From: sergeb@bullyrag.ugcs.caltech.edu (Serge Belongie)
Subject: Theremin Information (Thanks!)
Organization: California Institute of Technology, Pasadena
Date: Wed, 8 Apr 1992 19:18:10 GMT

Thanks to everyone who sent me information on the Theremin.  Here is
a sampling of what I received if anyone is interested:

-----
I built one of these years ago from a kit from Southwest Technical Products
(that should bring back a few memories!).  The Theremin is probably the
first electronic instrument.  It consists of two antennae--one for each hand
of the player.  Placing your hands closer to the antennae increases the
capacitance.  One variable "capacitor" is used to control a variable
oscillator for pitch.  The other is used to control volume.  The "instrument-
alist" has to make some amusing contortions to play a tune.

Sound tracks from '50s sci-fi films are probably the most notable Theremin
literature.
-----

Leon Theremin, inventor of the world's first portable analog
electronic musical instrument (called, naturally, the Theremin) will
be the guest on this Thursday's Seminar in Formal Methods at 7:30 PM
in the Mills College Ensemble Room.  Admission is free.

Now 94 years old, Theremin will be accompanied by his daughter Natasha
Theremin, who will play her father's invention in selected works.
Moscow composer and electroacoustic musician Vladimir Komarov will
present some of his music and speak about the electronic music scene
in the Soviet Union.

The Theremin operates on the principle of changes in the
electro-magnetic fields induced by the motion of the hands around two
antennae, which are coupled to circuits that respond with changes in
pitch and amplitude.  A remarkable amount of expressivity and musical
control is achieved with this instrument which is played without ever
being physically touched.
-----

>The Theremin is probably the
>first electronic instrument.

        Not true.  That distinction does to Thaddeus Cahill's Teleharmonium
[sp?].  Consult a recent _Computer_Music_Journal_ for someone's dissertation
regarding the device.

        By the way, Leon Teremin is still alive, and was recently interviewed
by _Keyboard_ magazine.  He has one hell of a story to tell.
-----

It uses capacitance changes to modulate audio oscillators. The change
in capacitance is supplied by the position of the musician's hands
moving around a small antenna. In the 1950s and 1960s the construction
of these was popularized by hobby electronics magazines.

[You might re-post this, along with any other coments you get,
as I think others on rec.music.classical would be interested.]
-----

Check the February or March issue of Keyboard Magazine.
There is an article in there by Robert Moog which
should tell you most of what you need to get started.
-----

   >The Theremin is probably the
   >first electronic instrument.

           Not true.  That distinction does to Thaddeus Cahill's Teleharmonium
   [sp?].  Consult a recent _Computer_Music_Journal_ for someone's dissertation
   regarding the device.

Where does the Ondes Martinot fit in chronologically?

-----------

Again thanks to everyone who responded.  If anyone has any more info or
knows where to get specs on building one, please post or email.

-Serge

--
|Serge Belongie                 e-mail: sergeb@caltech.edu |
|"I saw a werewolf drinking a pina colada at Trader Vic's. |
|       His hair was PERFECT."                             |
|    				-Warren Zevon              |