The Ondes Martenot is an early electronic musical instrument with a keyboard and slide invented in 1928 by Maurice Martenot, and originally very similar in sound to the Theremin. The Ondes Martenot (or Ondes-Martenot or Ondes martenot or Ondium Martenot or Martenot or ondes musicale) is an early electronic musical instrument with a keyboard and […]
03
Feb
Feb
Lydia Kavina owns the only surviving Terpsitone in the world: it was built for her by Léon Théremin in 1978. Some photographs and information about this instrument.
27
Jan
Jan
The document below was found by John Snyder during his Caramoor research many years ago. Lucy Rosen owned that country estate, and maintained two custom theremins made for her by Professor Theremin. The typewritten photocopies John rescued were apparently originally transcribed from shorthand notes. The document contains numerous grammatical errors. I edited here and there […]
27
Jan
Jan
An article from Radio Craft magazine originally published on december 1936.
09
Oct
Oct
An interview with musicologist Olivia Mattis about the return of the Theremin Cello. In his continual quest for instruments for his “organized sound,” Edgard Varèse experimented with different kinds of musical and non-musical devices. Since he believed in a strict collaboration between composers and scientists, he also approached various scientists and inventors like Luigi Russolo […]
01
Jan
Jan
Preface The RCA Theremin is an electrical musical instrument played by the free movement of the hands in space. The actual production of sound is accomplished by means of a loudspeaker which must be connected to the RCA Theremin. The loudspeaker may be located close to the Theremin or at any convenient distance as required. […]
10
Jul
Jul
The construction and operation of the RCA theremin pitch control circuit. This installment deals with the construction and operation of the RCA theremin pitch control circuit. The heart of the system is a large “pitch control resonant coil” (PCRC). The PCRC is the tall coil mounted the left side seen when looking into the back […]
02
Jul
Jul
Part 1 of a technical essay about the RCA theremin by Reid Welch. This is the first of several installments about the RCA theremin. Our goal is to promulgate enough data to enable the skilled amateur to build an RCA equivalent, and to make the circuit less mysterious to the non-technical person. Discussion and corrections […]
28
Dec
Dec
RCA theremin technical notes written by Reid Welch. The RCA Pitch Resonant Coil Consists of more than a thousand turns of approximately 38 ga. ( B&S gauge) SSC enameled wire wound on a 12″ tall by a 2 15/16″ diameter, 1/16″-wall phenolic impregnated fiber tube. Winding length- 10 3/4″ DCR 445 ohms Z at 1kHz […]
25
Dec
Dec
Notes about the RCA theremin oscillators by Reid Welch. Both RCA oscillators are identical, two-layer coils wound on a tubular fiber form about 1.5″ diameter by 1 3/4″ long. The wire is single silk covered (“SSC”) enameled wire approximately #30 B & S gauge. Turns per layer- about 75. The winding length is around 1 […]
