smokerblog

March 08, 2005

Good Vibrations

Through brother Ted¹, I've been learning a little about early electronic music. And no, that doesn't mean Kraftwerk. I'm talking about those who pioneered the science of making sound using electronics, including Leon Theremin, who invented the first fully electronic instrument (named after its creator).

Here are some examples:
le Cygne - Camille St Saens, via thereminvox.com,
Fragile Wings - Sting, performed by Carolina Eyck
Jeannie With The Light Brown Hair, performed by Bud Averill
and all kinds of good stuff here: Peter Pringles' samples

It seems that the art of the theremin is still alive and well. And now, according to marginalia.org, you can get your own gorgeous theremin for a very cool $1,500. Or if you aren't turned on by the wooden case and buttons, there is a basic version for $400.

Buy one and make your own Star Trek sounds effects.

1 - Check out his cool little game featuring some spooky electronic background music.

Posted by ksmoker | permalink

Comments

sound effects?

ah man, just when I started enjoying smokerblog.

‹pompous rant› The Theremin, I'll have you know, is a legitimate musical instrument, capable of an expressive power that has yet to be fully realized. It is stereotypes like these that has hindered the prodigious potential of the instrument. Don't even get me started on the spooky background music quip. ‹/rant›

Cage referenced the instrument briefly in Silence as an instrument that has potential even beyond the traditional classical music that most of the original promoters used.

A friend of mine bought one for under $300, but why not just make your own?

btw..
thanks for the HTML tagability

Posted by: Ted at March 9, 2005 05:51 PM

awww, you're so cute when you get all pompous.

Hey, didn't you listen to the samples I linked to? Jeannie w the Light Brown Hair? That's a masterpiece. And Peter Pringle has a version of Send in the Clowns that'll make your eyes water. I mean, make you cry. In a good way. Or something.

Anyhoo, not being a musician myself, my own primary use of a theremin would be to make sound effects. I didn't mean it as an insult. Besides, sound effects are fun.

And sorry, I should have said "good & spooky" instead of just "spooky." Because the music is good. And also spooky.

Posted by: ken at March 9, 2005 11:38 PM

...mostly self-indulgent blather

March 08, 2005

Good Vibrations