AETHERPHON, global theremin family

On 15 Feb 2008, at 19:45, carvin knowles wrote:

> Kevin Asked me
>
> > How do you do "therepercussion"? Are you processing
> > the sound? The
> > best I've been able to do without processing is a
> > fast attack but
> > never a percussive sound (such as a mallet
> > instrument).
>
I have been known to use a hammer whilst playing. (At Hands Off - in  
front of Lydia Kavina and all the rest)

Set up a delay at a nice speed for a rhythm. Punch into the outer  
surface of the pitch field  - the prelock zone - the "Geiger counter"  
clicky bit - in time with the delay. Builds up quickly into a  
powerful thud thud thud.

Gordon

>
>
> It's not percussive like a drum or mallet. The point
> isn't to imitate but to use the character of the
> theremin to create something noisy. I rarely change my
> volume range, since drastic dynamics are part of the
> style.
>
> My particular version of "therepercussion" is to
> create "drum fills" at the end of a 4 or 8 bar
> section. This means anything from a fast, wide (often
> around a 5th) vibrato that moves toward the antennae,
> to long sweeps and "falls" away from the antennae.
> Sometimes, I will tap the antennae. Since the
> portamento is non-tonal, your mind interprets it as
> percussive. Any quick movement of your hand can create
> an interesting rhythm.
>
> As I mentioned before, I like to use a big delay when
> clubbing, so a fall or tap becomes a rhythmic thing.
>
> It is particularly effective to switch back and forth
> between this style and a melodic style.
>
> I feel like I'm divulging a trade secret....I
> developed this style while working with house and
> drum-n-bass DJs and it made me somewhat popular for a
> while, back when I was a part of the scene. I once
> opened for Gus Gus, in front of thousands of people
> with a light show and go-go dancers. It was, perhaps
> my finest show....though now I'm much more
> studio-bound.
>
> But my point is that the uses and styles of this
> instrument have only begun to be explored! Every noise
> you can make with it is valuable.