Vintage concert poster featuring Leon Theremin, a Russian scientist, playing his ether-wave music instrument at Symphony Hall in Boston, on October 7, with details about the program and ticket prices.

What is a theremin?

“With the theremin, there are notes included that aren’t in any scale. It’s a mystical approach to art. What is the mood of that: maybe unsettling...we are thrust into an environment where things are a little bit unsure.”
— Kennedy Verrett

The theremin is one of the earliest electronic musical instruments, invented in 1920 by Russian physicist Leon Theremin, known for being played without physical contact. It uses two antennas to control pitch (right hand) and volume (left hand) by manipulating electromagnetic fields, producing an eerie, haunting, or vocal-like sound.

A woman with blonde hair dressed in a red top, with her hands raised, appears to be demonstrating or explaining a Theremin, an electronic musical instrument with antennas, on a dark background.

The Madame Theremin Team has rental Theremins available for those interested in licensing the work.

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The Madame Theremin Team has rental Theremins available for those interested in licensing the work. 〰️