AETHERPHON, global theremin family

Thanks so much Gordon for the additional info on Musaire.
I've saw photos of his instrument before but didn't know even that much
about him.

I love it when music artists find a visual style and fully embody it while
presenting their musical mastery  (I'm one of the few who consider "diva" a
positive term defined as a *nice* smart person who knows their act and
audience and stick to their guns to give a good show).  The cool big band
look of his instrument, the smart flexible use of the rolling TV stand and
his whole aplomb must have been a treat to see.  Did any recordings of him
survive?

-- 
Skål - jh


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On 24 May 2006, at 14:25, John Hoge wrote:

> Did any recordings of him survive?
>

Couldn't find any clips amongst the collection on the BBC website  
(nearest I found was a person playing a keyboard with his nose!)

The BBC has a very patchy record for keeping archive footage. Chances  
are there is a recording slowly disintegrating in some former  
employees loft, along with a couple of Doctor Who episodes.


Gordon

> On 24 May 2006, at 14:25, John Hoge wrote:
> 
>> Did any recordings of him survive?


Well, I found this VERY short clip on Theremin.info:-

http://www.theremin.info/downloads/4/0/musaire.rm


It wasn't listed as a download, but seems to be a broken link which 
appears if you dig deep enough with Google.

It has about 2 seconds of theremin in a 13 second clip, so you'll get 
almost no impression of his ability.  He appears to be a performer of 
the old music hall variety.  I guess this is just an excerpt from a 
longer clip?  It's a start...


Jonathan

Gordon Charlton wrote:
> On 24 May 2006, at 14:25, John Hoge wrote:
> 
>> Did any recordings of him survive?
> 
> The BBC has a very patchy record for keeping archive footage. Chances  
> are there is a recording slowly disintegrating in some former  
> employees loft, along with a couple of Doctor Who episodes.
> 


Well, I did some more digging around tonight, and came up with a couple 
of gems at last.  Not the Blue Peter material, but some terribly British 
demonstrations of what can be done on the theremin.  In both cases 
Musaire plays some sound effects (Airplane taking off, seagulls, Queen 
Mary, etc.) followed by a short tune.  The recordings were made in 1937 
& 1938.  Here are the descriptions from the site:-

04/03/1937
Shots of musician Musaire playing what looks like a version of a 
Theramin - The instrument has two aerials and by moving his hands 
Musaire changes the pitch and volume of the notes. He plays the tune 
'Miracles Sometimes Happen'.  He then explains a little about his 
instrument. He does musical impressions of boat horns and seagulls. He 
then plays 'The Fleet's In Port Again'.

12/05/1938
Instrumentalist Musaire - plays "Bird Song" on a rather unusual 
instrument "magic notes plucked from he ether by this master musician" - 
says voiceover. The instrument has two aerials and he produces sound by 
moving his hands towards and away from them. Instrument produces range 
of vibrating sounds most of which are high pitch and resemble the sound 
produced by a saw. As he plays, the images of the skies, clouds and 
trees are changing.

The files can be found at:-
http://www.britishpathe.com/product_display.php?searchword=musaire

In addition to these, there are a couple of other related items which 
appear if you do a search on the site for 'theremin':-


Andre Ledor (aka Andrew Leader) and his new invention - the Ethonium 
(aka the Uthonium).  Ledor's invention allows him to play any wireless 
as a musical instrument. Ledor places an piece of electrical apparatus 
in front of the wireless (the wireless is emitting static). By waving 
his hand between the wireless and the apparatus Ledor makes various 
wails and squeaks. He does a number of impressions, most bizarre of 
which is "a bee stinging a puppy".
He then plays a haunting melody using the contraption - looks like a 
theramin. He waves his hand about as if he were playing an invisible 
harp. In his other hand he holds a wire - the real controls of the 
instrument? Quirky - to say the least!


...and...

'Pathetone - presents - MARTIN TAUBMAN and HIS ELECTRONDE in "MUSIC FROM 
THE AIR"'.  Amazing act where Martin Taubman literally plucks a tune 
from the air by putting his hand before the electric waves coming out of 
his Electronde machine. It sounds something like a Hawaiian-style 
electric guitar. Martin uses some foot pedals to control the sound of 
the machine. Identical shots of Martin are superimposed in a montage. 
Brief shot of a woman doing an ice-skating spin is superimposed at the 
bottom of shot towards the end of the piece. Note: this is probably a 
theremin.



Enjoy!


Jonathan

These are brilliant clips! Thank you.

On 25 May 2006, at 03:09, Jonathan Bisset wrote:
>
> some terribly British
> demonstrations of what can be done on the theremin.
>
> The files can be found at:-
> http://www.britishpathe.com/product_display.php?searchword=musaire
>
> In addition to these, there are a couple of other related items which
> appear if you do a search on the site for 'theremin':-
>
> Andre Ledor (aka Andrew Leader) and his new invention - the Ethonium
> (aka the Uthonium).

Er, actually, you will find this by searching on  "theramin".

Searching on "theremin" leads to:

> The Five Sherry Brothers. Part of the PLAY-TIMING issue.
>
> Probably shot in Pathe Studio, London.
>
> Various shots of four of the Five Sherry Brothers in white ties and  
> tails, playing the piano, two violins and a lap guitar  
> respectively. The tune is 'Love's Old Sweet Song'. The fifth  
> brother walks into shot, whistling the tune on his fingers! It  
> sounds a bit like a theremin.
>
> Cut to three of the brothers doing a fast tap routine with the  
> other two play piano and violin. We then cut to two of the brothers  
> in funny little hats, singing a comic song about "Poor Man's  
> Heaven" (?). Cut to three of the brothers tap dancing and tumbling  
> while playing their violins; one of the others plays the piano.  
> Versatile, aren't they?
>
> Other tunes heard are "Lazin'" and "I've Told Them All About You".

No theremin, but it does extend the answer to the question "what if I  
can't afford one?"

Buy a metal detector. If you can't afford that, buy a saw. If you  
can't afford that, stick your fingers in your mouth and blow!

And it is also one of the funniest things I have watched in a very  
long time.

Mind you David, if I ever hear you introducing a piece on Spellbound  
with the words "and playing the poor-man's theremin, here's Roger  
Whittaker" I shall cancel my subscription immediately!


Gordon

Thanks for all the additional information.
So more of a Vaudevillian was he?
God bless 'em, you gotta have a gimick.
Still think it's one of the coolest classic theremin looks.

much appreciated,
jh


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