NESSUN DORMA on Theremin by Thomas Grillo

[XTheHopelessXx]

These have probably been asked already but how old were you when you first picked up a Theremin and when did you realize you loved playing it?

[ThomasGrillo]

@XTheHopelessXx I was in my early 40s when I first picked up a theremin. It wasn't all that difficult as it's fairly light, you know.

I realized I loved playing it when after a few weeks, it stopped sounding like a catfight in a sewer pipe, and more like the violin I played as a kid.

[romefox]

I wasn't sure how Nessun Dorma would fair on a Theremin, I was pleasantly surprised, great performance!!

[ThomasGrillo]

@romefox Thank you. :)

[yeapsystar]

Wow! Wonderful! ;-) Didn't notice this one until today :D

[ThomasGrillo]

@yeapsystar Better late than never. :) Glad you enjoyed it.

[jackdietrich87]

You get used to Nessun Dorma being artlessly belted out by showoff tenors, then you hear this. The delicateness, the fragility of those high notes, just wonderful.

[ThomasGrillo]

@jackdietrich87 Thank you for the kind words. :)

[marineproductions1]

america's got talent



[ThomasGrillo]

@marineproductions1 Perhaps one day, maybe. ;)

[marineproductions1]

@ThomasGrillo if you go i'm sure you can win :)

[ThomasGrillo]

@marineproductions1 Thank you. ;) I've been approached, but they would not put up the funds for air-fare, and extra baggage fees to tet there.

[EtherealTristesse]

This was very beautiful, Thomas :) I truly enjoyed....

[ThomasGrillo]

@EtherealTristesse Thank you. Glad you enjoyed it. :)

[oscarwyatt69]

This... is... beautiful... :')

[ThomasGrillo]

@oscarwyatt69 Thank you. :)

[oscarwyatt69]

@ThomasGrillo Don't mention it, it makes me not believe in humanity that this only has 6,000 views, when some teenagers with no talent make millions :(.

[ThomasGrillo]

@oscarwyatt69 Indeed. Certainly something wrong when a cat gets more views.

[ferretvscat]

Hi, Thomas! An spanish fan there!

Did you ever notice thatwhen you play theremin you are, in fact, playing GOD? Because you are play the air, or the ether, or whatever.

Anyway, keep the good work. Cheers!

[ThomasGrillo]

@ferretvscat Thank you. At times, when everything is coming together correctly, it can indeed make you feel as if you are interacting with a devine energy. ;)

[nostoylocostoycrazy]

no offense, but are you blind?

ps. you became one of my favorite permormers!!!!!

greetings from mexico

[ThomasGrillo]

@nostoylocostoycrazy None taken. Yeh, I'm considered legally blind.

Glad you enjoy my performances. :)

[TheHardcoreArtist]

@ThomasGrillo theres something about being blind and being gifted at music :P

your performances are hauntingly beautiful!

[ThomasGrillo]

@TheHardcoreArtist Thank you. :)

[ThomasGrillo]

@nostoylocostoycrazy I said I was "legally blind", not totally blind. However, either way, we use assistive devices to use computers. In my case, I need a reading telescope which is a small scope which is mounted on glasses. I also use screen magnification software in some cases. Windows 7 comes with it. For totally blind users there's screen reading, text to speech software that allows one to hear what's on the screen. Some blind users use refreshable braile interface.

[zebonox]

Bravo ! C'est remarquable.

[ThomasGrillo]

@zebonox Thank you. :)

[tzouzi]

amazing :)

[ThomasGrillo]

@tzouzi Thank you. :)

[MaledettiDispo]

OCULUS REPARO !!!

[ruevo1]

Eine sehr, sehr beeindruckende und gefühlvolle Interpretation vom Theremin-Künstler und auch vom Pianisten. Gratulation. Grüße aus dem Norden Deutschlands - ruevo - Rüdiger

[ThomasGrillo]

@ruevo1 Thank you for the kind words. :)

[patre9092]

wow :O

[ThomasGrillo]

@patre9092 Thanks. :)

[Organsk8er]

Leon Theremin would be so thrilled to see his instrument played so expressively, and beautifully.  The instrument has kind of become something associated with little more than horror movies and old time radio, but I have no doubt this sort of thing is more of what he would have had in mind. Bravo!

[ThomasGrillo]

@Organsk8er Thank you for the kind words. :)

[plasticPlaystation]

Such a difficult instrume! Awesome.

[ThomasGrillo]

@plasticPlaystation Thank you. :)

[Victorgoleche75]

Theremin + Bowtie = BADASSERY TO THE MAX!

Awesome rendition :)

[ThomasGrillo]

@Victorgoleche75 Thanks. :)

[whataboutredlorry]

But... but... but how are you meant to know where to put your hands? Do you also read music while you play the thermin? Or is it a case of just remembering the song and playing by ear (and hand position)?

[ThomasGrillo]

@whataboutredlorry Thereminists play using what's known as muscle memory which is built up after years of experience with the theremin.

I don't sight read music much, if at all, because I'm legally blind. So, I have to memorize the music I play. :)

[iDontevenknowdude]

i am so sorry for saying this, but this must be the wierdest intrument i have ever seen,.. ever? yeah EVER

[ThomasGrillo]

@iDontevenknowdude Meh, no worries. You'll get used to it. :)

[MirkoScheuer]

Hello Thomas. How are you ? Actually I'm working with classic music. I want to make myself a little "album" to be able to play in a local or on a event in Future. My playing gets better and better. I was verry unhappy when Pavarotti died but this is for me a verry nice tribute to him. I love the sound of the Moog Pro it's amazing.

Your German is verry good. In the Video where you showed us the B3 Pro. I was really amazed.

See you, greeting Mirko :)

(And again sorry for my Englisch)

[ThomasGrillo]

@MirkoScheuer Hello. Thank you for the kind words. I'm pretty sure my German is the result of the wonderful translation software in use today. :)

Yes, I too, was affected by Pavarotti's passing.

I wish you all the best with your music repertoire selections.

[jollino]

Mr. Leon Theremin would be proud of you. And so would Puccini.

[ThomasGrillo]

@jollino Thank you. :)

[nuclear944]

Sanctifying accuracy- excellent performance!

[ThomasGrillo]

@nuclear944 Thank you. :)

[bobzilla211]

how many theremins (or is the plural theremin?) do you have? are they expensive? by the way i can't begin to imagine how hard this thing must be to play well...nice work.

[unbeknownst1]

wonderful; bravo!

[ThomasGrillo]

Thank you. :)

[sociallyfun]

fantastic,,, as always...I love that music. enjoyed it so much

[ThomasGrillo]

Thank you for the kind words. :)

[DoxDoigts]

Perfect as always. :-)

Very, very nice.

I enjoyed it tremendously.

(BTW. Did you lose weight?)

Friendly greetings

Dox Doigts

The Netherlands

[ThomasGrillo]

Thank you for the kind words.

I have lost a little weight. Or was it the new lighting. :)

[conquerearth]

SUPERB! One of the best theremin performances i've seen to date. The video appeared as a "featured" video in the related videos section of another theremin video I was watching. I was wondering, how did you get that?

[ThomasGrillo]

Thanks for the kind words. :)

How a video gets featured depends on it's popularity, and quality.

[conquerearth]

certainly the quality of this video is very high. 3 camera angles!

[ThomasGrillo]

Thanks. Not easy edit. :)

[Thereminstrel]

Thank you! Very enjoyable indeed ... and great to hear you playing the E-Pro again, it has such a very vocal sound!

[ThomasGrillo]

Thanks for the kind words. It's been too long since I played the EW Pro. Glad you enjoyed it. :)

[blakesquakers]

You are AMAZING! and so persistent to learn the theremin to that extent!!

I've just started out and all I can manage is an out of tune racket. Do you have any advice for a beginner and what to practice on to get some basic skills developed?

How do you hit the notes so well and know exactly where they are? I guess just loads of practice (:

Anyway thanks!

[ThomasGrillo]

Thanks for the kind words, and you're welcome. :)

It does take a lot of dedication, effort, and patience to master the theremin. It can take weeks, to months to start getting scales down accurately, and steadily. Then, it takes many months, to years, to master the artistic aspect of playing "music" with feeling and expression.

I usually practice from 4 to 6 hours a day, most days of the week.

I suggest dvds, books, check thereminworld, and think about lessons. I teach via skype. :)

[blakesquakers]

wow, I certainly admire that! I will definitely make my way through your lessons and up my practicing!

Cheers for the info!

[ThomasGrillo]

Thank you. I wish you all the best with your endeavours with the theremin.

Cheers, indeed. :)

[MindsiMedia]

Bravo!

[ThomasGrillo]

Thanks. :)

[KevinColosa]

Incredible rendition, Thomas. The multiple angles and crossfades work really well, too.

[ThomasGrillo]

Thank you. I'm learning a bit more about video choriography in music these days. :)

[EmperorAst]

Beautiful. No glasses this time?

[ThomasGrillo]

Thanks. :)

Two reasons for not wearing my glasses this time. 1, the temple broke off one side, and 2, glasses just cast way too much reflection from the huge umbrella reflectors, and soft boxes on the set. My lenses are such that, even placing the lighting high, or having the talent, me, looking downward, still won't help, so, very likely, from now on, the glasses will be off the set for good.

[EmperorAst]

Reflections... I hate when it happens. Hey, maybe it's time we throw our glasses for good?! :)

I also want to say the video was very good with the different angles and shots.

[ThomasGrillo]

Thanks. :)

It's ironic. I don't wear glasses when I sing in opera performances on set. Perhaps the youtube stage should be no different then. :)

[AVAINTEX]

wooow your coooooooooooooooooooooool

[ThomasGrillo]

Thank you. :)

[SolarGranulation]

Great performance, thank you.

[ThomasGrillo]

Thanks. Glad you enjoyed it. :)

[YourAccompanist]

Yay! Another lovely interpretation. Amazing! We love it! Best wishes, Helen and the team! xx

[ThomasGrillo]

Thank you for the kind words. I'm glad you enoyed it. :)

[04Anne89]

It's just beautiful! :) 5 stars of course ;)

[ThomasGrillo]

Thank you. :)

[Caru2]

That was really great. Excellent song choice as well. I felt a little proud to know the song without having to look it up. But again, very excellent work, I commend you.

[ThomasGrillo]

Thank you for the kind words. :)

[ackrabator]

me gusto la vercion de esta cancion en el

Theremin.

[ThomasGrillo]

Thank you.

[Gesmehod]

Thanks, my evening needed a little good music.

[ThomasGrillo]

You're welcome. :)

[laptinek1138]

Your technique is, once again, so impressive!

Did you change to a newer camera to record this piece? The image seems a lot sharper.

[ThomasGrillo]

Thank you for the kind words. :)

Actually, all three cameras are the same ones I've been using since last year, just little aptec HD cams, but what's majorly different is the lighting. I upgraded to entry level studio lighting which is a pair of reflector umbrellas, and a couple of 45 watt, daylight balanced CFL bulbs for each umbrella. Also using the customary hair / backlight above and behind me too.

[qsmile]

Nicely played. very slick video as well.

Looking extra spiffy and handsome, : )

[ThomasGrillo]

Thank you for the kind words. :)

[Weezie1588]

Always a pleasure to hear new Theremin interpretations. The notes are increibly on pitch too. I play the viola and there is a slight margin of error in placing my figners but the basics rule out that error (for the most part) but it litterally pull them from air, is quite remarkable. Good Job, keep it up! Please!

[ThomasGrillo]

Thank you. I certainly shall. :)

[epservice]

lovely, well done!

[ThomasGrillo]

Thank you. :)

[BeFrSc]

Beautiful work Thomas, I'm glad to be one of the first people to catch this, I know a lot of people that have sung this, and as a tenor you should know what its like. Have you ever sung it?

[ThomasGrillo]

Thank you. :)

I've only tried this piece when I was in my 20s in music school. These days, I don't know if I can still get that highest note. I've allways been inspired by this piece. :)