In this experiment, i have designed an optical theremin using a 555 timer ic. A documentary about the inventor of the first electronic. He was then sent to europe and the us to showcase soviet. An electronic odyssey is a 1993 documentary about a man whose real life resembled a spy movie in many aspects. It wasnt actually meant to be a musical device, so much as an experimental governmentfunded proximity sensor. Martin chooses to focus on theremin s eponymous invention, a strange musical instrument which predated the synthesizer in the field of electronic sound. An electronic odyssey is nothing short of sensational. An electronic odyssey tells the remarkable true story of leon theremin, the russian inventor of an electronic musical instrument called the theremin, which uses motion to produce a sliding ethereal sound. Martin by frankie demarco, cinematographer on vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the.
An electronic odyssey in 1993, the instrument has enjoyed a resurgence in interest and has become more widely used by contemporary musicians. One of the best examples of theremin music in the scifi genre, and a great story to boot. The device that bears his name produced a strange, undulating, alternately threatening and soothing sound that didnt exist in nature, noted a new york times writer, and when it was first used in classical music compositions during the. Martin is a mustsee for anyone interested in the theremin.
It follows his life, including being imprisoned in a soviet gulag, and the influence of his instrument, which came to define the sound of eerie in 20thcentury movies, and influenced popular music as. Even though many theremin sounds can be approximated on many modern synthesizers, some musicians continue to appreciate the expressiveness, novelty and uniqueness of using an actual. An electronic odyssey is a documentary about the creator of the theremin musical instrument, lev sergeyvich termen aka leon theremin. The music score is by peter theremin, greatgrandson of leon theremin the creator of the theremin, worlds first electronic.
What were your first feelings when you heard the sounds of theremin and where did it happen. An electronic odyssey revolves around leon theremin, the genius scientistartist who revolutionized modern music with his invention of the. It follows his life, including being imprisoned in a soviet gulag, and the influence of his instrument, which came to define the sound of eerie in 20thcentury movies. Remember those oldschool scifi movies with squeaky and eerie background music. You begin with interest, and then you pass through the stages of curiosity, fascination and disbelief, until in the last 20 minutes, you arrive at a state of dumbfounded wonder. Those unique sounds were made using a theremin, an electronic instrument that can be played without physical contact. I was very impressed by her performance and stylish look, her hands delicately making music without touching anything. An electronic odyssey a bit tedious for anyone but diehard aficionados of obsolete electronic musical instruments. Rent brian wilson movies and tv shows on dvd and bluray. The theremin, named after russian physicistinventor leon theremin, is a mysterious and singular contraption thats proved to be the stealth hit of electronic instrumentation. It is the only instrument that is played without the performer ever touching it. An electronic odyssey click to enlarge apart from crumb, this film by steven m. The story of the russian scientist who built the theremin and then.
An electronic odyssey, which itself contributed to a theremin revival. Today, lots of bands use theremins, though many unfortunately limit themselves to using the theremin as a novelty. Set against the backdrop of the instruments ethereal sound, theremin. An incredible score with heavy theremin use accompanies this 1951 film about an alien and his robot who come to warn the people of earth to change their ways, or else. Copying content to your website is strictly prohibited.
I wanted to try playing the theremin, visited the hobby circle friends of theremin osaka, japan. An electronic odyssey kickass kickass download from proxy movie box 1994 theremin. Electronics explorer soda can theremin digilentinc. The electro theremin is an electronic musical instrument developed by trombonist paul tanner and amateur inventor bob whitsell in the late 1950s to produce a sound to mimic that of the theremin. The music score is by peter theremin, greatgrandson of leon theremin the creator of the theremin, worlds first electronic musical instrument controlled without physical. Lev sergeivitch termen anglicized to leon theremin and clara. Beach party meets the amazing colossal man meets wild in the streets.
For those interested in the theremin, electronic music, or great films in general, i cannot recommend the 1993 documentary theremin. The spooky sound of the theremin was used in several movie soundtracks during the 1950s and 1960s. Theremin an electronic odyssey 1993 sheds light on the early era of electronic music. A theremin is a synthesizer instrument used to create very pitchy notes. A profile of russian leon theremin, inventor of the worlds first electronic musical instrument. As striking an experience as a pere ubu show can be, i was captivated by a. And if youre intrigued enough, you can buy your very own theremin made by moog.
While the documentary contains few objectionable elements, the lack of a narrative, a point of view and true insight into the man makes theremin. Leon theremin was the secret link between scifi films, the beach boys, and carnegie hall. An electronic odyssey in the comfort of your own home. This documentary is fun to watch and brings to light a lot of history that is little known.
An electronic odyssey a documentary about the inventor of the first electronic synthesiser instrument and his subsequent life after he was abducted by the kgb as well as a history of his instrument and after that we. On todays show nic and i will be talking about two films first up is theremin. To learn much more about the inventors fascinating life story, be sure to see steven m. Basically this instrument is called as theremin, originally cons. Russian scientist leon theremin 18961993 was the onceforgotten inventor who created the worlds first electronic musical instrument. See rare footage of leon theremin, clara rockmore, samuel hoffman, and more. The art of the theremin clara rockmore, theremin nadia. It is a story about a man with a passion for electronics and music, a man with an inventive and radical mind. It produces hauntingly ethereal and eerie sounds vaguely similar to a waterphone, but unlike a waterphone it can also be played tonally, and can be made to sound like a stringed instrument similar to a violin. An electronic odyssey 1995 this documentary explores the life of leon theremin, the inventor of an electronic synthesizer called the theremin, which uses motion to produce a sliding.
The first time i saw clara rockmore was in a documentary called theremin. An electronic odyssey movie, hero, heroine, etc is available in our gallery. It consists of a box with radio tubes producing oscillations at two soundwave frequencies above the range of hearing. Searching for a streaming service to buy, rent, download, or watch the steven martindirected movie via. Australia brazil canada china france germany india italy japan mexico netherlands.
In 2001, the movie theremin an electronic odyssey was theatrical published in japan. Robert moog has long championed this simple electronic instrument and over the years has produced many of the most beautiful models, in completed or kit form. Olga neuwirth one of europes leading contemporary composers, christian wolff. An electronic odyssey, the 1993 documentary that helped precipitate a renaissance for the enormously influential instrument.
In the 1920s and 30s, russian emigre leonard thereminthe inventor of the worlds first electronic musical instrumenthad it all. Jul 28, 2012 the theremin is a unique electronic musical instrument in that it is the only instrument in the world that is played without touching. After a lengthy tour of europe, during which time he demonstrated his invention to. Even though many theremin sounds can be approximated on. Leon theremin, robert moog, clara rockmore, nicolas slonimsky, paul shure, henry solomonoff, suki. The principles of beat frequency or heterodyning oscillators were discovered by chance during the first decades of the twentieth century by radio engineers experimenting with radio vacuum tubes. The story of the russian scientist who built the theremin and then taught lenin how to play it. During his theremin performance at wbur, bernhardt who became fascinated with the instrument after watching the documentary. August 15, 1896 november 3, 1993 was a russian inventor.
Theremin music instrument electronic music of brainvoyager. Born in the soviet union at the height of communist repression, leon theremin arose to become a pioneer of electronics and of electronic music. Pdf while leon theremin is mostly known to a wide audience for. There is two antennae on the sides of the instrument, one is used to control. During his absence, the theremin becomes a popular instrument in film scores and through the performances of clara rockmore. Though the facts of leon theremin s life merit this feature film, director steven m.
An electronic odyssey now available on amazon instant video and free for prime members. An electronic odyssey year 1994 open torrent 4k mkv film theremin. Even though many theremin sounds can be approximated on many modern synthesizers, some musicians continue to appreciate the expressiveness, novelty, and uniqueness. You can download a podcast of the programme or browse the. Rts digital art project dedicated to 75 years of victory over nazism releases vr music video illustrated by schoolchildren using tilt brush. Mastering the theremin and clara rockmore dvd ebay. Martin unearthed exceptional archival footage of theremins early years when he was the toast of new york, playing carnegie hall and hosting grand parties at his fiftyfourth street compound with paramour, clara rockwell, also a theremin virtuoso. The theremin is the first electronic instrument ever, granddaddy to the synthesizer, the hammond organ, and all of that ilk. An electronic odyssey is a documentary on both the theremin, the instrument, and prof. It was the start of an incredible journey that laid the foundations for modern electronic music, from the beach.
After creating the instrument, theremin was kidnapped by the kgb to work on inventions and surveillance technology. Perhaps the first electronic instrument, the theremin named for its designer, this. Theremin, electronic musical instrument invented in 1920 in the soviet union by leon theremin also called lev termen. Brilliant in moments but basically flawed, theremin. I was so astonished that i kept thinking about it for several days. Dec 07, 2005 then, the theremin slipped back into obscurity until the recent revival of the 1990s. Jul 25, 2008 in 1994, after finishing a show at lounge ax in chicago, i was taken by a friend to another club to check out pere ubu. Hear from lydia kavina, bob moog, and brian wilson about how the theremin influenced their lives. My ex girlfriend downloaded me some videos about jeanmichel jarre.
The ghostly sound of the theremin, an instrument played without. Clara rockmore was the first person i saw playing the instrument, from which i knew very few before seeing her perform the swan in the opening scene from documentary theremin. Since i heard and saw her, i immediately understood what it was all about. The instrument features a tone and portamento similar to that of the theremin, but with a different control mechanism. An electronic odyssey a documentary about the inventor of the first electronic synthesiser instrument and his subsequent life after he was abducted by the kgb as well as a history of his instrument and after that we will be taking a trip to hainesville and. With leon theremin, robert moog, clara rockmore, nicolas slonimsky. Collection theremin circuits, schematics or diagrams. Exploring the life of leon theremin, the inventor of an electronic synthesizer which uses motion to produce a sliding ethereal sound. When playing a theremin, the operator can control volume and pitch with his or her hand position relative to two antennas. Martin may be the best american documentary feature of 1994. His selfnamed electronic musical instrumentthe first of its kindtook the world by storm in the 1920s and 30s.
An electronic odyssey is more than just the story of a novel noisemaking gadget. An electronic odyssey 1993 starring leon theremin and clara rockmore on dvd and bluray. You can download a podcast of the programme or browse the archive. See him playing above in 1987 with his third wife natalia. Buy the art of the theremin by clara rockmore from amazons classical music store.
An electronic odyssey movie posters,high res movie posters image for theremin. It looks something like a box with two protruding antennas, a vertical one which controls pitch and a horizontal one which controls volume. The theremin holds a place in history as the first manufactured electronic musical instrument, and is credited with laying the foundation for all electronic music to come. As anyone who has seen the fascinating documentary theremin will realize, the instrument named after. It is the kind of movie that requires a musical score only the theremin possibly could supply. The theremin is an electronic musical instrument controlled without physical contact by the. The original theremin used a foot pedal to control the volume and a switch mechanism to alter the pitch.
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