Innovations and Evolutions: The Unique Story of the Theremin and Its Role in Shaping Music


The theremin is one of the strangest instruments that does not even involve physical contact.  It produces eerie sounds that have been heard in various horror movies as well as some experimental rock. The instrument uses radio waves to produce a unique sound. I have heard its chilling sound in a couple of horror and sci-fi films, and I have always found its sound to be quite fascinating. 

"The theremin was invented around 1920 by Russian physicist Lev Sergeyevich Termen – commonly known later as Léon Theremin." (Miller 9). While he was researching radio waves and sensors for a government project, he accidentally created the instrument. He found that by moving his hands near two metal antennas, he could control pitch and volume through electromagnetic waves. This remarkable discovery made him see the potential for it to be used in music.



The original theremin had two antennas. One of the antennas controlled the pitch of the instrument, while the other controlled the volume. It was able to shift between high-pitched  and low tones.

In the 1930s, multiple composers began experimenting finding different ways to use the theremin. Classical composers like Edgard Varèse and Dmitri Shostakovich used it in their works, but the theremin really picked up in cinema. During the 1940s and 1950s, Hollywood used the theremin in science fiction and horror films, due to its paranormal sounds that it produced.


(Edgard Varèse's Ecuatorial, written in 1932 in the United States) The theremin's use here is one of the earliest examples of electronic instruments in orchestral music.


"Miklós Rózsa defined the theremin's presence in film by using it for his scores to The Last Weekend, The Red House, and Hitchock's Spellbound." (Tiedemann 3). Even though many people didn't know the name of the instrument, they recognized its eerie, ghostly wail, which became linked to aliens and suspenseful moments.

In the 1960s and 1970s, the theremin made its way into the pop genre. The Beach Boys brought it into the mainstream with their 1966 hit "Good Vibrations." In this song, they didn't use the traditional theremin, but rather a electronic version, but it still gave off a similar  sound. I personally prefer the theremin's use in "Good Vibrations" over "Ecuatorial," as it  plays a more fitting role in enhancing the overall sound.


(Brian Wilson, Mike Love, Al Jardine, and Bruce Johnston's "Good Vibrations," released in 1966 in the United States)

The theremin’s origins from a science experiment to a niche part of music history shows how  people can transform even the most strange creations into something truly amazing. Its unique sound has been incorporated in pieces from classical music to electronic music, showing that even some of the weirdest instruments can still leave a mark.



Citations

Mundy, Jaime. "The Theremin: The Strangest Instrument Ever Invented." BBC, 11 Nov. 2020, www.bbc.com/culture/article/20201111-the-theremin-the-strangest-instrument-ever-invented. 

Birman, David. "Theremin: Soundtrack to a Sci-Fi Future." YourClassical, 15 July 2016, www.yourclassical.org/story/2016/07/15/theremin-movie-music.




Comments

  1. JaxOctober 19, 2024 at 4:33 PM

    Hello Ryder,
    The theremin is a fascinating instrument; I remember years ago watching videos on YouTube, trying to comprehend in my mind how the instrument functioned. It is crazy to think that this futuristic instrument was invented over a century ago. When I think of the theremin, I think of the original Doctor Who theme, as it seems to be the song that put the instrument on the map for science fiction. ​​Here is a link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YN7pCuNtO6Q&ab_channel=irkaiel

    ReplyDelete

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