Can you play an instrument without touching it?
Short answer: Yes.
Long Answer: Yes, the instrument is called the ‘Theremin’
In the history of musical instruments, the Theremin is basically a teenager- only being invented around 100 years ago by Leon Theremin. It is also considered to be one of the earliest electronic instruments.
I’ll try and explain how it works. The area near the long ‘antenna’(left) is where you control the pitch of the instrument by moving your hand to and fro from the antenna. The loop (right) is where you control the volume of the sound created by moving your hand in a top to bottom motion.
The instrument is also considered to be one of the hardest to master, as any uncessary movement can alter the sound of the instrument.
I first came across the instrument when Rob Scallon uploaded his video on the very same topic when he played alongside an expert Theremin player Carolina Eyck. She explains the intricate details of it way clearer than I can, so I suggest y’all watch the video! Or you can watch the SciShow video going over the physics of the Theremin. (All EEE students should watch this hehe)
The instrument has a very eerie sound when played. Quite naturally, it was used in soundtracks for classic horror movies. It definitely sounds perfect for it.
But the Theremin can be used for a lot more. That leads me perfectly into why I wanted to talk about it today. This Theremin piece was on my recommended. It sounds so ethereal. Here’s another video that was recommended. Clair De Lune is probably one of my favourite classical music pieces. And the combination of the Theremin and the song gave me goosebumps.
And that’s all for this week’s blog post. Make sure to share it if you liked it :)
