Theremin World News

Callas + Theremin = HOT! METAL

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 12:34:41 GMT

Thereminist Armen Ra debuts METAL, a multimedia cycle of five arias selected from the repertoire of Maria Callas, at the HOT! Festival in the New Museum of Contemporary Art, NYC.

Special guests narrate, while the theremin voices the soprano solos against a living metallic backdrop of Callas herself.

Thursday July 9 - 7:00 PM
Cost:$15 general / $12 members
New Museum of Contemporary Art, NYC
253 Bowery (south of Stanton)
New York, New York

Goodbye Michael

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 23:13:55 GMT

Though a bit off topic, it couldn't go un-noted that Michael Jackson died today.

LA Film Festival - "Dear Lemon Lima" includes character who plays theremin

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 13:36:46 GMT

From Examiner.com:

"From the other side of the coin (and the opposite end of the country, namely, the never used city of Fairbanks, Alaska), comes Dear Lemon Lima and as the movie's title so adroitly points out: if ever there was a movie that reserved its rightful spot next to the sweet and tartly candy at your local confectionary's, it would be this film. The plot is very simple. It concerns a girl who can't come to terms with the fact that her boyfriend has dumped her. She hasn't moved on. The girl in this case happens to be 13, her crush 14, and the endeared from the title, well, a "friend" that might fill Warren Schmidt's Ndugu with a dose of reality. Add a cast of supporting (and very supportive) ninth grade misfits--including one named Nothing who, aptly, plays the Theremin (!!)--set them on a competitive collision course of self-discovery worthy not just of an Ancient Greek odyssey, but also of a Revenge of the Nerds comparison, and you have a movie that's, ahem, as much about the heartbreaking cruelty of life as it is about the erratic beauty and wonder of it...."

Check out the film's website and watch the trailer here.

Theremin Makes Mario Jump

Mon, 15 Jun 2009 16:38:13 GMT

According to John Herrman at Gizmodo
"" Now, there are officially three things you can do with a theremin: you can score a low-budget sci-fi film; you can join a prog rock cover band; and, as of today, you can play Super Mario Bros... ""

Check out his mention and the video of conquerearth's aether Mario controller
"Theremin-Controlled Mario Offers Glimpse of a Bizarre Motion Gaming Alternate History"

Gakken Theremin Kit Hacks

Sun, 14 Jun 2009 17:33:52 GMT

instructables.com has detailed some favorite tweaks to the popular toy theremin from Japan in: Gakken Theremin Kit Hack Showing the process for adding an audio out jack and a telescoping antenna.

There are also lots of tips on mod-ing it from our members in the forum, try searching for "Gakken"

Cat Theremin Technique: The Vibrato

Sun, 31 May 2009 21:41:39 GMT

Cats and Theremins, cats and theremins, why cats and theremins? Maybe because they're they only pet you don't have to hold and make play it?

Well aether animal lovers here's another kitty showing off his theremin chops on the Gakken Mini in response to fluffy's restrained approach.

iPhone, iSynth, iTouch, iBot...

Wed, 27 May 2009 12:53:06 GMT

OK this is not a theremin, and you must touch it to play it.
But BeBot is one of the richest synthesizer applications to come out for the iPhone, and I must admit seeing the words "Theremin demo preset" and "theremin-like continuous pitch system" in common iParlance warms the aether-cockles of my heart and is a sign how much our instrument has gained in the popular consciousness.

Viva la Renaissance de Theremin!

Bob Moog's 75th Birthday Bash: May 21, Asheville, NC

Mon, 18 May 2009 14:00:56 GMT

Bob Moog was admittedly a most important American figure in modern electronic music and the continuation of the theremin. Throughout it's different incarnations, Moog Music remains the longest continuous producer of theremins. We might not have any theremins to play now a days if it were not for him.

This Saturday May 23rd marks Bob's 75th birthday, and his spirit is as alive as ever. The Moog Foundation is throwing a Birthday Bash on Thrusday May 21st, to raise funds for the Moog Museum, and to give Moog fans a chance to visit a working model of the museum, and to "Enter the Mind of Moog" with an exciting slew of Mood device driven interactive music and video exhibits that will guide the viewer through specific eras of Moog’s career and document the evolution of the Bob Moog Foundation. There will also be a birthday cake contest, and a silent fund raising auction featuring a Moog Little Phatty Synthesizer.
There's a lot of information and remembrances about Bob here at ThereminWorld too.

Happy Birthday Bob! Gosh we miss you, and remain grateful to the Moog Foundation and Moog Music for keeping up the tradition, and most of all, continued Theremin production so that we can all Keep On Playing!

Bob Moog Foundation's Spring Fund Raiser to Benefit the Moogseum
Thursday, May 21, 2009 / 6pm – 10pm
The Orange Peel, Asheville, NC
Open to All ages
$15 Adults / $5 for children under 16

Big Briar 91b Moog for sale on eBay

Sun, 17 May 2009 16:08:10 GMT

The economy and theremin shopping have met in another unexpected opportunity. One of the unique U-Shaped Big Briar 91b Theremins by Bob Moog is up for auction on ebay, and ends May 25th. I believe this is the same model Lydia Kavina used in her Moog training video.

Thanks Theremin_Ohio for the tip, as with any online purchase: caveat emptor. Hope it finds a happy home and gets played often.

Barbara Buchholz to hold Theremin Workshops

Sat, 16 May 2009 17:03:35 GMT

Imagine learning to play theremin from a true master in a beautiful setting such as the Mediterranean. Barbara Buchholz is about to make this dream a reality for some lucky workshop participants!

Buchholz has scheduled a series of classes for beginners and advanced thereminists in Sardina and Mallorca this summer, with more to come. I don't think she could have picked a more beautiful setting for these workshops!

You can find more information on the current course schedule at her new website, www.theremin-workshop.com. If you attend, please send us pictures!

For a sample of Barbara Buchholz's music, we highly recommend her most recent album, Moonstruck, available as a downloadable MP3 album at Amazon.com.