There are many instrument types and families, from woodwinds and
strings to brass and percussion. Many of the instruments in these
families are ones we are at least peripherally aware of, invented long
ago and slowly improved over time. These instruments have little more to
them then the physics-based technology that was available to their
inventors, so long ago. Since the development of electronic technology,
strange new instruments have been invented as entrepreneurs test the
waters with electronic additions to old instruments or entirely new
ones. The theremin is one such instrument. Invented in 1920,
the theremin is an instrument you do not touch. Instead, two antennae
sense the position of the musician's hands and the theremin has pieces
that oscillate in response. One antenna, parallel to the floor and
loop-shaped, is used to control the volume. The other, straight and
perpendicular to the floor, the pitch. The oscillations must be
projected through an amplifier to produce sound. Though the
theremin is seldom used, it has been heard in movie and television
soundtracks and made a niche for itself as an instrument to use for
eerie situations. The sound itself is full of vibrato, as can
be expected from vibration-based instrument. It sounds almost like
someone is humming very loudly. Here's an example:
No comments:
Post a Comment