The solo instrument that produces the melody in the title music is a theremin. It was invented by Russian scientist Leon Theremin, and was first demonstrated in 1920. It predates the modern synthesizer by about forty years, but its uniqueness stems from the fact that it is the only instrument that is played without actually being touched. Its electronic circuits are controlled by two antennas, left and right of the instrument, toward which the player moves his or her hands. The closer the right hand to one antenna, the higher the pitch. Similarly the proximity of the left hand to the other antenna controls the volume. The theremin has a range well in excess of eight octaves, and is capable of all kinds of strange effects. These sounds have been put to use in science fiction and other movies including Sir Alfred Hitchcock's Io ti salverò (1945) and Robert Wise's Ultimatum alla Terra (1951). This unique instrument has also been used on The Beach Boys' song "Good Vibrations". The late Clara Rockmore was the theremin's greatest virtuoso, and the instrument and its inventor were profiled in the documentary Theremin: An Electronic Odyssey (1993).
Scritto da il
05-03-2025 alle ore 07:30
Consiglia
Voto
Nessun dato in archivio
Commenti
Nessun dato in archivio
