Amazing Mucical Instrument.

This is the strangest musical Instrument I have came across.
Invented by a Russian Professor way back in 1919.
You don't touch the instrument to play it.
Called a Theremin after the inventor.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theremin

 

Wow!! Amazing to hear than even now and can only imagine what it must have been like when first used in 1919, Doug!

What a haunting sound it makes - perfect for sad movies and even very scary ones too, I bet.

 

I have heard this sound many times and I never realized what instrument made this sound.
http://music.yahoo.c...e-theremin.html

 

It's probably easy to play, but way more difficult to play good like in the video.

Be cool to manipulate radio signals like that though

 

In a sense this was the first true electronic musical instrument and as stated in the Wiki article, I already knew it was the instrument to influence Robert Moog in his now well known Moog synthesizer. That also was the first true synth music creator, of which many types are now available and of course the digital age has made even more sounds possible by synthesizing digitally.
All wonderful stuff, but the original haunting sound of Leon Theramins invention is still very nice to hear when played well.

Sorry if this detracts from the original thread, but here is a challenge, it defeats me, but anyone is welcome to try and come up with a new musical instrument that does not use either traditional methods or modern, to create a sound that can be variable in pitch and volume so therefore able to play music.

Here is a list of the more well know ways to create sounds that we use now.
Percussion, I.E. Hitting something with something, this is covered by the obvious drums, xylophone and its off shoots, bells, piano and many more. (I tend to like the sound of the steel band using beaten oil drums)
Stroking, such as the bow used on a violin, also used on a saw too, and maybe other oddities. There is also a slightly more modern idea of spinning glass plates which are stroked with a bow, or in some instances a wet hand or finger. Try running a finger round the top of a schooner type glass next time you are having a beer.
Plucking, guitar being the main contender but includes ukelalie banjo and many others.
Reeds as with wind blowing past them, Saxophone being the obvious but also bag pipes are a reed instrument, many instruments in the orchestra are reed too. Oboe being the most well known. (Although electricity is the vibrating influence, the car horn can be classed as a reed instrument by the way)
Direct wind making whistling sounds, the old tin whistle comes to mind, but the flute is a well known example, but most traditional church organs use it too, though some have mixed in reed sounds as well. ( a beggar to keep tuned I believe)
Wind past the players lips, all brass instruments excluding saxophone use this principle, I know as I play cornet and trumpet, look at my avatar. It does also include wood as the old serpent used the principle as does the alpine horn. Yep I once had a play on one of them in Switzerland, fun too.
Then we come to modern sound creation with the origins of this thread being the first example perhaps, which is by electrical or electronic means.

In short,
blow and suck,
rub or stroke,
thump or bash,
plus either digital or analogue electrical/electronics.

Any one who can create musical sounds without using any of the above methods or anything related to those methods, will if a pleasant sound is created, and they have a good manager, should make a fortune.

Nev.

 

My Father was a Builder and as a boy I remember him playing his wood saw.
He used to flex it and produce some amazing sounds.
As a child a Comb and Paper was my lot. :nod:

 

Indeed the old comb and that stiff Izal loo paper made a brilliant sound. Then someone comercialised even that with the invention of the kazoo.

Nev.

 

On the note (Awful pun, intended) of musical saw playing, have a look at this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kmft674XPC0

 

Another odd musical thing though not an instrument in its own right, it is a tool for use with an instrument, any stringed type will do and is called an Ebow, with it a guitar can sound like a church organ a full violin and other bowed string instruments, even a trumpet like sound can be achieved. Have a look at this guy describe and demonstrate it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIWMrK67_bk&feature=related