Theremin - "Ave Maria" by Bach / Gounod

[acordeon70]

congratulations my dear friend!!!

[Thereminstrel]

Thank you! This video was recorded almost two years ago ... I really want to make a new version of this piece now that my playing has improved!

[bdrabek]

I have little musical experience...is this easy to learn??? I picked up the jaw harp pretty easily

[Thereminstrel]

The theremin is said to be one of the most difficult instruments to learn/play well. Most people can produce a semi-recognisable tune in a few days/weeks (like this video's slightly off-key 16 week attempt). Graduating to good tuneful playing takes years of intense practice, even for the most musically inclined person. Because there are no keys, strings, frets, valves (visible notes), a solid grounding of music theory & being able to play a more conventional instrument already is often needed.

[JRR951]

Thereminstrel, where can a theremin be purchased? I am interested in getting one..

[Thereminstrel]

There are two good theremins for those wanting to learn. The Moog Etherwave Standard (as in this video) is available from moogmusic dotcom, and the B3 Deluxe is available from soundslikeburns dotcom. Both are based in the US but will send overseas. It's also worth checking eBay, as both are often sold there. If you opt for a different make of theremin, remember to be sure it has both a pitch antenna AND volume loop if you are wanting to play it as a musical instrument.

[dokiosk]

...The running water in the stream is heard murmuring.....

[cantabile91]

wow great job! check your intonation though.. many notes are either too flat or too sharp.

[Thereminstrel]

Yes, I'm aware the intonation is quite grim. This was recorded over 14 months ago, shortly after I had just started learning to play the theremin; the main reason I leave this video still accesible is so it can be of encouragement to theremin beginners ... practically everyone finds it impossible to keep in tune in the early stages! If you check out some of my more recent videos, hopefully you'll find them more in tune. With plenty of practice I believe I have gradually improved.

[shua559]

no it sounded great wow how is that possible??can it shock u whn u touch teh device i wana get where can i find one good job my friend!!

[Thereminstrel]

Thank you! No, you can't get a shock from touching the theremin antenna - it's quite safe and painless!!

The two most well-known theremin makers in the US are Moog and Burns; both have websites, and are easily available.

[tyotyo8809]

this is pretty good, however i would prefer if you did not change volume so much. i think the way you are doing it now distracts too much from the the tone of the peice.. quite good though.

[Thereminstrel]

Thank you for your comment. At this stage in my learning (about 14 months ago) volume modulation was less of a concern than just finding the notes. I hope to re-record sometime this now I've improved somewhat in technique.

[xerxerxex]

you can't see it but I'm applauding you!

[Thereminstrel]

I can't hear it either ... but still appreciate it very much. Thank you!

[nacrawdia]

Excelente. Conheci o theremin recentemente e estou encantada com a beleza do som.

Parabéns e excelente trabalho.

Abraços

[Thereminstrel]

Obrigado. Isto foi gravado após a aprendizagem por 16 semanas da aprendizagem. Se você gosta do theremin, preste atenção por favor a meus vídeos recentes, gravados após um ano de aprendizagem. Obrigado!

Translation by Babel Fish. I hope this is what I replied: ''Thankyou. This is my playing after 16 weeks of learning. If you enjoying listening to the theremin, please watch my recent videos, recorded after a year of learning to play. Thank you!''

[donnatella]

beautiful!

[Thereminstrel]

Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed it.

This video is more than a year old now and, lately, hardly a week goes by without me thinking I ought to record an improved version!

[DieneceVR]

great!

fantastic....

[Thereminstrel]

Thank you for your kind comment!

[Meami46]

Wow, i learned about the Theremin last night and im completely blown away. I am going to see if I can get one of my own because it looks amazing.

[Thereminstrel]

That's pretty much how I felt almost exactly one year ago. As soon as I learned about theremins I knew I had to have one. My first theremin arrived right at the end of February 08 and I started to gradually learn how to play!

I wish you well tracking down a theremin of your own, and hope you'll enjoy learning to play as much as I have!

[Thereminstrel]

Thank you!

Yes, the audio isn't too clear. I haven't worried about it much, because these videos are really just a temporary record of my progress as I gradually learn to play; they won't be here indefinitely ... plus, although I could "line-in" the theremin, I haven't worked out how to get the piano backing track att he same time. So this is simplest for now. If my playing improves enough I'll try to do a better job recording it!!!

[Gruuvin]

good intonation but rushed a bit. keep it up.... good job!

[Thereminstrel]

Thank you!

I guess the pace is set by the piano accompaniment ... and I have to admit that most of the accompaniments I have are faster than I'd like. Also, I have a bad habit of anticipating the next note, which doesn't help either.

However, I continue to practice and, hopefully, more recent attempts are an improvement!

[kelsiejackson]

Very creative, and also very pretty. The theremin is truly a unique instrument--it's great to see someone helping keep it alive.

[Thereminstrel]

Thank you! The Theremin IS an amazing instrument; I hope that, one day, I will be able to play it well ... meanwhile, I must just keep on practicing!

[HumanisticRationale]

Keep it up, you're doing a great job. And might I say you're a brave soul for taking on this particular piece; It's no easy feat and you pulled it off nicely :)

[Thereminstrel]

Thanks for the encouragement ... it's especially appreciated as this week my practice doesn't seem to be going at all well! This piece SOUNDS easy ... but I was surprised by how deminding it turned out to be. I guess it's a combination of awkward jumps and needing a real purity of tone to sound right. Ho-hum ... I'll just have to keep practicing and maybe I'll get there in a month or two ... or three!!! (I wonder if it would be any easier to play on a more linear theremin?!)

[HumanisticRationale]

You're improving quite nicely. And you did a great job on this piece considering the difficulty of it. Keep up the wonderful work and I look forward to seeing more in the future :)

[jerrymartin79]

Very nice - you're making great progress. And the tie is totally appropriate - is there a theremin somewhere in that orchestra? :)

[Thereminstrel]

Thanks. I wish I could've done a better job of it ... but it is a surprisingly difficult piece. As for the tie, well, it has many quite rare instruments on it, but sadly no theremin!

[ThomasGrillo]

Nicely done! Thanks.