Friday, October 9, 2026

Let the theremin rip

My first experience of the musical instrument called theremin was at Melbourne's Southbank, where there was a huge operational theremin, a few metres squared and perhaps a metre tall. It operated by moving around the instrument. I think I only photographed it at the time and I did blog about it sometime in the 2000s. 

I brought it up again in the twenty teen years (help me express those years better) and below this video you can read the comments at the time. I remember first hearing the term 'pensioner porn' from a blogger, but who knows which one. The term refers to tv perennial tv programmes like Doc Martin and Midsomer Murders, avidly watched by many older people.

I find the instrument quite fascinating. 


Wow, so many former bloggers commented, and some current ones. A different MC commented back then.

11 comments:

  1. You learn something new everyday from blogging. Midsomer Murder is Bill's favourite show and Gattina another blogger.

    Reply
  2. Theremins are fascinating instruments. I have one in kit form, just waiting for me to pick up a soldering iron (yuck) and put it together.

    "Good Vibrations" by the Beach Boys is another good example of a theremin used well.

    Reply
  3. Diane, some knowledge you can sprout as the opening credits roll on Sunday night. I like the show especially for the scenery and the buildings.

    And then Smudgeon, you have to learn to play it. I am surprised that I had not heard of it. I just listened to the BB track and I can hear it clearly.

    Reply
  4. Oh, I've seen these before - somewhere. Simply lovely.

    Reply
  5. I too had never heard of the Theramin, as the first electric music machine ever made or as an instrument making sound tracks for horror movies. But it was and is totally brilliant.

    How old is the film footage, by the way? I loved hearing the Russian...it tapped right into my family's collective unconscious :)

    Reply
  6. Rubye, note that any pretender who like to conduct an orchestra would have great fun.

    Hels, Theramin invented it in the late twenties, so I imagine the film is not much newer than that. It is a cool and weird instrument.

    Reply
  7. Sheldon Cooper in The Big Bang Theory has a Theramin, that's where I first heard of them. it's an interesting sound.

    Reply
  8. I have never heard of one either! If you close your eyes, the sound is very close to a wavery soprano. What a great little machine.

    Reply
  9. River, good that it is in popular culture.

    Bliss, it is something I would like to play with. It is very high pitched isn't it.

    Reply
  10. Wow - thannks for that - you learn something new every day of the week some weeks...now How can I slip that into my conversation? Maybe wait till i hear one in a theme track and say, "Isnt it amazing what a well played Theramin" can do"

    You are a fount (or is it font) of knowledge

    Reply
  11. MC, I just heard a tiny bit about it and forgot the name. The rest I found on the net.

    Reply
 


23 comments:

  1. It's a strange instrument. The music can be creepy, as well as otherworldly. I suppose it's the most modern instrument we have.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Boud, perhaps the most modern until synthesisers, if the could be called an instrument.

      Delete
  2. Theremins always sound creepy to me.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They do indeed Bob, and mostly used for such purposes.

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  3. It always reminds of the Irish banshees wailing after someone dies. Not quite a fan here.
    XO
    WWW

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  4. I don't think I have seen very much of Midsomer Murders, I'll have to check my drives and see if I have it on there. It's an interesting device but I don't like the sound of the theremin.

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    Replies
    1. River, it was a great tv show, and I think we watched every episode as they were broadcast here.

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    2. I checked and I don't have it, I'll have to try and find dvd copies.

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  5. Midsomer Murders is one of most favorite shows to watch. Brian Wilson was a musical genius, leave it to him to use a theramin in one of their best songs. I think the theramin adds an otherworldly touch to whatever.

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    Replies
    1. Much praise for Wilson, Deb. I will listen and see where it is used.

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  6. One show I liked and not sure if it came your way is. Red Dwarf.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dora, remember Cat in Red Dwarf? He went on to be in a great English tv show called Death in Paradise, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danny_John-Jules

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  7. Never heard of it Andrew. Interesting and good to learn.

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  8. I had completely forgotten about this instrument. The theme tune is so familiar I hadn't given a thought as to the instrument used.

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    Replies
    1. Fun60, I can't remember how I found out about it being the instrument used in the theme music. You've taken in Midsomer Murders by osmosis.

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  9. I how I could annoy the neighbors with one of those.

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  10. I believe the opening theme of the original "Star Trek" series was played on a theremin -- which is probably why Sheldon had one in "The Big Bang Theory"!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ok Steve. It is never forgotten about by musicians.

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  11. Never heard of one before. Seems other worldly, mysterious.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Other worldy isa good description, Strayer.

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Pauline (Bjelkie, Donald, Nigel) Hanson

As has happened around the world, Australia is dangerously close to a swing to the extremist far right, with our political party One Nation....