The thérémine , theremine , theremin or thereminvox one of oldest the musical instruments electronic, is invented in 1919 by Russian Lev Sergeïevitch Termen (known under the name of Leon Theremin). Composed of a black box equipped with two antennas, the thérémine with the characteristic to produce music without any physical contact of the instrumentalist. In his the most spread version, one controls the height of the note of the right hand, while varying his distance compared to the vertical antenna. The horizontal antenna, in the form of loop, is used to vary volume according to its distance compared to the left hand.

Principle

The audio signal is generated by a Oscillateur Hétérodyne with electron tubes. Two signals of high frequencies (one fixes at 170 Khz, the other variable between 168 and 170 Khz) combine to form a beat and to provide an audible signal, between 20 and 20000 Hz. The effect of capacitance brought by the body of the instrumentalist, near the antennas, affects the produced frequency, just like a person moving in a part can deteriorate the quality of a reception of radio or television. This characteristic is made profitable in the thérémine, and the combination of the two hands, one controlling volume and the other the height of the note, makes it possible to obtain strange sound effects. The thérémine, having only one oscillator, is a monophonic instrument. Its stamp, which one cannot modify, is connected by far with that of the human voice or to that of the Musical saw.

History

The invention of Leon Theremin follows closely the Russian revolution of 1917. Having been likely to make a convincing demonstration with Lénine, its instrument was immediately promoted by the new capacity. Lénine took lessons of thérémine, and ordered 600 specimens of them so that they are distributed everywhere in the USSR. Moreover, Leon Theremin was sent in world tour, as ambassador of Soviet new technology.

Success was with go in Europe, and later to the the United States, where the engineer settled and obtained a patent in 1928. He conceded the rights of production of the instrument at the firm RCA. It was not a great commercial success, but Leon Theremin continued his research and invented new instruments:

• the rhythmicon : first electronic generator of rate/rhythm
• the terpistone : sound generator controlled by the movement of dancers. It used the same principle that the thérémine, but the antenna was dissimulated under the track of dance.
• the thérémine with keyboard
• the violoncello thérémine

In 1938, Leon Theremin was kidnapped by Soviet agents which returned it in its native land. Interned in a Siberian camp, one made it work on other subjects of research in electronics. He will be rehabilitated later and will be able to go back to the United States before his death in 1993.

From 1961, Robert Moog created a ized version Transistor of the thérémine, whose many specimens were sold, and continue to find purchasers.

Musical use

The thérémine is initially associated with the Modern music and experimental of the 20th century. Its difficulty of play, where the instrumentalist must remain perfectly motionless (except for the arms), the absence of keyboard confined its diffusion with a certain elite. The creation of the Waves Martenot, using the same electronic principle but equipped with a keyboard, quickly contributed to its marginalisation. Among the type-setters having exploited the thérémine, one can in particular quote Edgar Varèse or Bohuslav Martinu (made up Imagination for thérémine, oboe, string quartet and piano in 1945)

Some interpreters will become virtuosos of the thérémine:

• Clara Reisenberg Rockmore (1911-1998). Another Russian expatriate, who collaborated with Leon Theremin in the improvement of her invention. Of formation traditional violonist, it had the absolute pitch and adapted the new instrument completely, in particular thanks to its perfect control of the accuracy of the notes.
• Lucy Bigelow Rosen (1890-1968).
• Samuel J. Hoffman (1903-1967): interpret in many film musics.
• Lydia Kavina (born with Moscow the September 8th 1967), is currently the best player of thérémine. Remote relationship of Leon Theremin, it learned how to play with him as of the 9 years age. Concert performer international virtuoso, it also composes for this instrument.

In the Years 1950, the thérémine was largely used to create sound environments of films of Science-fiction. One finds it since regularly in the popular or electronic music, as well as the jazz:

• Audio-mastick
• The Beach Boys: on the pieces Good Vibrations and I Just Wasn' T Made For Thesis Times . It is actually about a close instrument, the Tannerin , invented and played by Paul Tanner.
• Bee Gees
• Led Zeppelin
• Dionysos
• Fishbone
• Goldfrapp on the Strict piece machine .
• Nine Inch Nails (In particular Charlie Clouser on several pieces of the album live And All That Could Cuts Been , like the intro of Sin or Just Like You Imagined )
• Portishead: on the pieces Mysterons of the first album Dummy and Humming of the second album of the group.
• Pamelia Kurstin
• The Flaming Lips
• The Legendary Pink Dowries on bOb' S Shadow of the album The Ghost Off Each Room and in concert.
• The Polyphonic Spree
• Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
• Heather Nova: on the piece When somebody turns you one of the album South
• Zazie: on the piece Cyber of the album Rodéo Turn extracts from the round from the same name.
• Messer Chups : Russian formation of surfing rock'n'roll organized around Theremin whose principal virtuoso is not other than the downward direct one of the inventor (seen in Transmusicales of Rennes in 2005)
• Imai Hisashi, the guitarist of the group of Japanese visual-rock'n'roll BUCK-TICK, will use the thérémine with many recoveries at the time of the concerts of its formation.

One can also quote Jean Michel Jarre like episodical user of the thérémine on pieces like Oxygène 10 , the magnetic Songs 1 or more recently Zoolookologie , at the time of the concert with Beijing in 2004. The French group Dionysos is also accustomed to using the thérémine at the time of its concerts as well as the experimental collective French WORKSHOP 112 by using technology midday with the thérémine. Young talents such as Claude-Samuel Lévine, with surprising adaptations of the traditional repertory and its works, also make it possible to bring this instrument closer to public always curious.

The thérémine is entitled to some appearances in Canadian film " Aimants" of the realizer Yves Furrier.