theremin duo in New York

[MrUkest]

There are also several concertos written for the theremin.

And yes, because you can change the wave forms on a Moog Etherwave theremin you can get it to blend with singers or stringed instruments. It will sound very similar to a viola. Do some research, people.

[MrUkest]

For people who don't think the theremin is a real instrument:

The theremin has an indefinite pitch range, and because the oscillators (the little things that produce vibrations that produce sound) are always changing, the note is always changing, getting correct intonation is very difficult. That being said, someone with perfect pitch, or with a trained ear, can stay in tune, no problem, by adjusting pitches overtime. To help with that higher end theremins will tell you when you are out oftune

[murilosys]

Por um momento até pareceu com música brasileira

[dragonfiremalus]

Off key. Way

[nfhall1978]

Wow. I am seeing some pretty narrow and ethnocentric definitions of music in the comments here. Anything that can be used to create sound can be used as a musical instrument. There is no single definition of music that will encompass all aesthetics and cultures. Therefore, yes, the theramin is an instrument, and yes, they are playing music. That doesn't mean you have to like it.

[bodde123]

@nfhall1978 i agree with you but i think that the theremin isnt fully "developped" yet i cant actually find it fitting in any song because its sort of is a replacement for the vocalist (my opinion) and a vocalist can do a wayy beter job

[nfhall1978]

@bodde123 The theme from the original Star Trek featured a theremin, as did Beach Boys' song Good Vibrations, and They Might Be Giants in the Space Suit on the Apollo 18 album. It has been used quite successfully. My personal aesthetics are in line with yours--I tend to prefer a vocalist, but that's an opinion rather than an objective fact. You might think that all of those songs would be better served by a vocalist, but that wasn't the artistic choice of the people involved.

[WellHiThere631]

@nfhall1978 EXACTLY. even something as simple as tapping two sticks together is music. because music is expression and therefore, does not have an exact sound.

[gradster1]

The guy needs to get a better ear for pitch...

[ThereminWeirdo]

try it in an octave lower.

[didgeboy287]

It's nice to hear some theremin playing with a little staccato like this. I've heard some great stuff, but it's generally these long gusts of sound up and down. This has a tightly controlled sound.

[proudbugowner]

Wooooot!!! Is the vid flipped or there are also left-handed theremins?

[OilisOver]

@proudbugowner the theremin itself is flipped... doing so its controls switches are no more in front of the player but in front of the audience.. but that's all you need to do if being left haded as I'm

[proudbugowner]

@OilisOver Cool! Thanx for the reply!

The Moog theremin here doesnt seem to be flipped though...

[GuitarKing287]

ladies and gentlemen of youtube.

tell me if i'm wrong,

but from the side, the guitarist looks like steve perry from journey.

[dudah]

none of the notes were right man damn it hurts my ears really bad

[mtc3000]

when played correctly, it can sound like a cello. It helps to have perfect pitch.

[rugbyplayer9999]

I just don't get why anyone on Earth would want to play or to listen to this. It sounds like someone in pain. Why am I even here?

[SalaD891]

@rugbyplayer9999 LOL you're so right, but its still fuckin weird as shit.

[CaptRobthePirate]

@2milho: What about the trombone? Is that an instrument in your opinion? There are no demarcated, absolute positions on that instrument, and it can hit notes all over the place as well, but it is normally considered an instrument. Just because you probably can't play either of them does not mean that you can go about claiming they cannot be played! Lots more musicians use theremin than you might think dude. Cake, Portishead, Zeppelin, etc.

[rugbyplayer9999]

Yes, but trombone blends in with the brass section of any band or orchestra. (I play trombone). This "instrument" could only blend in with whining toddlers. And, plus, trombone playing depends so much more on the player's lip and airstream than it does on simple hand movement from position to position. Theremin is solely dependent on hand coordination and.. electricity. Please, please, do not compare the trombone to the theremin.

[2milho]

every1 tryed to convince me. Well, you didn't.

Again, this "musical instrument" could be used for soundtracks or something. It's weird.

IT CAN'T PLAY MUSIC AS WE KNOW IT, therefore IT'S NO USE FOR THAT PURPOSE.

what's the deal with an instrument that can't hit notes? I mean, you sort of can, but not really. It doesn't sinergyse with anything else in a band, just sounds "off".

You all think it's cool because it's a curious invention. Not because of the way it sounds. So cut the bullshit.

[Timmybear]

I suggest searching for Clara Rockmore on here, accompanied by her sister, and then tell me it can't play music as we know it.

[2milho]

@Timmybear nah. I saw her videos. indeed, impressive control she has. But if you think she's hitting the right notes... I'm sorry to say you don't have such a developed brain for music. Lots of notes were off the tone.

[Timmybear]

@2milho - thank you for your opinion. I disagree, and I have, as it happens, quite a musical background (and even if I didn't, that wouldn't invalidate what is, after all, an aesthetic opinion).

[hannawatson]

it sounds strange.yet so funny

[rectumbiter420]

YEAH GET EXTREMLY HIGH

[matrix12x]

This is possibly the most ignorant statement I have ever heard. What are you 13 years old?!? lol. ;-)

Relax and just enjoy this great playing. If you don't like it, you can just not watch it, that's the best part of youtube.

[matrix12x]

excellent playing!!

[2milho]

WHAT IS THE POINT TO PLAY SOMETHING THAT JUST CANT HIT THE RIGHT NOTES??

fuck that, theremin's the worse idea I've ever seen for a musical instrument. AND PEOPLE STILL PLAY IT!!!! wtf has gone wrong with this world...

[matrix12x]

Are you retarded? That's like saying whats the point of playing cello?!?

[2milho]

are YOU retarded? you CAN hit the right tones playing cello! Dude, with this theremin thing you try an A and it hits a D wich will soon become a G cause it is anoyingly unstable and unprecise.

I still think people who play this are simply dumb and know shit about music.

[2milho]

I mean LISTEN THIS! IT SOUNDS LIKE CRAP!

This so called "instrument" could do to make abstract soundtrack for a video or something like that - NOT MUSIC, for christ sake

[ahsver]

Dude I agree with you, have no clue why others are so happy about those whining noises.

[2milho]

YEAH!!! thanks dude

someone can REASON here

=]

[LordEmilous]

Theremin is COOL AND AWESOME!

It's almost like taking LSD, you hold music in your hands and TWIST I!!!! COOOL

YOU FOOL MISTER SHOULD JUST CHILL AND GET EXTREMELY HIGH!!!

hehe, you suck seriously :D

[2milho]

HAHAHAHAHAH

I suck.

Look at what u're saying dude.

Damn kid.

[LordEmilous]

HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHA Sucky

[LordEmilous]

sucky :D you sucky :D

[LordVeldrin]

well i'd say this is pretty one sided. seems ur alone with ur opinion on this. now let's see about why it's so unstable, and why is it an instrument like any other... IT TAKES PRACTICE JUST LIKE ANY OTHER INSTRUMENT, YA IDGIT! don't tell me u can play any instrument perfectly right from scratch! or u hate it cos it's a thing u failed with? there's simply no way u haven't tried it and dare post such embarrassing comments.

[2milho]

and I'd say an instrument that takes TWO HUMAN LIFETIMES to sound ACCEPTABLE is BULLSHIT

[LordVeldrin]

only to those that are with some huge amount of anti-talent. as i said. u got ur opinion. nothin wrong with that. but just cos u don't like it doesn't mean u have to erase it's existence. tho if u still think so, u can try to.

[2milho]

I admit the idea is potentially cool. But it sucks when it comes to real life. period.

[jsemdevka]

false

[darock420]

false?

[upperlevelthegreat]

false

[leni535]

He must be a cellist.

[rcousinrudy]

Because, because...

[ScardTemple]

they are pretty good