The Theremin is here, plugged in, warmed up, and filling the house with a kind of 1950s B Movie Sci Fi sound.
Playing it is not easy……In fact, its really rather difficult, which is probably :- a) why you don’t see many of them, and b) why I’m going to enjoy the challenge.
So far I have managed to play a few recognisable scales, that were not overly sharp or flat. I’ve also managed to produce a couple of short melodies, before collapsing from the exhaustion of maintaining the tension required throughout the body to actually play the thing. The instrument is so sensitive that breathing in and out deeply dramatically alters the pitch. A steady hand, and stable core is required. I’m hoping the long periods of standing still, and maintaining focus, will aid my core strength.
What I am trying to do now is develop a structure approach to developing my Theremin skills. A quick google search for Theremin teachers in Busselton was fruitless, widening the terms of the search steadily, I eventually found a Teacher in Victoria just a few thousand kilometres away 🙂 So it looks like I am teaching myself.
In purely musical terms, the Theremin is a very new instrument, existing in its current form, only since about 1930. What this means for me is, there is not a huge library of knowledge to draw on for how to play. Unlike the Guitar, or Piano that have existed for centuries with experienced musicians readily available…It really is a fascinating device, with a rich expressive sound, and oddly very few exponents
You may conclude that its lack of popularity is because it is simply a terrible noise….This is not the case. My reading and research has shown the Theremin has been used in a vast number of hit records, as well as classical concerts in some of the finest venues across the world. Professional Thereminists have accompanied full symphony orchestras with the haunting, other worldly sound of the worlds first electronic instrument. My own ambitions are however, a little more modest.
I do nevertheless have a goal….. I want to Busk……I want to stand in Busselton, with all the relevant permits of course, and busk with my Theremin. Playing a mix of classical and modern music, with some of my recorded work from the Roland Synths to play along with. Theremin Busking may not seem like much of an aspiration. But please understand this is not about filling a hat with coins. This is an aspiration to share a genuinely fascinating piece of musical technology with the world…Well a tiny little bit of the world anyway. I guess it’s also about stepping well outside of my comfort zone and inviting people to stand and stare, not something I normally encourage, and yes staring is essential. To see a Theremin played is a mesmerising sight, delicate movements from both hands co-ordinated to produce an enchanting tone. I’m getting carried away of course, because right now, anyone in earshot of my practice will be pondering what manner of unholy activities is producing the noise they can hear. Putting a cat through a mangle whilst simultaneously firing a Star Trek Phaser is probably about the closest you can get to a verbal description of my current playing.
How long till we can see you on Queen Street playing you may ask……I have no idea, but its going to be a little while yet.
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