Thank you, leon theremin, for everything you created for us. An electronic odyssey is more than just the story of a novel noisemaking gadget. The film follows both through a strange sequence of events and. Almost completely forgotten in the scientific and music communities, theremin returned to the united states in 1991 under the auspices of a film.
You begin with interest, and then you pass through the stages of curiosity, fascination and disbelief, until in the last 20. An electronic odyssey a centennial celebration of the. Theremin amazed america with his instrument until his kidnapping by soviet agents in the mid30s. That this film includes these 3 late greats of music make it even more worthwhile to watch. Naturally, that film spends the bulk of its time on theremins. Its a biography and documentary movie with a very high rotten tomatoes critics. Around 1955, a colleague of moogs, electronic music pioneer raymond scott, purchased one of moogs theremin subassemblies to incorporate into a new invention, the clavivox, which was intended to be an easytouse keyboard theremin. An electronic odyssey a bit tedious for anyone but. I fast forward through the whole movie watching for any theremin not, and wanted to double check complete disc so not sure. It follows his life, including being imprisoned in a soviet gulag, and the influence of his instrument, which came to define the sound of eerie in 20thcentury movies, and influenced popular music as. Theremin leon theremin playing his own instrument youtube. While the documentary contains few objectionable elements, the lack of a narrative, a point of view and true insight into the man makes theremin. During his absence, the theremin becomes a popular instrument in film scores and through the performances of clara rockmore.
In this radio commentary, bill discusses the theremin, and how it lead to one the music industrys most fundamental assets, the electronic synthesizer. Theremin was released in 1947 but returned to work for the state security system as a free man, then worked at the moscow conservatory where he worked on, and taught his instrument. It is named after its russian inventor, professor leon theremin, who patented the device in 1928. The theremin is named for its inventor lev termen, better known worldwide as leon theremin 1896 1993. Martin about the life of leon theremin and his invention, the theremin, a pioneering electronic musical instrument. Janet maslin of the new york times called the film a fascinating, offbeat documentary that stands as a fine job of detective work. The theremin is an electronic musical instrument that is played without being touched. The theremin can also be used to control other electronic instruments, or can be processed using effects, and is used by nonmelodic soundscape artists as well as lyric precision players. Anyone who has ever seen a horror or science fiction film from the 50s, or heard.
As i reflect on the past two decades, i like to think that leon theremin would think positively about the progress the theremin has made in that time. Upon his release from a labor camp, he worked on surveillance devices for the kgb. The theremin is a unique electronic musical instrument in that it is the only instrument in the world that is played without touching. This documentary is fun to watch and brings to light a lot. The renaissance that began with the documentary film. Theremin demonstrated his first working model of the instrument that bears his name in 1920. It is the kind of movie that requires a musical score only the theremin possibly could supply. Theremin an electronic odyssey 1993 sheds light on the early era of electronic music. A documentary about the inventor of the first electronic synthesiser instrument and his. A documentary about theremin, the man who pioneered the field of electronic music. It took him five years to complete his documentary on an obscure musical instrument and its even.
Martin on allmovie very few people would recognize the name of leon. An electronic odyssey is a documentary on both the theremin, the instrument, and prof. During this long period, much of theremins work was in the development of electronic eavesdropping. Though the facts of leon theremins life merit this feature film, director steven m. An electronic odyssey was shown as part of last years new york film festival. Theremin world remembering leon theremin 20 years later. In 1994, after finishing a show at lounge ax in chicago, i was taken by a friend to another club to check out pere ubu. Featuring a performance and postfilm discussion with thereminist, rob. An electronic odyssey vhs, 1995 at the best online prices at ebay. Theremin definition, a musical instrument with electronic tone generation, the pitch and tone volume being controlled by the distance between the players hands and two metal rods serving as antennas. An electronic odyssey movie now family video javascript seems to be disabled in your browser.
Listen to screeningnotes and i discuss this film and much more on our podcast, movies now and then this is a fairly interesting documentary about the creator of the electronic instrument, the theremin. Martin chooses to focus on theremins eponymous invention, a strange musical instrument which predated the synthesizer in the field of electronic sound. An interesting bit is brian wilson talking about the beach boys use of the theremin in good vibrations. An electronic odyssey, completely dedicated to his incredible history. An electronic odyssey is a documentary about the creator of the theremin musical instrument, lev sergeyvich termen aka leon theremin. A profile of russian leon theremin, inventor of the worlds first electronic musical instrument. He is most famous for his invention of the theremin, one of the first electronic musical instruments. Theremin simulator lets you play the unique electronic. I just wasnt made for these times 1995 documentaire, historique, biographique. How a russian scientist and industrial spy accidentally created an electronic instrument that became a mainstay of hollywood horror. A traditional theremin uses two antennas, one for frequency and one for amplitude, to allow players to craft music using the position of their hands between the two. Replication of tony van roons 1995 theremin circuit featuring two photo resistors and a simple inverter based oscillator. An electronic odyssey stars clara rockmore, robert moog, nicolas slonimsky, paul shure the pg movie has a runtime of about 1 hr 23 min, and received a score. It produces hauntingly ethereal and eerie sounds vaguely.
A professor, he immigrated to america, where by the late 1920s, he had. An electronic odyssey 1993 starring leon theremin and clara rockmore on dvd and bluray. An electronic odyssey 1993 documentaire, historique, biographique. One of the first electronic instruments, and the only.
The story of leon theremin 18961993 and his eponymous instrument is admirably documented in the film theremin. If youve never seen a theremin, youve undoubtedly heard one. It most often takes the form of a box wooden is most common with 2 metal antennas protruding from it. Martin by frankie demarco, cinematographer on vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the. The theremin is an early electronic musical instrument controlled without contact from the player. A documentary about the amazing life of leon theremin, inventor of the theremin, the electronic musical instrument so beloved of 50s scifi movie music. Theremin definition and meaning collins english dictionary. A man from santa fe, new mexico bought a theremin off ebay. The scientist, whose name was leon theremin, was not mad. Clara rockmore nee reisenberg was born in lithuania. You begin with interest, and then you pass through the stages of curiosity, fascination and disbelief, until in the last 20 minutes, you arrive at a state of dumbfounded wonder.
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