Remembering Leon Theremin

By Jason - 11/3/2011 - History

It's hard to believe, but today is the 18th anniversary of Professor Leon Theremin's passing.

As you're practicing, performing, or even just thinking about the theremin today, please take a moment to reflect on the life and legacy of this great man.

Here are some of my favorite YouTube videos featuring Leon Theremin.

Tags: History, Leon Theremin

4 Comments

Showing 4 Comments

coalport 11/3/2011 7:26 PM

What the hell are you talking about Jason? Leon theremin's "passing"?

Come on! Leon Theremin never "passed"! He is alive and well, and living within the thousands of theremins that are played and enjoyed throughout the world.

The theremin IS the mysterious resurrection machine that is referred to in hushed and mysterious tones in ELECTRONIC ODYSSEY.

If you want to speak to Lev Sergeievitch, just DO IT. His ability to answer will be governed by the degree of your own skepticism in regard to his ability to respond.

RS Theremin 11/3/2011 7:40 PM

Darn, I use to think that way also as I don’t have much technical knowledge, no more than a gadget maker. I often listen as my theremin putts and purrs in the background, it's as if Lev Sergeyevich whispers to me. I have observed 13 theremin myths that people have developed over the passing years. These untruths tarnish my creditability and prevent me from speaking openly amongst the cult. So sad... reminiscent of Galileo vs. the Catholic Church. ( '

Jason 11/4/2011 1:09 AM

@coalport - Thanks for the kick. I like to think of passing as moving from one place to another... Not ending, and not beginning, but rather... passing. Leon is not gone, he's just not here.

Like the electrons of the ether, so are the waves of our music.

@RS - 13 myths? Do tell!

omhoge 11/4/2011 9:06 AM

Thank you Jason. Maybe with the passing of Steve Jobs I've been thinking a lot about Lev and how quickly the giants of the past are forgotten and the brilliance of their inventions dimmed by their presence becoming common place.

Hey RS Theremin, a well used antenna will have a bit of tarnish on it. You are not a heretic as far as I'm concerned, no one here is. Playing and building theremins eventually becomes a very personal process. And as a group theremin lovers are very diverse, we all need all our voices.

So what are the 13 forbidden truths???
You've really got me curious.

I can't help but guess, are any of them:
- volume control is more important than pitch
- the theremin is not that hard to play
- pitch Linearity should be adjustable
- ear training is useless if you don't know phrasing
- bent pitch antennas work better
- tubes are better than transistors
- loops should be square
....
what oh what could those "13 ghosts" be?

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