Der Erlkonig on Burns B3 Theremin

[bacterian]

Dear Mr. Grillo! I just love your passion for this instrument, your videos, and appreciate your hard work! Mind if i ask you a question? What kind of differences should one (beginner) expect from the B3 / B3 deluxe theremin? Which one is easier to play/which one you suggest - have to mention - i am more into ambient/experimenting with my (rock) band, instead of classical playing, unlike you, sir. Thanks for your answer in advance (: Greetings from Hungary!

[ThomasGrillo]

@bacterian B3 Deluxe is easiest of the Burns Theremins to play. It's a great studio instrument, but for professional gigs in public, you may also want to add or consider the Moog Etherwave Standard, with the ESPE01 enhancement module installed for even better sound. Either will be great for for ambient and experimental music. The Moog will give more tone settings, but costs 2 times more than the Burns Deluxe. See video, Exploring the ESPE01 Theremin Enhancement module for examples.

[bacterian]

@ThomasGrillo

Thank you for the quick response! So the main difference between the B3 and the deluxe is the size - and size provides easier playing, because certain notes have more space between them, thats what you meant?

[ThomasGrillo]

@bacterian You're welcome. Yeh, the difference between the little b3 seen here, and the deluxe is that the longer deluxe cabinet allows better spacing between the notes, and you have more room to play. The sound is the same on all the Burns theremins

[ScottishCommy]

How did you manage to play so close to your electronics at 3:15? Whenever I play my Moog Etherwave Standard near anything carrying a current it interacts with the pitch antenna and plays a loud note, therefore I have to play it in our sun room or turn the theremin away from the electronic.

[ThomasGrillo]

@ScottishCommy If the theremin is sounding when you walk away from it, and it's near anything metal, you simply need to remember to mute the theremin (any theremin) by laying the audio cable coming from the theremin over the volume loop to mute it. This will allow you to either walk away from the theremin, or be near it while keeping it quiet. You can also check the zero beat zone is dialed in after setting up near any object as well.

[Temur15]

Du bist Perfektionist!

[ThomasGrillo]

@Temur15 ;) Thank you.

[Divinemetal]

This is amazing. It brings out all the horror in the endless triplets. What a fascinating instrument, and a master of it.

[ThomasGrillo]

@Divinemetal Thank you. :)

[ekksmann]

wow- -such concentration-this instrument has always fascinated me. were you reading music or notation, or just playing from memory ?

[ThomasGrillo]

@ekksmann Thank you. ;)

I play strictly from memory.

[macsnafu]

Aha, I see! The piano is on the left side and the theremin is on the right side. I notice that this one is the shorter Burns B3 standard and not the longer deluxe version. Is there any problems with the pitch when controlling the volume? Or do you just have to adjust it so that the the pitch hand closer than the volume hand? I hope that makes sense.

[ThomasGrillo]

@macsnafu Until recently, I used to split the audio, but sometimes a viewer might have a bad speaker, and not hear one of the instruments, so I've started mixing normally. ;)

Your question makes sense. If the pitch field is spread out more than a couple of feet, and you play very low notes, the volume hand will be the leading hand, and therefore, pitch can be slightly altered, so on the little B3 Original, one might need to adjust accordingly. Pitch field won't affect the volume field. :)

[sun6moon9]

I got this one! Really cool video! and playing

[ThomasGrillo]

@sun6moon9 Thank you. :)

[inverseactuality]

Does the normal B3 work good alone, without other music with it (in this case a piano)? I only have about $200 USD and wanted to get into theremins. Also, do you know of a mic stand and amp that I could get with this theremin for under $50 combined?

[ThomasGrillo]

@inverseactuality As you can hear, the B3s have a nice string like tone in the low notes, and a soft female like tone in the upper notes.

You might be able to find a used amp in the 20 watt range for under 50 dollars. The B3s are designed to be used either with or without a mic stand. So, you now only need the amp for the time being. Eventually, you'll want a mic stand which can probably be found used as well.

[felinoel]

I wanted to hear how this theremin sounds so I could consider buying it or not but this video drowns out the theremin with a recording? :(

[ThomasGrillo]

@felinoel Thanks for watching. Please make sure your speaker jack or jacks are fully inserted. This video has the theremin on one side, and piano on the other. Also, please check your sound settings on your PC. I recommend turning off the SRS WOW effects. I also have a brand new video out which uses a B3 Pro (same sound circuitry) in a video called Valse Sentimentale. See what you think of the sound in that video.

[felinoel]

@ThomasGrillo

No wonder why my sound was sounding weird, lol wow

[ThomasGrillo]

@felinoel Ah, sounds like you've got the sound issue worked nicely the. :)

[niclashbg]

oldest and still the coolest electric instrument ever.

[ThomasGrillo]

@niclashbg Yes, it is. Thanks. :)

[DarkestElemental616]

This is fantastically creepy with a theremin.

[ThomasGrillo]

@DarkestElemental616 Indeed. ;)

[hallugi]

beautiful play

[ThomasGrillo]

@hallugi Thank you. :)

[DoctorDylCounseling]

The playing area seems really small on this one. Do you recomend this for a beginner or suggest I invest in a bigger one?

[ThomasGrillo]

@DoctorDylCounseling If you want to play serious theremin, you will want a theremin in a longer cabinet. However, as you can see here, this little theremin is indeed quite playable. :)

[DoctorDylCounseling]

@ThomasGrillo So which is easier to play?

[ThomasGrillo]

@DoctorDylCounseling For serious theremin students, I recommend the longer cabinet type theremins, such as the B3 Deluxe, B3 Pro, or Moog Music Etherwave Standards. These are easier to play musically. The Burns theremins don't have tonal charactor control like the Moogs, but they are less expensive, and less distracting for the student as they don't have the extra features of the Moogs.

[wolfgangstertexera]

Awesome!!! 

[ThomasGrillo]

@wolfgangstertexera Thank you. :)

[AinSophAur33]

Is there an option to power this theremin by battery?

[ThomasGrillo]

@AinSophAur33 Currently, the Burns theremins are not battery powered. However, there have been cases where users have made their own battery power suppy for use with a theremin. Head over to thereminworld on the web and look in the theremin construction forum to find threads about this.

[ThomasGrillo]

@ThomasGrillo I should also point out that the Gakken theremin Premium is battery powered, but you have to wear a wrist strap to make it work.

[AinSophAur33]

@ThomasGrillo Okay, say I have about $160 to spend. In terms of ease of use and playability, would you recommend the Gakken or the B3? I'm new to theremins, and people say they're tough because the pitches aren't uniform in how you move your hand. Though I have absolute pitch so it's probably somewhat easier ;)

[ThomasGrillo]

@AinSophAur33 If you're sereous about a good sounding theremin, then you'll at least want a B3 Original, or a B3 Deluxe.

[AinSophAur33]

@ThomasGrillo Thank you so much for your help.

[ThomasGrillo]

@AinSophAur33 You're welcome. :)

[TheMusicChick90]

That is the coolest way to bring Schubert into the 20th century EVER!! EPIC WIN!!! I love the Erl King. or Erlkonig.

[ThomasGrillo]

@TheMusicChick90 Thank you for the kind words. :)

[GaolisVideoLog]

@TheMusicChick90 Dude, it's 2010. It's the 21st ct.

[TheMusicChick90]

@GaolisVideoLog When do you think theremins were invented..... yesterday?

[ThomasGrillo]

@TheMusicChick90 Theremins were invented by Leon Theremin, a Russian physicist in 1919, and his patent was granted in 1925.

[brotherjames10]

i hope to get this theremin for my birthday

[ThomasGrillo]

I certainly wish you a happy birthday, and I'll touch wood, and cross fingers in hopes that you do get a theremin for your birthday. :)

[wdwfan813]

you rule

[ThomasGrillo]

Thank you. :)

[wdwfan813]

you rule

[ThomasGrillo]

Thank you. :)

[6dbdrop]

A very nice piece of work Thomas. It is a most technically demanding piece, and the characteristics of the instrument are restrictive. Nevertheless, a nice result. Congratulations.

[ThomasGrillo]

Thank you. :)

[TheTheremIndiana]

Thanks for all your cool video lessons on YouTube. They are a major help. I use your four position method when playing scales as well. I also use the octave to tune my B3. Theremin is a lot different from electric bass guitar (my primary instrument), but I love it just as much. You are an awesome thereminist and your love for this mysterious instrument really shows.

[ThomasGrillo]

Thank you for the very kind words. I'm glad to hear you're also enjoying the theremin as much as your prime instrument. ;)

I wish you all the best with your musical endeavours. :)

[dannheimd]

Wow !!! You are so good Thomas !

I like the Theremin thats my favourite instrument but i cant play it...

[ThomasGrillo]

Thanks for the kind words. :)

[1viva]

Besides the Ave Maria I think this piece is one of my favorite interpretation of yours! :-)

Mario

[ThomasGrillo]

Thanks. This was a challenging piece. :)

[1viva]

Beautiful, Thomas! :-)

Mario

[ThomasGrillo]

Thank you. :)

[04Anne89]

I prefer this version than with vocal :)

[ThomasGrillo]

Thank you. :)

[emojoerocks]

Brilliant! I love Der Erlkonig, and your rendition was fantastic!

[ThomasGrillo]

Thank you. This one was a challenge, but lots of fun to do. :)

[ThomasGrillo]

Theremins are electronic musical instruments which are played without being touched. They use a radio-magnetic-electrical field around the antennas as the interface by which they're played. Our interactions causes changes in the field's capacitence, and this causes changes to a variable oscilator (tone generating device), which works with another oscilator to produce sound which is sent to a peaker via audio cable.

More info at thereminworld . com, in the theremin construction forums. :)

[YourAccompanist]

This is remarkable! Congratulations! ;0)

[ThomasGrillo]

Thank you. :)

[Pricher1991]

Hey, it would be nicer if you'd only play the part who is normally voice.

[ThomasGrillo]

Yeh, Other than the very start, I prettymuch did the voice. It was a touch decision to follow the piano at the start. :)

[coolcastuper]

That was very impressive. So focused and serious. lol. Good job. Do you play any traditional instruments? It seems like you would be good at playing the violin with that vibrato-like technique you use.

[ThomasGrillo]

Thank you. I played the violin from age 7 to about 12, and switched to flute for a while, and then voice. I much prefer the theremin as it really connects with me on an emotional level in ways conventional instruments don't with me, even though I may not allways show it im my facial expressions. :)

[vortexxman]

Great job on Der Erlkönig. Only thing that could have made it better, would be if the theremin part was louder. Near the end, in the vocal version, the boy's voice is nearly screaming in fear, if you made it alot louder at that part, it would have been even better. :)

[ThomasGrillo]

I agree a hundred percent. There were technical limits which prevented inputing quite the dynamic range I wanted to without overdriving the audio, which was happening a bit even in this version. I shall certainly do this in live performances. Thanks for the kind words. :)

[vortexxman]

Burns e-mailed me and said my B3 theremin should arrive next week! I'm so excited! I hope it doesn't scare my dog.Just wondering, does the B3's small size affect the pitch range?

[ThomasGrillo]

Congrats on your first theremin.

The small b3 has the same pitch range as it's bigger versions. However, the smaller one is a bit trickier as the field has to be dialed in just a bit tighter than the bigger theremins, but it's still quite playable.

Your dog should be fine around the theremin after a day or so, just watch the very high notes. The B3s go higher than the Etherwaves. :)

[vortexxman]

Oh, and by the way, I also ordered your instructional DVD.

[ThomasGrillo]

Ah, cool. I hope you enjoy it. :)

[hrmarinkovic]

I admire you, many people say, heh, i could do that too, but this instrument is actually so hard to play, so hard to get the tone you want, i admire you, you are so good at playing this instrument. 5*

[ThomasGrillo]

Thank you for the kind words. :)

[asshatt1]

thank you so much for keeping the integrity of this amazing interment alive.

[ThomasGrillo]

You're welcome. :)

[hypergolic]

I do think you've improved, my good fellow, since last we met. BTW, Moogfest is now for fall 2010, unless you've heard something more definite than that.

Philip

[ThomasGrillo]

Thanks for the kind words. I do intend to be there. :)

[Oilasor925]

Wow nice song this sais 9/25/09 that was my birthday last Friday very good song recorded on my bday : )

[ThomasGrillo]

Thanks for the very kind words, and happy birthday! :)

[squeakD]

WOW! That was amazing man :)

[ThomasGrillo]

Thank you for the kind words. :)

[madamerotten]

That was brilliant, Tom!

[ThomasGrillo]

Thank you. :)

[obsidiantwilightband]

A very fitting piece, and a moving performance!

[ThomasGrillo]

Thank you. :)

[juanadd]

Sweet. I enjoy how I hear the piano on my left and the theremin on the right.

[ThomasGrillo]

Thanks. I did that so theremin students can tune out the theremin if they want to try playing along. :)

[Jesstilence]

You never fail to impress me.

[ThomasGrillo]

Thank you. :)

[imdeanam]

Will do!!

[ThomasGrillo]

Cool. Thanks. :)

[imdeanam]

Hey, another awesome job Thomas! Dan's mom :))

[ThomasGrillo]

Thanks for the kind words. :)

[ThomasGrillo]

Oh, tell Dan I said hello. :)

[stradly1]

Fantastic job! I will ask if any of my friends have seen this and refer you!

[ThomasGrillo]

Thank you. :)

[omnomanon]

I wish I could play the theremin like this.

[ThomasGrillo]

Thanks for the kind words. ;)

[Jlowe110]

You're amazing!

[ThomasGrillo]

Thanks. :)

[Neslakim]

Do you know Bill Baily?

The Brithish Actor/Commedian.

He used the Theremin in on of his live shows.

Wish the theremin was used more in the music world.

It has so much potential.

Great show btw ;) 5 stars.

[ThomasGrillo]

Thank you for the kind words.

I've seen that show Bill Baily did. :)

[iolar1]

great job!  Like the end credits too!

[ThomasGrillo]

Thank you. :)

[Thereminstrel]

Amazing! That's not a piece I would've ever considered for the theremin ... but your wonderful performance of it shows what an expert thereminist you are!

Thank you!

[ThomasGrillo]

Thanks for the kind words. :)

[MrJeekz]

Great job!

[ThomasGrillo]

Thank you. :)

[manice08]

May I ask how much do you prepare and practice before recording? because you are very good :)

[ThomasGrillo]

Thank you.

Before a shoot, or recording, there's a two week period when I hit it for about 8 to 10 hours a day on all the pieces I'm performing if it's a concert. For youtube vids, it's prettymuch the same schedule, only not quite as intense, I save that for the last couple of days prior.

On this one, I spent about 11 hours doing intensive rehearsal on the work the day before the shoot, but I've spent about a year studying this one, and Requiebros. :)

[manice08]

wow, it was worth it

do u use sheet music when recording?

[ThomasGrillo]

Thanks. :)

I don't use sheet music much because of my vision. I have to memorize it all, and literally play it by ear, after playing along with reference recordings.

[manice08]

i have done that. I play Clarinet, but nothing of this magnitude.

but practice makes perfect :)

[ThomasGrillo]

Indeed. :)

[WarningSDE]

I love your face expression while you're playing

You mean business

[ThomasGrillo]

Yeh, lol. :) Thanks.

[bobbo924B]

Great, Thomas. Wonderful "go for it" on those staccato passages. This is a very challenging piece for theremin, and on that tiny Burns original. Wonderful job, and good to see you posting again.

[ThomasGrillo]

Thanks for the kind words.

I originally wanted to do Requiebros, but that one's still under copyright protection. Waiting for a quote on licensing from the owner.

It is indeed good to be back. :)

[Penguindude99801]

Please don't think I'm a jerk... I think you should think about getting a full back vest or wearing a jacket. You'd look more "snazzy" as I would put it.

:)

I love you're playing.

[ThomasGrillo]

Thanks for the kind words.

I have actually tried a full vest, and under the lights, that gets mighty hot, and don't look at all pretty after a lot of time on stage. As for jackets, they get noisy with all the rubbing from the arm vibrato close in. Got annoyed with it, and went with the current garb. :)

[emilygclarinet]

WOW!

[ThomasGrillo]

Thanks. :)

[iamtwisted1]

I thoroughly enjoyed that, great job!

5*****

[ThomasGrillo]

Thank you. :)

[greatflyingfetus]

That was great. You should post stuff more often. I had forgotten that I had a subscription to you

[ThomasGrillo]

LOL, :) Thank you, I certainly shall post more often.

[dnicholls1]

Ah good to see your back Thomas.

Its been a while!

=)

[ThomasGrillo]

Thank you. Production of my Theremin Lessons DVD took about 4 months, and ate up much of my time. :)

It's good to be back. :)