SAEDNEWS: In 1920, a Russian physicist named Lev Termen invented an instrument unlike any other. This instrument would later take its inventor’s name: the Theremin. One of the earliest electronic instruments, it produces an ethereal sound and has a peculiar appearance, played in a way completely unlike traditional instruments.
In music, countless instruments have existed throughout history, and many new ones have emerged over recent years, often inspired by older designs but producing unique sounds. Among these innovations, electronic instruments have introduced entirely new ways of creating music—many with no historical counterpart, both in structure and in sound. One such extraordinary instrument is the theremin, which belongs to the electronic instrument family.
The theremin is a highly unusual electronic instrument that does not require any physical contact to play! It was first created in October 1920 by the renowned Russian physicist and inventor Léon Theremin in the former Soviet Union. Notably, it was the first electronic instrument to be mass-produced. Over time, it has also been known by other names, such as etherphone, thereminophone, and thereminvox.
We don’t just claim it—we prove it: the theremin is one of the most unique instruments in the music world, invented by a Russian physicist of the same name.
The theremin operates based on hand movements and consists of two oscillators connected to two antennas: a vertical antenna for controlling volume, and a horizontal loop-shaped antenna for controlling pitch. When the instrument is powered on, it generates a magnetic field. The theremin detects hand movements in this field through proximity sensors, altering both pitch and volume. Moving the hand closer to the horizontal antenna produces higher notes, while distancing the hand from the vertical antenna increases volume.
The theremin produces sound using the heterodyne principle, where two alternating currents combine to create a frequency equal to the sum or difference of the two original frequencies.
Its circuitry involves two radio-frequency oscillators tuned below 500 kHz to minimize interference. One oscillator operates at a fixed frequency, while the other is variable—its frequency changes according to the performer’s hand position relative to the horizontal antenna, allowing for the production of different notes.
When playing the theremin, a magnetic field surrounds the instrument, and the performer must control pitch and volume by moving their hands within this field. Approaching the horizontal antenna raises pitch, while adjusting movement relative to the vertical antenna changes volume.
Although playing the theremin may appear simple, it is deceptively challenging. Since the instrument has no keys or frets, everything depends on the performer’s ear and skill, requiring precision, practice, and a finely tuned sense of hearing.
Even Albert Einstein was fascinated by the theremin, particularly by its sound production and underlying principles.
After the Russian Civil War and the Soviet Union’s collapse, Theremin showcased his invention across Europe before moving to the United States in 1928, where he successfully patented it. The instrument gained popularity, and RCA began mass production. Later, Moog produced a keyboard-adapted version called the Clavivox, and in recent years, Moog reintroduced the theremin as the modern Theremini.
Originally, Theremin named his instrument the Aetherphone, meaning “ethereal music.” In the U.S., he demonstrated the theremin to musicians and trained them to help popularize it. One of his frequent visitors was Albert Einstein, who was particularly intrigued by the instrument’s technical aspects rather than its performance.
Despite its novelty, the theremin never achieved widespread adoption due to the difficulty of playing it. Only a few virtuoso performers, like Clara Rockmore, mastered both solo and orchestral performances.
Theremin was eventually forced back to Russia in 1938 and spent decades unable to leave, even working on surveillance devices for the KGB. He finally returned to the West in 1989 at the age of 93.
The theremin consists of a box with two metal antennas generating a magnetic field influenced by the performer’s body movements. The right antenna controls pitch, and the left antenna controls volume.
Performers must stand or sit in front of the instrument, moving their hands in the field. The magnetic capacitance changes with the distance between the hand and antennas: moving the right hand closer raises pitch, while distancing it lowers the note. The left hand adjusts dynamics and articulation.
Mastering precise pitch and volume is a formidable challenge. Expert performers rely entirely on their hearing and hand coordination to create intricate and expressive performances. For instance, young theremin virtuoso Carolina Eyck developed her own system combining ear, hand sense, and muscle memory, effectively “building a keyboard in the air” to play more accurately.
Though difficult to play, the theremin has been used both solo and in orchestras. Notable musicians and groups who have employed the theremin include Jean Michel Jarre, Led Zeppelin, Radiohead, Portishead, and The Rolling Stones.
It also became iconic in film music, particularly in science fiction and suspense movies of the 1950s. Examples include Alfred Hitchcock’s Spellbound (score by Miklós Rózsa) and The Day the Earth Stood Still (score by Bernard Herrmann). Its ethereal tones became synonymous with cinematic suspense and horror.
Today, the theremin continues to be used in modern music and film scores. Lydia Kavina, one of Theremin’s last students and a relative, remains a celebrated classical theremin performer. Its influence also extends to electronic music, with composers such as Jean Ven Robert Hal integrating its electronic structure into modern compositions.
