Bret - First post - interest in theremin
2009-12-07 by Mary Jones
Dear Bret, First I wanted to say how much I appreciate all the very helpful responses I have gotten from this group. Thank you. I will get back to everyone. Right now, being a harpist, I am extremely busy. Yesterday I was gone all day from 10am till almost 11pm playing. This coming week is another busy time where I have several engagements on the same day. I prepare for them and then afterwards I recover from them. lol! Anyway, it takes a good amount of my time. As my fingers throb from yesterday (I play the harp), I think about the theremin being played without having to touch it. It is almost comic that I would be attracted to it being that I am use to water blisters, blood blisters, and whatever else when you consider all the lifting required to move the instrument. An antenna and a box become very appealing. :) People are always asking me why I didn't take up something like the harmonica. Ah.... now the theremin. All joking aside, I believe my son will explore this before I do. I'm going to make some quick comments now within your e-mail, Bret. >Mary, >Welcome to the strange world of theremin. Thank you. Everyone has certainly been very kind. >I think it is wonderful that you support your son's interest in this most unusual instrument. I wouldn't have it any other way. >I remember asking my father for help buying a monophonic voltage controlled synthesizer in 1975 (I was >18 he was 58, a passion of mine since 1968), and that resulted in nothing. He had always supported my >instrument interests before that. So, I bought my first micromoog 2 years later, for which I am >forever grateful. I've heard too many of these stories in being a musician. My boyfriend wanted to play drums as a child and his parents only bought him something a little more than a toy and no lessons. My own parents threatened me repeatedly about refusing me music. It took a good year of battle for the piano. It took about seven years of battle to get a harp. It took me playing on the railings for the back door steps to finally turn them. Maybe I looked a bit like I wanted to play the chimes, but I took a stick and started playing the stair railings. I played the ones inside, too, so they finally gave in. >Electronic instruments are wonderful. The theremin is unique, however. I agree. >As Peter Pringle always quotes Clara Rockmore (my paraphrase) 'you have to know where you want to go with the theremin'. I can see that's true in more ways than one. It seems to me that it might be the most open-ended instrument available. >kind of music does he like that he has heard on the theremin? >What does he want to play? That is the starting point. Several years ago we watched a movie on the theremin. That got his interest. Then he started listening to it in the older movies and in things like "Good Vibrations". He loves the Beach Boys. As for what he wants to play, I believe this would appeal to him, but it's up to him. He'll have to decide that. >I concur with Kevin, the Moog Etherwave standard is a great start (and well beyond). Thanks for this invaluable imput. >I would say it is the modern reference standard, in that it has probably the highest number sold, in >use for the most years, as well as stable, well documented, and easily repairable and modifiable (a fun >hobby for the technically minded). Bob Moog should be sainted for his promotion, and the proliferation >of the theremin, Clara and Nadia, and fine theremins (not toys like pitch only). This is good to know. >The the etherwave standard sounds very good (is adjustable in timbre, when played well it sounds very >good, can be processed to sound great), and is clearly playable in a precise fashion (by those skilled >in the art, a hard task melodically, and delightfully fun playing experimental/Avant-garde). You are really getting my interest. >I play guitar, bass, synth, hammond, harmonica, etc, but I have a devil of a time playing melodic, >traditional music on a theremin (which I can do on the other instruments). But, that's not what I want >to play. I'm hearing this from everyone. I guess I won't be playing "The Swan" with my son anytime soon. :) >Gordon's approach is closer to my own personal theremin entertainment playing, with effects and >processing to transform it to a sonic synthesizer, that is spacially controlled. It is a relief to know that there is this other approach. I have now listened to some of Gordon's You Tube presentations. They are very, very nice. I like them. He has done a nice job. My son's father is in the film business, so I appreciate that aspect as well. Putting the two together is really neat. >That said, I most adore the sound of my 1929 RCA ar164 direct to a loudspeaker. Forgive me, but I'm totally ignorant here. Is your 1929 RCA a theremin or is it one of the accessories like an amp, etc. This is all new to me. I've been just looking at an amp for my celtic harp so I can play it in larger venues, but I really know nothing about any of this. I'm totally in the dark. Classical musicians shy away from amps, etc. >If you want a starter theremin, that is inexpensive, stable, sounds good, completely playable (with >much diy sound mod potential), you can't go wrong with an Etherwave standard. I will certainly be looking at these. It's going to take me a bit more time with this, so it won't be anything I'll get to real soon, but I will get to it. >Try one first if you live near a seller, or owner. There is likely a theremin owner not too far away. >Thanks to Dr. Bob., among others. I haven't seen signs of anyone close by. I live in southeast Virginia. Perhaps there is someone in Washington D.C., but that's about four hours north of me. Ashville, North Carolina is probably seven or eight hours south west of me. >Get an effects box, and an amplifier speaker. And headphones. hehe. No, really. So an effects box is something in addition to the theremin itself? I know the amplifier speaker would be. And headphones, too? I see you laughing, but I'm really totally uneducated in this. It's all very appealing though. It's very much so. >Etherwave standards (and all Moog theremins for that matter) resell easily if interest isn't held. >bret That is nice to know. As for interest, I can only speak for myself. I know my son is showing interest, but he has to express it and with the instrument. I'm slowly processing my e-mail, so as I can, I will answer everyone else. Thanks for your patience. Merrie