"There are countless horrible things happening all over the world and horrible people prospering, but we must never allow them to disturb our equanimity or deflect us from our sacred duty to sabotage and annoy them whenever possible." -Auberon Waugh
Thursday, August 22, 2024
Happy Feet Friday
From the early 50s, here's Robert Smith with "Freeway Boogie".
I can't tell if that is sarcasm, or you're serious. If you're serious, I can't believe someone with your obvious interest in music isn't familiar with the Theremin. It wasn't the first musical intrument I learned about, of course, but I was just a young kid when I did learn about it.
Okay, after posting that comment it occurred to me that there are probably people who would balk at calling it a "musical instrument." While I can understand their reasoning, you have to admit, the lady in the video makes a good arguement for calling it a musical instrument.
Well, none of the big bands or post-war R&B groups used one, so why should I know about it? Although, Raymond Scott was heavily into electronic music late in his career, even inventing his own synthesizers, so maybe I should have heard of it.
Well, I did read a LOT of science & technology type magazines (Popular Science & Popular Mechanics, for instance) so that's probably why I knew about it at a relatively young age.
I'm going to guess here, Rebecca, but I expect the inventor was an amateur radio operator. The period (around 1924, give or take) is right for this sort of innovation.
(Little known fact, but a lot of current communications technology started with the amateur radio community.)
That said, if you ever held your hand close to, or touched, an AM radio to improve the signal reception, you were using the same concept as the theremin.
I was wrong ... ... assuming Wikipedia can be trusted, it was invented by a Russian.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theremin
"The theremin was the product of Soviet government-sponsored research into proximity sensors. The instrument was invented in October 1920 by the Russian physicist Lev Sergeyevich Termen, known in the West as Leon Theremin."
the new posting format claims more victims; it's a shame; I'd put that instrument in with the slide whistle as one of the most difficult instruments to master.
The Beach Boys' Good Vibrations guys. The BB's even toured with a Theramin to do that song live, late 1960s. Then Led Zeppelin used a Theramin for the mid section of Whole Lotta L, and they also used one live for that song for a few concerts. - Bruce
OK, I'm wrong - Good Vibrations instrument was a different bespoke thing. But pretty sure the LZ used it -once. Also the great French Catholic composer Messiaen used one, especially in his monster Turangalila Symphony. -Bruce
A theramin? Never heard of it.
ReplyDeleteI can't tell if that is sarcasm, or you're serious. If you're serious, I can't believe someone with your obvious interest in music isn't familiar with the Theremin. It wasn't the first musical intrument I learned about, of course, but I was just a young kid when I did learn about it.
Okay, after posting that comment it occurred to me that there are probably people who would balk at calling it a "musical instrument." While I can understand their reasoning, you have to admit, the lady in the video makes a good arguement for calling it a musical instrument.
ReplyDeleteWell, none of the big bands or post-war R&B groups used one, so why should I know about it? Although, Raymond Scott was heavily into electronic music late in his career, even inventing his own synthesizers, so maybe I should have heard of it.
ReplyDeleteWell, I did read a LOT of science & technology type magazines (Popular Science & Popular Mechanics, for instance) so that's probably why I knew about it at a relatively young age.
DeleteSo, it uses body capacitance to control the music. Fascinating!
ReplyDeleteSorry, that was me. Forgot to include the name ...
DeleteI've seen the theremin mentioned a few times in various readings, but this is the first time I've ever seen one. Whoever thought of that?
ReplyDeleteI'm going to guess here, Rebecca, but I expect the inventor was an amateur radio operator. The period (around 1924, give or take) is right for this sort of innovation.
Delete(Little known fact, but a lot of current communications technology started with the amateur radio community.)
That said, if you ever held your hand close to, or touched, an AM radio to improve the signal reception, you were using the same concept as the theremin.
I was wrong ... ... assuming Wikipedia can be trusted, it was invented by a Russian.
Deletehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theremin
"The theremin was the product of Soviet government-sponsored research into proximity sensors. The instrument was invented in October 1920 by the Russian physicist Lev Sergeyevich Termen, known in the West as Leon Theremin."
So it was a commie invention. Silly me.
I must say (being distracted by my terminal geekery), it is a fascinating instrument, with an interesting sound.
ReplyDeleteUgh! Me again.
Deletethe new posting format claims more victims; it's a shame; I'd put that instrument in with the slide whistle as one of the most difficult instruments to master.
ReplyDeleteI think it's interesting, and a marvel of technology, but as a legitimate musical instrument, more gimmicky than anything else.
ReplyDeleteThe Beach Boys' Good Vibrations guys. The BB's even toured with a Theramin to do that song live, late 1960s. Then Led Zeppelin used a Theramin for the mid section of Whole Lotta L, and they also used one live for that song for a few concerts.
ReplyDelete- Bruce
OK, I'm wrong - Good Vibrations instrument was a different bespoke thing. But pretty sure the LZ used it -once. Also the great French Catholic composer Messiaen used one, especially in his monster Turangalila Symphony.
ReplyDelete-Bruce