Theremin - "Mon Coeur S'ouvre à ta Voix" from "Samson & Delilah" by Saint Saëns

A theremin performance of "Mon Coeur S'ouvre à ta Voix" (also known as "Softly Awakes my Heart") from the opera "Samson and Delilah" by Saint-Saëns. Played on a Moog Etherwave Pro Theremin.

Initially, I recorded this piece yesterday, but after reviewing it, decided I wasn't happy with it. The intonation was satisfactory, and the jumps clean and accurate - but somehow, the precision seemed to rob the piece of any emotion, and it sounded rather cold and clinical. I rerecorded it today, using a slightly different technique - intentionally using a (slight) amount of glissando with some of the bigger jumps - which seemed, (to my mind at least) to give a more satisfyingly emotional sound to the melody.

The last time I uploaded a video of me trying this piece, (several months ago), I played along with a CD of it performed on violin and piano, (so I was able to follow the violin as it played the melody). Since then, I've been looking out for a ''proper'' piano-backing track giving just accompaniment only and no melody line. Obviously, this requires more concentration, (and practice) ... but I'm reasonably pleased with the result!

WHAT IS A THEREMIN?
The theremin was invented by Professor Leon Theremin duing the late 1920's, and is the only musical instrument played without being touched. Its circuitry includes two radio frequency oscillators; one at a fixed rate, the frequency of the other determined by the thereminist's right hand (acting as the grounded plate of a variable capacitor) as it moves beside the upright antenna; this controls the pitch. The difference between the two frequencies creates audio signals heard via an amplifier. Using a similar principle, the left hand's proximity to the loop antenna modulates volume.

If you are interested in learning to play the theremin, click the link below to watch: ''Youtube Theremin Guide - Everything for the Learner Thereminist!'' - a video giving learner thereminists over 80 links to online theremin-resources, including websites, books, DVDs, lessons, practice tracks, theremin makers, and Youtube thereminists from around the globe.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypwRSP...

Piano backing track from www.piano-accompaniments.com

Category:

Music

Tags:

• theremin
• UK
• classical
• thereminist
• precision
• Mon
• Coeur
• S'ouvre
• ta
• Voix
• Saint-Saëns
• softly
• awakes
• my
• heart
• samson
• and
• delilah
• music
• aria
• solo
• opera
• electric
• synthesizer
• synth
• moog
• etherwave
• pro
• epro
• e-pro
• leon
• lev
• termen
• teremin
• theramin
• theremine
• thereminvox
• Терменвокс
• Львом
• Термен
• ether
• テルミン

[whitepine29]

Wow that was beautiful, well done!

[Thereminstrel]

@whitepine29 Thank you for your kind comment. Apologies for the late reply; I am offline a lot presently.

[jonycuddlesgert]

Quite LOVELY, dear Thereminstrel... lovely, and completely emotionally gripping. I sit here very very happy that YOU and your talent are there, here. Always. Johnny.

[Thereminstrel]

@jonycuddlesgert - Thank you for your very kind comment. My time for playing music is, unfortunately, limited at the moment - but your words encourage me to keep on playing ... practicing whenever I can find a few spare minutes!

[oliveratto]

Love it!

This is amazing...

[Thereminstrel]

Thank you! The theremin is certainly an amazing instrument ... which is what makes it so much fun to play.

[Thereminstrel]

Thank you!

[swicker007]

awesome!

[Thereminstrel]

Thanks for your thoughtful comment. Playing the theremin is a constant struggle; this was one of the few times that my ''performance'' turned out more-or-less as I'd hoped it would!

[ObediahFults]

Clara is smiling, I'm sure. That was beautiful.