The first and unique electronic musical instruments

Lev Termen (Léon Theremin)
demonstrating Termenvox, c. 
December 1927. (Picture from:
http://bit.ly/1dgkizU)

In the 1920s, Léon Theremin had discovered the first electronic musical device and named it after himself the 'Theremin'. This unique musical instrument played without physical contact between the player with the instrument. To play the musical instrument musicians can stand in front of musical instrument that resembles a musical box.

The musician only needs to move his hands in a way closer the hands between two antennas are contained in the musical device. The distance from one antenna to the other determines the frequency (pitch), and the distance from other controls amplitude (volume).

Usually the players most often use the right hand to control the frequency and the left hand to control the volume, although there are some people who sometimes reverses its function.

'Moog Etherwave Standart' Theremin. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1EY7Afd)

The Theremin working principle is through radio frequency generated by the antenna on the Theremin and variable capacitors that generate the frequency. In the Theremin are two frequencies, where the one to set pitch or to play the tone, and the other one to adjust the volume. Movement of the hand near the antenna set the frequency to change circuits on the Theremin, which then controls the voice signal to be routed to the speakers.

The sound produced by the Theremin is often associated to a sound that has the sinister impression (make shudder) so often the Theremin use in the making of movie soundtracks such as Miklos Rozsa's in the Spellbound and The Lost Weekend, Bernard Herrmann's in The Day the Earth Stood Still and used also in the Midsomer Murders drama.

Let's look at the video how to play this instrument.

Theremin is a genuine product of the Russian government in the research on sensor senses. This instrument was invented by a young physicist named Lev Sergeivich Termen (also known as Léon Theremin) in October 1920 shortly after the outbreak of the Russian civil war. After obtaining a positive response in the Moscow Electronic Conference, Theremin demonstrated in front of the Bolshevik leader, Vladimir Lenin. Later, Lenin was impressed with the device and then began to study it.

Theremin then taken around the world and was introduced as the latest discovery by the Soviets in the field of electronic music technology. After a long journey across Europe, Theremin then the more well-known to the United States, and then patented in 1928. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | WIKIPEDIA]

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