Theremin

Carolina talks Theremin - An overview for composers and music lovers

The theremin is an electronic musical instrument. It was invented in 1920 by a Russian physicist Leon Theremin. Besides its unusual appearance, the theremin is particularly unique for being played without physical contact. Theremin has no direct predecessors, making it one of the earliest, if not the first, electronic instruments in use today.

How does the theremin work?

The theremin typically consists of a box with two metal antennas which create an electromagnetic field that senses the position of the musician. By standing in front of the instrument and moving their hands in the proximity of the two antennas, a capacitor is formed between the musician and the antennas. The capacitance of the electromagnetic field varies by the distance between the player and the instrument, and by changing this distance and hand positions, sound is controlled.

The upright antenna controls the pitch. When the right hand approaches the antenna, the pitch gets higher. When the hand moves away from it, the pitch gets lower again. Vibrato can be created with small, rapid movements of the right hand. The loop antenna controls the volume. Approaching the antenna makes the volume softer, drawing away makes it louder. In this way the left hand is responsible for dynamics and articulation of the playing. When the pitch hand is moved without lowering the volume hand, the result is a gliding sound between the notes being played. The electric signals from the theremin are amplified and sent to a speaker system.

The theremin found its home in concert music, especially avant-garde and 20th- and 21st-century new music. Several composers created dedicated works specifically designed for the theremin. Ever since the 1940’s, theremin has been featured in a lot of popular music and contemporary culture, particularly film and television soundtracks. More on theremin compositions and works here.

GERMAN Was ist ein Theremin

FRENCH Qu'est-ce qu'un thérémine

ARABIC تقديم حول الآلة الموسيقية الفريدة: الثرمن

FAQ

Personal

HOW DID YOU START TO PLAY THE THEREMIN?

I've been playing the instrument since the age of 7. My parents are musicians and artists themselves, focused on electronic music. They bought my first theremin, a Big Briar 91A.

WHICH MODEL DO YOU PLAY AT THE MOMENT?

I currently play the Etherwave Pro by Moog and the D-Lev by Eric Wallin. I own a couple of other theremins by Moog like the Etherwave Plus (with the "Pitch Extension Module" by Thierry Frenkel), the Claravox, the Etherwave (2022) and the Big Briar 91A. I also have a tVox tour by George Pavlov.

Theremin

WHICH INSTRUMENT WOULD YOU RECOMMEND FOR ME TO BUY?

There are a few options, depending on what you are looking for. Here is my selection, based on the instruments I was able to try and play myself:

If you don't want to spend much money and are not sure yet, if the theremin is your instrument, a good and simple beginner's model is the OpenTheremin V4. It has a great pitch linearity and volume response. The downside is, it is a bit fragile and quite small. For children it has the right size.
A second-hand Etherwave Standard or Plus by Moog is still a good option. I would highly recommend to install the "Pitch Extension Module" ESPE01 by Thierry Frenkel, it will considerably raise the quality of your instrument. It adds 2 octaves in the bass register and also improves the linearity of the pitch field. Additionally is smoothens the timbre. This is especially noticeable in the low register, where the original design can have quite a harsh timbre.
The new Etherwave (2022) by Moog is similar to the "old" Etherwave Plus, has a good sound and even a mute switch. It is just a bit smaller and not very well suited for taller players.

The Claravox by Moog is definitely a very good option and has a linear pitch field in "modern mode". In the beginning of the production a lot of issues were reported, but it seems like they are fixed by now. Mine is working well most of the times.

A second-hand Etherwave Pro is a pricy alternative (if you can find one), but it is worth it.

The D-Lev is a predominantly digital theremin known for its excellent playability. It has an impressive pitch linearity and volume response, with the ability to alter timbre based on volume changes, adding a unique character to its sound. The only potential drawback is that it comes as a kit, requiring self-assembly.

Equipment

WHICH SPEAKER DO YOU USE?

It is best to use a full range active speaker, not a guitar or bass amp. Currently I'm playing with the SR JAM 150 - STW 250 Akustik Amp + Subbass. For a small and cheaper option I would recommend the Yamaha MSP 3 Studio speaker.

WHICH EFFECT UNITS DO YOU USE?

I occasionally use the PS-6 Harmonist, DD-7 Digital Delay, and RC-50 Loop Station by Boss and the Hummingbird Tremolo by Earthquaker Devices. Currently I am working with Ableton Live effect plug-ins.

WHICH CHAIR AND STAND DO YOU USE?

Since I'm playing seated, I use the KM 14044 stool (adjustable hight) or a similar model. For the Etherwave Standard/Plus theremin I use the KM 199 microphone stand, because you can set it much lower than usual microphone stands. Note, that you might need a thread adapter from 3/8" to 5/8".

Learn

DO I NEED TO KNOW YOUR PLAYING TECHNIQUE FOR THE FIRST LESSON?

No, it is not necessary. It is great, if you already have some knowledge, but we can work on it during the lesson.

IS IT NECESSARY TO BE ABLE TO READ MUSIC WHEN YOU PLAY THE THEREMIN?

It definitely helps and I would recommend you to learn it. But for the first lessons there are exercises which we can do without reading any music.

How long does it take to learn the theremin?

For playing the theremin it is important to have a good sense of your body and hearing, and to work on a precise playing technique. At the best you can learn a scale in 2 hours with professional guidance. Thus the theremin is not harder to learn than any other instrument.

HOW CAN I BOOK A LESSON (IN PERSON OR ONLINE)?

I offer lessons worldwide in person or online via video chat. Just have a look at my Lessons page. There you can see the dates available and book a lesson directly. Subscribe to our newsletter to be informed about lessons in person in your town.

CAN I USE YOUR PLAYING TECHNIQUE ON THE THEREMINI BY MOOG?

I think the Theremini is a fun instrument for musicians who want to create cool sounds and scales. I don't believe it is a instrument for classical music, my playing technique would only work very limited on this instrument.