Playing the original open circuit Theremin makes the performer appear something of a Snake-Charmer, or Maestro of an invisible Orchestra. Both arms and hands move back and forth through the air, without touching a thing. The player's subtle (or drastic) hand movements shape the melody, articulation, and dynamic response from the “thin air” between the player and the instrument's antennas. You can actually see hand vibrato applied to what looks like an invisible Cello or transparent Trombone slide.

The right-hand controls pitch (frequency): The closer your hand moves to the antenna, the higher the note. The left-hand controls the volume (amplitude). The closer you move to the loop-shaped volume antenna, the softer the volume. The instrument itself comes to life when approached by the player, who completes the circuit by serving as the grounding element. The electrical schematic is simple, elegant, and easy to build. The Theremin even looks easy to play. The hard part is playing it, without sounding like an Ether Wave that slipped on a banana peel.

Initially, the Theremin was embraced by Orchestral music instrumentalists like noted violinist Clara Rockmore, and the New School of “modernistic” 20th Century composers the likes of Shostakovich-Oh yes, Ladies and Gents-the Theremin is no electronic gimmick. Though difficult to play with precision, the Theremin is a very legitimate musical instrument, capable of extreme expressiveness, in the right “hands”.

THE INVENTOR, LEON THEREMIN

Leon Theremin (Pictured) is either taking himself very seriously or just about to be taken away by the CIA or KGB (but that’s a completely different story). Leon Theremin was a very gifted electrical engineer and an accomplished cellist, but it was Clara Rockmore that truly became the first master of the Theremin.

Bob Moog loved music but wasn’t highly motivated to play music (possibly because his parents made him take Harp lessons?). The Theremin and Theremin music is something Moog loved his entire life. The only “instrument” he liked to handle is the soldering gun. Growing up in the age of the transistor must have felt like a gift from the Heavens for young Moog, who developed a strong motivation to learn anything he could about electronics. In 1949, by the age of 14, Bob Moog already built his first Theremin. All the young genius needed was a schematic he found in a home electronics projects magazine, and some electrical components he already had to support his hobby. Moog was floored by the simple elegance of Leon Theremin’s design circuitry. The young man improved the performance of the “left hand” volume antenna, making staccato sounds (notes with a sharp attack) possible. While still in School, Moog sold his upgraded version of Leon Theremins device via mail order as an electronics kit or a completed instrument.

Bob Moog once described himself as “someone who builds tools for others to use”. Perhaps a bit of an understatement, coming from the man who replaced punch cards with a Piano Keyboard controller for the synth, the pitch wheel, envelope note shaping, and the first portable synth, aka the world-famous “Mini Moog” in 1970.

Bob Moog drew inspiration for many of his breakthrough designs from the Theremin and maintained a love for the instrument, from an electrical and musical perspective, his whole life long.

Despite being roundly thought of as the man who delivered the first practical synthesizer to musicians of the world, Bob Moog reported his fondest personal accomplishments to include recording, and refining the Theremin for Clara Rockmore, and meeting Leon Theremin.