Theremin

[Ethel]

I have just found out that the instrument used to create the eerie music in Midsomer Murders theme tune is a theremin.

Can anybody here play it? This is a demo of one being played:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xn4TgYkqdi8

[Sachs]

Bit like the sound of a jews harp Ethel!
I love the sound of a Harpsicord xxx

[logic]

I have never even seen or heard of one before , Ethel it look as though it may be a bit high tec, well, what you can see of it
Can't understand why she would need to conduct herself, with her left hand though,

Very interesting.

[Ethel]

Not as potentially painful as a Jews' Harp -and I can't see how a harpsichord relates to a theremin, but yes, it does have a nice sound.

[Ethel]

Logic - she's not conducting - that is how it is played, with both hands.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cd4jvtAr8JM

You don't touch the instrument itself at all.

[Sachs]

No Ethel, just thought I'd stick that in ;0)

[logic]

well Knobby, I thought it very educational, I didn't even know that a persons name was a pronoun,
So at least I learned something from it, I would suggest you try and do the same, :-)

[ChuckFickens]

The theremin has been used in countless tv shows and films, pretty much any time an eerie sound was needed before synthesizers, and computers come about

[logic]

But she seems to be holding something between her thumb and Index finger of the right Hand Ethel as though she was rubbing it on a surface,
Of course I will stand corrected. If I'm wrong.

[Ethel]

You didn't spot the deliberate mistake, Logic? My name is a proper name, not a pronoun. :)

Chuck, do you need perfect pitch hearing to play it?

[Ethel]

No, logic - she is holding nothing - see the second youtube video

[mushroom25]

I used to be able to play one of these -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6nv0iDrAis&fea ture=related
not as versatile, but a similar sound.

[Ethel]

Bet you still can, mush

[ChuckFickens]

I would imagine you do Ethel, as there are no physical ways of telling if you have got the correct note. Logic, the actual instrument isn't touched at all, you just wave your hands about in mid air near it.

[China Doll]

A close friend of mine does something similar in the band he's in but I don't think it's the same.... he's got all the techy stuff they use and there's something he plays in which he moves his hands in the air and good noise comes out! (Yes, highly descriptive I know!) Doesn't look like your link though, much smaller but the noises change with the hand gestures etc.. First time he did it I didn't realise and thought he was dancing in a very odd manner.

[logic]

Yes just watched it Ethel, and yes you are right,

No, I did not spot your diliberate mistake, and now I am confused, as I feel as though I have learned something of incorrect meaning,


Contrary to what anyone may think, I do enjoy being corrected, as English is not one of my best subjects,
And it is fifty odd years since i sat my last exam.

[scotman]

You do play it with both hands. The right hand is usually near the antenna and changes the pitch. The left hand operated the volume control. Apart from quite a few film soundtracks it was used on 'Good Vibrations' by 'The Beach Boys' also recently on the intro music for 'Midsomer Murders'
CDs available by Clara Rockmore & Lydia Kavina

[tamborine]

Looked like she's scratching glass and dips her fingers into water to re-moisten them?

Can't quite work out how the instrument is made up?

[Ethel]

Awww, sorry logic. I didn't mean to confuse you.

I think the theremin sounds beautiful, but each to his or her own.