ALTO VOLO on Theremin and Novachord

http://www.thomasgrillo.com

This video is a recreation of a childhood dream of flight. I was inspired to produce the video after reading the poem, High Flight by John Gillespie Magee.

The video features a performance by Thomas Grillo on theremin, and Dan Wilson, playing the 1939 Hammond Novachord, which is a tube based electronic polyphonic synth, not an organ.

I used Microsoft Flight Simulator X to produce the dreamy flight sequence, and an image of the Andromeda galaxy from the Hubble Space Telescope Institute for part of the space flight sequence of this video.

Visit the Hubble Space Telescope Institute at:
http://www.stsci.edu/resources/

Visit Dan, and the Novachord at:

http://www.hollowsun.com

Enjoy the dream, and live it!

copyright 2010 Thomas Grillo and Dan Wilson

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Theremin
• Alto
• Volo
• thereminist
• Thomas
• Grillo
• Hammond
• Novachord
• Dan
• Wilson
• duet
• music
• new
• age
• FSX
• flight
• simulator
• relaxation
• relaxing
• meditation
• zen
• video
• game
• space
• dream

[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]

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. :)

[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....

[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.

[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]

@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. ;)