AETHERPHON, global theremin family

Yeah, you can count me into that "Middle Field" space too.

I'm glad for all you classical Thereminist, who help ad that kind of validity to our instrument. To be certain, you guys help ensure that the instrument will be studied by the "serious music" community.  I started out my life as a "serious" composer, with a back-catalogue of dissonant orchestral works, so I get it.

But when I took up the theremin, it was to use an instrument where I had no classical technique, to play something appropriate with my DJ friends, while they played Drum and Bass and House and Electro. Sure, I can play in tune, but my technique would make Clara Rockmore cringe. I play melodies. Riffs. Motifs. Fragments of suggested orchestrations that trace the chord changes in some dramatic way.  I use long sweeps to carry one mix into another, I create trills that widen into several octaves, I make bleeps and noises that would make George Crumb proud.

(Speaking of Crumb, some of you classical-heads should arrange a performance of "Vox Bellanae" sometime. It is sure to bring our art forward, if you use it in such a "modernist" ensemble)

But my point is that as a Middle Field Thereminista, my style would probably be called Electronic Jazz (a few years back I even played at the House of Blues, New Orleans). I think I 'm with that part of the Middle Field which makes the theremin socially relevant. The way that Eric Satie performed in the Salons of Paris. The way that Jazz took root in the brothels and underground dance clubs of New Orleans and New York before it went mainstream.

And yes, I also love the classical guys...and the novelties and the academics and the headbangers. I can't get enough theremin, pretty or ugly or funny. Just play the damn thing.

And that is kinda the deal with a convention of this sort. The "Middle Field" needs to show up and represent. It's you guys who should be putting together the afterparties. The Jam sessions. It's a convention, so bust out your cool stuff. Besides, if you learn anything from the classical guys, you'll want to use it right away.

Peace

Carvin



--- On Tue, 2/24/09, Gordon Charlton <gordonc@...> wrote:

> From: Gordon Charlton <gordonc@...>
> Subject: Re: [Aetherphon] Re:Hands Off 2009 - Big News
> To: aetherphon@yahoogroups.com
> Date: Tuesday, February 24, 2009, 1:41 PM
> On 24 Feb 2009, at 19:01, Joseph Swails wrote:
> 
> > Too bad I'm across the big pond (and a big land
> mass) in the USA.
> > I've been to the UK three times but it's not
> in the cards (or the
> > budget) right now.
> >
> > I do like the emphasis you're putting on the
> theremin as an
> > electronic music instrument. I'm not a classical
> player (ambient
> > electronic is my thing), and often it seems like most
> thereminsts are
> > classical geeks instead of techno-nerds like me.
> Nothing wrong with
> > classical, of course, but all the "stars"
> are classical musicians.
> >
> > There is a middle ground between faithful performance
> of written
> > classical music and making wild space noises with a
> heavy metal band.
> 
> I'm right there with you. You can date my musical
> background to 1976  
> and a few years after. So Throbbing Gristle, PIL, The Fall,
> Pere Ubu,  
> Residents, Eno - stuff with a great big DIY ethic. Then
> thirty years  
> later I buy a theremin and start browsing theremin sites.
> And there's  
> the stumbling block, right next to the starting block.
> Gotta play in  
> tune. Recommended course of action - learn the violin, get
> ear  
> training, get classically trained, practice your scales for
> a few  
> years and live in Russia for a while, hanging out with
> Lydia. Then  
> we'll find out if you're something special or
> another mediocre  
> classical thereminist.
> 
> It didn't appeal to me. Make no mistake - I've got
> a ton of respect  
> for the classical guys - that's a real challenge they
> take on, and  
> good luck to them, but I preferred a different challenge -
> what can I  
> do with a theremin that doesn't have the stumbling
> block and is more  
> like the music I like. Been at it three and a third years
> so far...
> 
> Gordon
> 
> 
> ------------------------------------
> 
> AETHERPHON, the global thereminist community
> 
> To contact the moderator, e-mail porphyrous@...
> 
> 
> Yahoo! Groups Links
> 
> 
>