ALTO VOLO on Theremin and Novachord

[dieselheart001]

"High Flight", continued... Wheeled and soared and swung High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there, I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung My eager craft throught footless halls of air. Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace Where never lark, or even eagle flew. And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod The high untrespassed sancitity of space, Put out my hand and touched the face of God For me, a glider is as close as I get.

[ThomasGrillo]

@dieselheart001 Hello. Just read both comments. I very nearly did a spoken version of this on the video. Very moving indeed.

I've taken a couple of intro lesson flights in gliders back in the 80s, just to see what it was like. You're absolutely right. :)

[dieselheart001]

@ThomasGrillo I think that would be very appropriate. If I had to do it, I would have to hire someone- Patrick Stewart or James Earl Jones would be two that come to mind. I sound like a big old hick when I speak.

[ThomasGrillo]

@dieselheart001 Those would certainly be great choices. I used to work in radio, and even worked up the voice-over with a touch of echo, but decided to just use the music alone as it sounded too cool to talk over. :)

[dieselheart001]

"High Flight" by John Gillespie Magee, Jr.

Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth

And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;

Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth.

Of sun-split clouds--and done a hundred things

You have not dreamed of-

continued....

[dieselheart001]

I could lose all sense of time meditating to this... I'm in the process of beginning my journey to build a Keppinger design Theremin, and if I can find one, hopefully one day, be playing a Novachord I restored. Thank you, and Dan Wilson, for this lovely musical excursion!

[ThomasGrillo]

@dieselheart001 Thank you. I just saw your note about the Keppinger theremin over at my Theremin Lesson One video. I'll pass along your words to Dan as well. :)

[Quat42]

Hi, I just stumbled upon this track (beautiful!) and I'm having the strangest case of dejavu! Has it been used in some movie score or something? Also, is the 'Novachord & Theremin Duets' on Last.fm an album or just this track (if it's an album, how can I buy a cd)?

[ThomasGrillo]

@Quat42 Thanks for the kind words. This track has not been in any movie score,,,yet. I'm working on a script. Hmm, not a bad idea, come to think of it. ;)

You have certainly heard the Novachord by it's self in 40s and 50s vintage horror / thriller movies.

So far, the "album" at Last.fm is just the one track. I do have a CD at my shop which has this track on it. The CD is Theremin Classics with Thomas Grillo.

[iloverush123]

This is one of the greatest pieces of music I've ever heard. Can I download it somewhere?

[ThomasGrillo]

@iloverush123 Thank you. I sell a CD or download version of the CD in mp3 format via emailed download link. Just head to my web site via my channel.

[ThomasGrillo]

@iloverush123 Oh, I forgot to mention, the CD is called Theremin Classics. If you just want this particular song, just make a donation of one buck, and I'll email you the Alto Volo piece. ;)

[Axibis]

Bravo.

[ThomasGrillo]

@Axibis Thank you. :)

[Booger6995]

WOW. One of the smoothest Theremin performances I have ever heard. Really good scaling.

[ThomasGrillo]

@Booger6995 Thank you. :)

[Spacelamb]

This music was improvised?! Respect.

[ThomasGrillo]

@Spacelamb Yes. Dan Wilson improvised the Novachord accomp, and I improvised the melody for theremin.

Thanks for the kind words. :)

[JeffBilkins]

playing like the super mario theme is nice for laughters, but dreamy floaty music like this is what the theremin really excells at. synthesisers have nothing on it.

[ThomasGrillo]

@JeffBilkins I agree. :)

[Denvermorgan2000]

its amazing the sound of the theremin.

[ThomasGrillo]

@Denvermorgan2000 Thanks. It really can be. :)

[Sephiroz97]

Unbelievable.

[theremin137]

Absolutely beautiful, Thomas. And I've had the same dream.......

[ThomasGrillo]

@theremin137 Awesome, and thanks for the kind words. :)

[didgeboy287]

This has to be one of your best works. I was discussing with a friend the other night about what musical genre feels most at home for the theremin and we figured it was new age or electronica. I'd say new age with just the original sound of the theremin. Where do you say it fits best? (Impeccable pitch by the way and excellent reverb/echo)

[ThomasGrillo]

@didgeboy287 Thanks for the kind words. For me, the theremin fits best in whatever music one can actually allow emotional expression to be exhibited. Those genres are, as you've already mentioned, New Age, Electronica, as well as Classical, Jazz Funk (yup that too), and my band and I are working on Blues with the theremin. :)

[ciccioscardo88]

I'm going to buy a theremin, because I want to try this incredible sensation! I'll watch your lessons to learn. Thank you! I play guitar and this is a new world for me, but I want to discover it!

[ThomasGrillo]

@ciccioscardo88 I certainly wish you all the best with your endeavours with the theremin. It is an incredible world of discovery. :)

[ciccioscardo88]

..............Incredible! This sound is fantastic! This is a Real Sound! Thank you for this incredible emotion!!!!

[ThomasGrillo]

@ciccioscardo88 You're more than welcome. ;)

[ciccioscardo88]

@ThomasGrillo I'm going to buy a theremin, because I want to try this incredible sensation! I'll watch your lessons to learn. Thank you! I play guitar and this is a new world for me, but I want to discover it!

[theironfreak]

the novachord is IRREPLACABLE. I haven't heard one digital synthesizer that can produce the same sublime tones as the original. pity they stopped production...

[ThomasGrillo]

@theironfreak Indeed. However, one NovaChord owner has sampled every note of his NovaChord and made them available for use in a VST. Still not the real thing, but better than nothing, and it's not just one note sampled and reproduced all over the scale. No, it's EVERY note that he sampled. Visit the link to D.A. Wilsons's site for all the low down on his work. After seeing what's in a NC, I understand why it was discontinued. I wouldn't even want to think of the difficulty involving production.

[Bloozboy91]

Thomas, not sure if you remember me from before, but I would like to present to you information I have recently learned. A theoretical physicist by the name Michio Kaku pointed out in one of his interviews that radio waves are a by-product of the creation of the universe. He said that by tuning into a blank radio station you are hearing the actual sounds of the universe. This being said, by playing a theremin you are in a way playing the very essence of this universe. Thought you should know! :)

[ThomasGrillo]

@Bloozboy91 Hello. That's fascinating. Oddly enough, theremins are also known by another name, aetherphone, or etherphone, because of the ethereal tones these instruments produce, and because one plays by just moving one's hands about in space. Very interesting. :)

[Arantz88]

wow thomas you improved a lot! you are a master!

I like a lot this video!

[ThomasGrillo]

@Arantz88 Thank you. I'm glad you enjoyed it. :)

[Meteotrance]

Sound like the voice of an angel,it give me goose bump !!!

i wonder if a moog guitar can sound ethereal like this, the hamond novachord is freaky awesome !!!

[ThomasGrillo]

@Meteotrance Thanks for the kind words. :)

The moog guitar has sustainers which should produce some really cool music. I only wish they'd made a fretless version. :)

[MindsiMedia]

A true work of art.

[ThomasGrillo]

Thank you. :)

[Deathscythetransform]

I really enjoy this music

so soothing and relaxing:)

say my dream isnt to fly to space

but to own a 58 plymouth fury (christine)

I will live my dream!

[ThomasGrillo]

Thanks.

Your dream sounds like a good one to me. :)

[Deathscythetransform]

keeps me alive :)

[ThomasGrillo]

That's not up to me. :)

[Deathscythetransform]

I know that I am working in it... once I get it, I will post a video of it and I on you tube :)

[ThomasGrillo]

Awesome! :)

[HideawayStudio]

This recording started off as an experiment to determine how well the two vintage instruments would sit in a mix together. It turned out much better than I could have imagined. The two instruments really do sound beautiful in a duet. Thomas did a really lovely job improvising over my "off-the-cuff" Novachord ensemble and the this is definitely a case where the whole is greater than the sum of the two parts.

Many thanks,

Dan Wilson with Novachord 346

Hideaway Studio.

[ThomasGrillo]

I agree. :)

[EminenceMR]

Beautifull.. the best video over.

[ThomasGrillo]

Thank you. :)

[phithetagamma]

I really love this track. Thank you very much for uploading!

[ThomasGrillo]

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

[uItravioIet]

sounds great!

[ThomasGrillo]

Thank you. :)

[uItravioIet]

You're welcome. Tell me something - how did you ever get your hands on a Novachord?

[pfarrell65]

Absolutely beautiful Thomas i have always been fascinated by the theremin and am hoping my young daughter will be as fascinated as me.

Have not purchased one yet but definitely will.

Thank you very much

[ThomasGrillo]

Thank you.

I wish you all the best with the theremin. :)

[generatorium]

I wonder why is this video not popular, it should have at least 1 million watchers.

[ThomasGrillo]

That's a very good question. For a while, the view counter froze as it did on one other video.

Thanks for the kind words. :)

[cordeiropascoal]

Thank you Thomas! ..and please, keep flying.

[ThomasGrillo]

You're welcome. :)

[acdeeds]

This is awesome, you inspired me to get a theramin

[ThomasGrillo]

Thank you. :)

[gigadule]

thats not google earth is it? lol. great vid but..

[ThomasGrillo]

Thanks. :)

The video was produced using microsoft flight simulator, and an image of the Andromeda galaxy.

[ThomasGrillo]

Thank you. :)

[drbizzarro38athot]

amazing, keep it up 6/5 lol

[ThomasGrillo]

Thank you for the kind words. :)

[DanAndromedaMusic]

link to music download plz

[ThomasGrillo]

Thank you. I'm currently in the process of getting a downloadable version of the music together. I hope to have it available along with lots of others within the next month or so. Maybe sooner, if all goes well. :)

[DanAndromedaMusic]

Amazing vid makes me dream to infinite, 5/5.

[ThomasGrillo]

Thank you. :)

[KevinColosa]

Excellent composition, Thomas... the theremin and Novachord complement each other perfectly.

[ThomasGrillo]

Thank you. I was amazed when I first got the accompaniment, and added the theremin to it. :)

[1viva]

I wanted to edit my first message but it was impossible, so here goes. Absolutely "dreamlike!. I was completely transported as if I would be in an out of body astral projection!!. I'm looking forward to more of your dream like state airy music!!. How soothing for the soul!.

[ThomasGrillo]

Thanks again. :)

Oddly enough, this dream was only had once in my entire life. I'm amazed I held on to the memory of it for so many decades.

Ever since I ran into Dan's Novachord, I've been chompin' at the bit to do more stuff like this. :)

[1viva]

Absolutely wonderful!

A true musical and visual masterpiece Thomas.

Great compositions!

[ThomasGrillo]

Thank you. It was time to do this video. :)

[1viva]

We'll be waiting! :-)

Mario

[ThomasGrillo]

Indeed. It'll be fun. :)

[actingup2]

Excellent, Thomas!

[ThomasGrillo]

Thanks. :)

[blacespace]

This turned out to be one of the most well constructed pieces I've ever heard!

First class improvisation, really impressive. The way it goes with the video... Where did the concept came?

[ThomasGrillo]

Thank you. The concept came from a dream I had as a kid. Only now, has simulator technology, and video editing software become cheap enough, yet good enough for me to express the dream here. The music, which sound much like what I heard in the dream would not have been possible without a chance meeting on line with Dan Wilson, and his Novachord. I just "had" to add the theremin to his Novachord music.. :)

[blacespace]

So your dream had a "soundtrack", interesting. What came first, the song or the video? If you don't mind telling me, of course.

[ThomasGrillo]

Yes. I heard music in that dream. :)

The soundtrack came first, only recently, and when I heard it I knew it was time to rev up the sim, and record the flight. I had the idea for doing a vid like this for a long time, but the music was the deciding factor. :)

[Volker400]

Absolutely outstanding, my dear Thomas!

Yours,

Volker ;)

[ThomasGrillo]

Thanks you for the kind words. :)

[qsmile]

would make a nice intro for a star trek series.

[ThomasGrillo]

Yes, it would indeed. I've thought about that. Just need to get Paramount's attention drawn to the piece. :)

Thanks. :)

[mattlightbound]

love the harmonic minor piece at the end.

[ThomasGrillo]

Thank you. :)

[manice08]

i must ask where u get your CG graphics from :)

[ThomasGrillo]

I used Microsoft Flight Simulator for the flying scene, and then I used an image of the Andromeda galxy, with a zoom in effect used in post production to make it look as if I'd warped from earth to another galaxy in seconds.

[Thereminstrel]

Fantastic! Very tranquil and relaxing - will certainly listen to this whenever I need something calming and peaceful!

Almost missed it, as it's not coming up on my daily theremin Youtube search. I wonder why?

[ThomasGrillo]

Thanks for the kind words.

This video was recently posted, so it'll be a few days til it gets well into the search engine's feeds. The title may also have something to do with it, it's an Italian title meaning High Flight.

You can easily find it again by simply typing in Alto Volo Thomas Grillo and Theremin. :)

[yoktor]

Marvelous! I feel like i'm on my way to andromeda right now.

[ThomasGrillo]

Thank you. :)

[konikula]

very nice, work, music, pilotage... everything outstanding

[ThomasGrillo]

Thank you for the kind words. :)

[1BustedMyth]

I understand !!!

:)

[ThomasGrillo]

Thank you. :)

[PIC0CASSETTE]

What a great video, and I love the music!

[ThomasGrillo]

Thank you. :)

[Communistsynthist]

Ah. Thank you for this! Wonderful..

[benshki]

Very up lifting music and awe inspiring video, brilliant Thomas.

[ThomasGrillo]

Thanks for the kind words. :)

[michaelusry]

excellent video and music thomas...one of my favorites you've ever put out...thanks.

[ThomasGrillo]

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

[Dravonk]

Thank you for uploading this video, the two instruments sound great together!

[ThomasGrillo]

You're welcome. :)

[megussugem]

Beautiful as always!

[ThomasGrillo]

Thank you. :)