Theremin - Clara Rockmore play "Romance" (Wieniawski)

[@sundance0258]

Okay, for all of you who don't know how a Theremin works it's like this. The Theremin is highly responsive to movement, which is why she stands very still, save only the movements in her hands. If one observe her hand movements very closely, you can be able to point out two things. Her right hand which hovers near the vertical pole (you can't see it very clearly due to video quality), controls the pitch and her left controls the volume which hovers over the U-shaped metal bar. Her right hand stays in one position, and she gradually raises her left hand. As a result, a significant increase in volume can be heard. Take special note in her right-hand. Even without some background digging into her life, one could assume that she's a violinist. Her movements are very similar. As I mentioned before, the machine is highly to movement. However, the general envelope is that it has a very slow attack time. That's why the notes are so smooth in transitioning from one to the next. This actually works quite well in her favor (I don't really need to tell you guys that!). All I know are the basic functions. But I hope for my sake that, for all of you who don't know exactly how Clara Rockmore operates the Theremin, that you are better informed.

[@chaiter1]

This is artistry of highest order.

[@DanielKurganov]

C. Rockmore was a student of Leopold Auer. She was had an injury in her late teens and was forced to stop playing violin.

[@d.pollyp.1325]

amazing... truly we learn something new everyday! She was a very gifted musician!

[@Wyrehedd242]

whatt an absolutely fabulous woman.. she is greatly missed.

[@sarahjude]

this was always my favorite piece to play on the violin. She does it so beautifully.

[@CAMacKenzie]

I've been listening to theremin vids, and most of the players have rather vague control. Even the best haven't the precision or the feeling of this lady. Wow!!

[@skittleserval5098]

HOW DOES SHE PLAY THAT THING SO WELL??!

[@mariedvorska6916]

She is originally VIOLINIST, classmate od Jascha Heifetz!!!, she had an accident and broke her hand and she had to stop playing violin --- Mr.Lev Thereming made her her own theremin--he changed the sides, so she could play on in similar way as violinist....she had a perfect pitch, that is way she plays soooo perfectly in tune......❤❤❤ i love her playinfg many many years!

[@chrispyt77]

@bckm54 Western musical notation is based on the keyboard with its arrangement of black and white notes. All standard chromatic instruments (and ones with less notes) can use the western treble clef/bass clef combo (or other clefs) and the theremin is no different. The theremin needs to be tuned to whatever space it is moved into. You tune it by using a trim dial to adjust the receptivity to what you are used to. Moving it from one place to another can put the range all out of whack.

[@davidgustavomacedo1038]

Que instrumento maguinifico que bela obra de arte é o, theremin uau.👏👏👏👏👏👏🤔

[@justwarren]

This is insanely difficult. If you've ever "played" the Theremin, it's almost impossible to get a few "correct" notes out of it, let alone play a whole piece of classical music. Amazing!

[@antojadox2]

+justwarren I've never played a theremin, but I can see how difficult it is. There's no physical or visual reference for the notes. The musician has to learn where to place their hand in mid air to get the correct note. You can see how little movement of her hand is required to change the notes. The fact that she was able to do it so well, and without reading music is a testimony to her artistry.

[@makenam2326]

wow!!! simply amazing.

[@MrAlandh]

Love the vibrato !

[@benaiah93]

What an age we live in.

[@raven012000]

Simply THE best Thereminist...

[@Lildrummerboy50]

god i think this is so fasinating i learned about this instrument yesterday and i cant stop thinking about it it is so unique

[@abtarpahari6824]

beautiful.

[@NathanaelSaintCyr]

Incomprehensible.

[@shwong866]

@bckm54 Yes, it probably does. Key signiture's are in all instruments and it just tells you what notes to play within a certain scale. So if she was playing it in the key of E minor she would use the notes E F# G A B C D, where as in the key of D minor, is she uses D E F G A Bb C. it would essentially just raise the song a whole step. if she knew where every note was on the theramin (which i'm sure she did) she would probably be able to transcribe it after she figured out which notes to play

[@ematech]

Clara forever.

[@westbywest]

So, are we in agreement that is Vigo the Carpathian in the painting? Because that is badass.

[@rtcarleton]

unreal!!

[@squizza28]

This is definitely not the google theramin doodle game!! I'm more interested in this now. She's like a medium. And it's working!!

[@neo82430]

摘自 KZbin古典音樂經典影片博覽會： 「世界上第一位專職克雷門琴演奏家Clara Rockmore的演奏！特雷門琴的基本演奏原理是以垂直天線的電磁感應控制音高，手離天線越近音高越高；而以環型線圈的電磁感應控制音量，手離線圈越遠音量越大。 　 Rockmore神乎其技的肢體控制能力，把這首維尼奧夫斯基的羅曼史詮釋的令很多小提琴家都自嘆弗如！」

[@neo82430]

zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%89%B9%E9%9B%B7%E9%96%80

[@FRAN-vd9rl]

the sound of this instrument matches perfectly with the piano.

[@marcfedak]

Clara Rockmore performed Rachmaninoff's "Vocalise" in a fine documentary on the Theramin, which I think was simply called "Theramin". The brief scene of her doing that piece was from the 1920s, shortly after Russian inventor Leo Theramin invented during the innovative early Soviet era (before Stalin imposed Soviet Realism and snuffed out any tendencies toward avante gardism in the arts).

[@AriannaCunningham]

Beautiful! Are there any old films of Clara playing the Violin?

[@g1fcg]

I had an individual insist to me that a Theremin is not a musical instrument, just because he got one and couldn't play anything on it! He said 'I got rid of it'! I instinctively could play the Theremin straight away - I actually find it the easiest instrument to play. I also play the guitar and piano - (sort of)

[@bckm54]

@chrispyt77 hey, chris, THANKS! :) The more I hear of and from the theremin, the more I like it! :)

[@patatra]

que c'est beau.......

[@rogerchan3137]

i like it

[@gsloomant]

The best

[@bckm54]

I'd be curious to find out whether the concept of "key signatures" are relevant to playing the theremin, and if so, how. Like does she play in the "key of e minor""?

[@butthead6886]

i stil duno how this thing works lol. are there strings on her fingers or wat

[@sanjosemike]

This is a treasure. Sanjosemike

[@lampwithbulb2]

Δεν υπάρχει αυτό το όργανο... Όσο και να χτυπιέσαι... ΔΕΝ υπάρχει...! :S Γιατί απλά, δεν υπάρχει!! :D

[@PassionateViolinist]

I never thought someone would reply to a comment i made 3 years ago.

[@kyleouellette]

Think again!

[@TheNellamaria]

to listen

[@NathanaelSaintCyr]

To think she was also operating a pedal (as I understand it) is also a wonder.

[@Vaida-1]

and she was born in Lithuania !!!!!

[@dubbys]

@PicklesReallySuck omg i cant stop seeing it!!!!

[@fernandhofer]

Gesten Steuerung: Ein hochaktuelles Thema - Damals schon angewendet...

[@Casilla13A]

Herrlicher Sound.

[@RepJock88]

She's singing with her mouth closed!

[@Flakman2k3]

rip

[@Hoogian]

@fkylw No, because it is.

[@PassionateViolinist]

The theremin in my opinion is the closest instrument to the human voice aside from the violin

[@pfheoahfoej]

They really need to stop zooming into her face. It's really awkward.

[@SimonStreuffViolinEducation]

+pigeonface its not about the looks right here and her look to me seems to be quite intense. Why do you "watch" music videos, if your eyes dominate your ears? You know that the best musicians were no supermodels, but their sound is devine.

[@pfheoahfoej]

+SimonS7r dude what the fuck are you talking about did you not see her face its hilarious

[@SimonStreuffViolinEducation]

okey. Never seen an older woman with makeup before? Anyway, I know what I am talking about.

[@pfheoahfoej]

+SimonS7r lol

[@realhealthquotesllc2195]

It’s fake. She’s not even touching the instrument!

[@georgia-graceward6554]

Don’t be an idiot look it up

[@fkylw]

Yeah, but can she do it without looking like it's possessing her?