, Mary gave us some fabulous theremin action.
17 August 2023