
Alice Dobrie Dr. Beth Hiser Metatheremin
Electronic Music • What is Electronic Music? • The Theremin invented around 1920 • The Theremin’s Debut • Leon Theremin • The Impact
More of Theremin’s contributions • The Terpsitone • The Rhythmicon • Electronic Cello • Silent Alarms • Mad Scientist?
Video Killed the Theremin Star • Spellbound (1945) • The Lost Weekend (1945) • The Day The Earth Stood Still (1951) • The Delicate Delinquent (1956) • It Came From Outer Space (1953) “I just wanted to be a serious musician and play Bach.” - Clara Rockmore
Political Tension • “ In 1938, under circumstances that remain unclear, he returned to the Soviet Union where he was convicted of anti-soviet propaganda and sentenced to seven years imprisonment in Magadan, Siberia.” (Grimes, 93)
The “Bug” • KGB = State committee of intelligence • The invention of the ‘bug’ in 1961 • Received a First level Stalin Award
Moscow Music Conservatory • Leon Theremin worked at the conservatory from 1964 – 1967 • “Maestro invented Soviet ‘Bug’ in Jail” –New York Times • “There is no need for electronic music. Electricity is for killing traitors in the electric chair.” –Director of the Conservatory
Inner Workings of Phototransistors • Light enters the base region of the Phototransistor where hole electron pairs can be generated. • Mainly occurs in the reverse biased base-collector Junction. • The hole-electron pairs move under the influence of the electric field and provide the base current, causing electrons to be injected into the emitter
Pin 1: Ground Pin 2: On and Off Pin 3: Current Out Pin 4: Stop, Interrupts Cycle Pin 8: Power Pin 7: Switch to Ground Pin 6: Measure Voltage Pin 5: Voltage Reference
Evil Baby Doll Theremin Banana Theremin iPhone Theremin application Pretty much anything can be made into a theremin… Variations on the Optical Theremin
Acknowledgments Brian Vinicky – Engineer Honeywell Inc. David Revta - BW Technician Abi Good – Metal Smith Beth Hiser - Advisor/Mentor
Questions or Comments? (“No” is an acceptable answer)