The first thing on the list is the theremin. I'm doing a research paper on its inventor, Leon Theremin (Lev Sergeyevich Termen-Russian name). This guy was an interesting fellow. Not only was he a musician, engineer, & inventor, but he was also a Russian spy. I'm attempting to pick at some of the espionage theories (& rumors of his death) surrounding him, & his mysterious disappearance from the United States in 1938. Apparently, he left his wife and indebted friends high & dry, & served in a sharashka (Russian prison camp) for many years, making espionage tools such as motion sensor devices and the wireless bug (it's been around since the 1940's!), and eventually remarried and had children. Theremin returned to the United States after a chance acquaintance with a reporter in the late 90's. In a recent documentary by Steve Martin, called, Theremin: An Electronic Odyssey, Theremin discusses his the details of his life and his inventions. It is strange to hear him say that he remembered virtually nothing of the events that happened prior to his abrupt return to Russia. He said it was as if those years never happened.
Since I am a singer, and into science fiction, I am fascinated with the theremin, and the fact that the player makes music out of thin air. It reminds me of all the sci-fi movies with holographic computers, like Minority Report. I also think it would be really neat to sing with a theremin.
Below are a few videos of theremin virtuosos such as Clara Rockmore & a few others. I hope you enjoy them. Feel free to share your latest favorite videos, gadgets, or websites.
Clara Rockmore-Pastorale-Second Movement of Theremin Concerto (Anis Fuliehan)
Lucie Bigelow Rosen-rare recording from her lost album.
Theremin-cat
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