It consists of a box with radio tubes producing oscillations at two soundwave frequencies above the range of hearing. An electronic odyssey, 1994, directed by steven m martin, with clara rockmore, robert moog, nicholas slonimsky, at turner classic movies. Very few people would recognize the name of leon theremin 18961993 if it werent for the electronic musical instrument he invented around 1918. A documentary about the inventor of the first electronic synthesiser instrument and his subsequent life after he was abducted by the kgb as well as a history of his instrument. Paolo beretta, suonare e non toccare, in avvenire, milano, 3 gennaio 2001. With leon theremin, robert moog, clara rockmore, nicolas slonimsky. Popular electronics magazine, april 1955 antique radio.
The theremin became known in the usa as a home novelty instrument and featured in many film soundtracks of the 194050s, it also appeared in several pop records of the 1960s but never overcame its novelty appeal. The art of the theremin, released by delos, contains twelve performances by clara rockmore herself. Even though many theremin sounds can be approximated on many modern synthesizers, some musicians continue to appreciate the expressiveness, novelty, and uniqueness. Oct 30, 2017 the 25 greatest rock music documentaries of all time. To learn much more about the inventors fascinating life story, be sure to see steven m. An electronic odyssey was released, and the instrument gained perhaps its highest level of popularity to date among musicians and filmmakers. The theremin is an otherworldly and unhurried instrument, so the pace of the film roughly matched the nature of the instrument. Theremin, also called thereminvox, or etherophone, electronic musical instrument invented in 1920 in the soviet union by leon theremin also called lev termen.
A professor, he immigrated to america, where by the late 1920s, he had. Martin about the life of leon theremin and his invention, the theremin, a pioneering electronic musical instrument. And if youre intrigued enough, you can buy your very own theremin made by moog. Martin about the life of leon theremin and his invention, the theremin. The film follows both through a strange sequence of events and interweaves these stories with those influenced by the machine and the man. An incredible score with heavy theremin use accompanies this 1951 film about an alien and his robot who come to warn the people of earth to change their ways, or else. Spellbound, the red house, the lost weekend the spiral staircase, rocketship xm, the day the earth stood still, the thing from another world, the ten commandments the 1956 demille film, the delicate delinquent, monster house, ed wood the machinist and hellboy.
The aetherwellengeige was one of many instruments inspired by leon termens theremin using the same heterodyning principle and body capacitance to generate a variable tone from two thryatron vacuum tubes other instruments were the sonar 1933, neo violena 1927, electronde 1927, emicon 1932 and croix. Media in category theremin the following 98 files are in this category, out of 98 total. As in the 144, and its forerunner, the southwest technical products model 142, the 145 theremin retains a heterodyne topology similar to that used by mr. The instrument has seen a surge of new interest in recent years established by a 1993 film titled theremin. An electronic odyssey in 1993, the instrument has enjoyed a resurgence in interest and has become more widely used by contemporary musicians. An electronic odyssey is a documentary about the creator of the theremin musical instrument, lev sergeyvich termen aka leon theremin. Russian scientist leon theremin 18961993 was the onceforgotten inventor who created the worlds first electronic musical instrument. A creative genius and prolific inventor, theremin launched the field of electronic music virtually singlehandedly in 1920 with the musical instrument that bears his name. An electronic odyssey attempts to chronicle the history of the first electronic instrument, named the theremin after its inventor leon theremin.
The 25 greatest rock music documentaries of all time. The instrument features a tone and portamento similar to that of the theremin, but with a different control mechanism. The theremin is unique because this electronic instrument is played without touching it. Thus, the theremin has been used in movie soundtracks such as miklos rozsa s spellbound and the lost weekend, bernard herrmann s the day the earth stood still. An electronic odyssey revolves around leon theremin, the genius scientistartist who revolutionized modern music with his invention of the. An electronic odyssey, told the story of leon theremin. Theremin features such figures as robert moog and brian wilson testifying to leon theremin s genius, but as the movie goes on, its hero emerges as an unlikely cross between albert einstein and. Movies in which the theremin is used in the soundtrack include. The scientist, whose name was leon theremin, was not mad. An interesting bit is brian wilson talking about the beach boys use of the theremin in good vibrations. There are few decent docs about electronic music and, unbelievably, none. An electronic odyssey click to enlarge apart from crumb, this film by steven m. The sound of the instrument is often associated with eerie situations.
Martin, the film chronicles leon theremin and his rise from a soviet gulag to develop the instrument that would come to enrapture people with its otherworldliness. You begin with interest, and then you pass through the stages of curiosity, fascination and disbelief, until in the last 20 minutes, you arrive at a state of dumbfounded wonder. Jul 15, 2016 the instrument has seen a surge of new interest in recent years established by a 1993 film titled theremin. Perhaps the most charming and fascinating figure of the film is not professor theremin, but its quintessential performer, clara rockmore, whose presence is felt throughout the film. It should come as no surprise that he had a profound influence on the development of electronic music as we know it. Martin chooses to focus on theremins eponymous invention, a strange musical instrument which predated the synthesizer in the field of electronic sound. Martins awardwinning documentary film about the inventor was shown in britain on the bbcs channel 4 theremin. The electric signals from the theremin are amplified and sent to a loudspeaker. The device that bears his name produced a strange, undulating, alternately threatening and soothing sound that didnt exist in nature, noted a new york times writer, and when it was first used in classical music compositions during the. Though the facts of leon theremins life merit this feature film, director steven m. It is the only instrument that is played without the performer ever touching it. An electronic odyssey pics, images, clips, trailers, production photos and more from rotten. An electronic odyssey in 1993, the instrument has enjoyed a resurgence. The ether wave violin or aetherwellengeige shown here in a 1952 film.
A documentary about the amazing life of leon theremin, inventor of the theremin, the electronic musical instrument so beloved of 50s scifi movie music. Jul 25, 2008 instead, i direct the curious to the fascinating 1994 documentary theremin. Around 1955, a colleague of moogs, electronic music pioneer raymond scott, purchased one of moogs theremin subassemblies to incorporate into a new invention, the clavivox, which was intended to be an easytouse keyboard theremin. The film features rare footage and interviews with music industry legends such as robert moog, todd rundgren, and brian wilson as well as prof. This incredible film provides an indepth look into the history of the instrument and its inventor. Martin by frankie demarco, cinematographer on vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the. Theremin an electronic odyssey 1993 sheds light on the early era of electronic music. An electronic odyssey, completely dedicated to his incredible history. An electronic odyssey a bit tedious for anyone but diehard aficionados of obsolete electronic musical instruments. This documentary is fun to watch and brings to light a lot.
That is until the 1950s when robert moog began building his own theremins and the instrument gained some degree of popularity in the decades following. Theremins and related memorabilia can be found on the ebay web site. While the documentary contains few objectionable elements, the lack of a narrative, a point of view and true insight into the man makes theremin. The electrotheremin is an electronic musical instrument developed by trombonist paul tanner and amateur inventor bob whitsell in the late 1950s to produce a sound to mimic that of the theremin. An electronic odyssey is a documentary on both the theremin, the instrument, and prof. Martin may be the best american documentary feature of 1994. The theremin holds a place in history as the first manufactured electronic musical instrument, and is credited with laying the foundation for all electronic music to come. Martin produced a documentary entitled theremin an electronic odyssey. So many docs, so little time the weeklong alldocumentary salem film fest, running from march 6, has a great and remarkably diverse lineup of films, with 37 features and almost as many short subjects. See him playing above in 1987 with his third wife natalia. Martin, who is 38 years old, is completing the electronic odyssey of leon theremin, a documentary about his favorite musical instrument and. Jul 22, 2014 in this radio commentary, bill discusses the theremin, and how it lead to one the music industrys most fundamental assets, the electronic synthesizer. After escaping russias communist revolution, leon theremin travels to new york, where he pioneers the field of electronic music with his synthesizer. A history of the theremin in movie music classical mpr.
An entertaining film about leon theremin, a russian emigre who pioneered the field of electronic music 4 decades before the rise of electronic rock music, and. It follows his life, including being imprisoned in a soviet gulag, and the influence of his instrument. It is a story about a man with a passion for electronics and music, a man with an inventive and radical mind. But at the height of his popularity, soviet agents kidnap and force him to develop spy technology. Theremin, electronic musical instrument invented in 1920 in the soviet union by leon theremin also called lev termen. Steven martins documentary about leon theremin and his eponymous does honor to both the man and the machine.
Brilliant in moments but basically flawed, theremin. Wienbridge theremin this circuit is a basic theremin with only a pitch control. After completing the project, i tried to play the theremin. It consisted of a sine wave generator with a knob that controlled the pitch. The theremin never achieved the musical respect it deserved, relegated to special effects in science fiction films in the 1950s and 1960s. An electronic odyssey dec 31, 2012 a very very cool documentary on the inventor of one of the most imaginative musical instruments ever constructed the theremin. Used in countless sciencefiction film scores, the theremin also appears on more recordings these. Introduced to the world by soviet inventor leon theremin in 1919, the early electronic instrument emits highpitched singing when a players hands come within range of its invisible electrical fields. Instead, i direct the curious to the fascinating 1994 documentary theremin. A profile of russian leon theremin, inventor of the worlds first electronic musical instrument. Martin is a mustsee for anyone interested in the theremin. Martin chooses to focus on theremins eponymous invention, a strange musical instrument which. Thus it should come as no surprise that technical wizard jimmy page would play the theremin, though he does play on it the kind of screaming, feedbackladen bends he unleashed from his les paul. An electronic odyssey 1995 this documentary explores the life of leon theremin, the inventor of an electronic synthesizer called the theremin, which uses motion to produce a sliding.
An electronic odyssey is a 1993 documentary film directed by steven m. Dec 02, 2001 other sites sell buildityourself theremin kits. One of the best examples of theremin music in the scifi genre, and a great story to boot. An electronic odyssey 1993 starring leon theremin and clara rockmore on dvd and bluray.
It is the kind of movie that requires a musical score only the theremin possibly could supply. Ours is an update of the 1967 plans and features potentiometer tuning for the coils and a. Used in countless sciencefiction film scores, the theremin also appears on. Martin writes and directs this intriguing documentary about a mans strange music and his very interesting life as an inventor and. Infrared theremin musical instrument the constituents of the electronic circuitry in the invention are represented in the following figure, block diagram of the optical theremin. Robert moog has long championed this simple electronic instrument and over the years has produced many of the most beautiful models, in completed or kit form. Leon theremin led a life of flamboyant musical invention laced with daring electronic stealth. For those interested in the theremin, electronic music, or great films in general, i cannot recommend the 1993 documentary theremin. Fans of the first star trek series will recognize its sounds, but it was used in orchestral compositions and movies quite extensively for many decades, and even played a role in the brian wilsons.
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