Theremin - Clara Rockmore play "Hebrew Melody" (Achron)

[@pwoody1958]

in case no one else has mentioned, it should be pointed out that her sister, Nadia Reisenberg, was an exceptional pianist who tends to disappear into her sister's shadow, but who was a brilliant musician and exceptional accompanist right up into her late years. It is a truly wondrous thing to hear these two sisters play together with such unanimity of spirit and high artistic quality.

[@NReese-if1nm]

The sheer concentration to play this exceedingly difficult instrument can be see on her face-- beautiful performance on the most difficult instrument ever invented.

[@n25bast]

Fun fact: Her sister, Nadia Reisenberg, was an accomplished classical pianist in her own right, appearing over 20 times at Carnegie Hall as a soloist with the NY Philharmonic and for solo recitals, and is Clara's accompanist on the piano in this video.

[@zrockr2840]

Born in Lithuania, She influenced Led Zeppelin and The Stones and gave the Beach Boys the idea for the sound for their good vibrations- as we remember her on her birthday.... Thank you Clara! Su Dievu!

[@Zhairah-l2h]

Sadly she died in new York in may 10 1998

[@Rudreax]

It's amazing how she could continue to keep so perfect, precise control over her hands and arms for so long. She was an amazing musician.

[@chrispham6599]

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 observes 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. You can see this very effectively from kzbin.info/www/bejne/sKemo42Jgph5aLMm56s. 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 sensitive 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. 

[@chrispham6599]

Anytime!

[@Tentegen]

excellent insight~

[@PrinceOberon87]

@@chrispham6599 thanks

[@olensoifer9901]

The instrument works on capacitance, like the metal lamps that turn on or off by just touching them. But, it this case, the amount of electricity that goes to ground thru the player's hands determine the pitch of the sound, rather than simply being on or off. That's a really simplistic explanation, but it accurate. The basic circuitry of the theremin is, apparently, quite simple. And, yes, Clara's first instrumental proficiency was on a violin.

[@trick754]

Yo dude your smart thanks!

[@madmuffinz]

This is the best theremin player I have heard. She knows how to keep a tone, do a vibrato, and fades so finely

[@delphinetesla]

When I play my theremin in public, I dread I have to sneeze or cough...a beautiful mysterious instrument indeed, I feel like it voices the inner emotions you cannot show while you play it. I remember the first time I saw a theremin, actually the Moog Theremini in a store, I thought I had to have this whatever it was because it looked so futuristic yet retro, more like a radio with a snip of the rings of Saturn on the side (volume control). Then I bought it and never regretted it.

[@AntonConstanti]

She is one with the theremin. The melody surges through her body and mind.

[@tcsomb]

It looks like she's phrasing chords with her right hand on a stringed instrument. Her left hand appears to grip an imaginary bow. It's like watching someone play air-violin.

[@jgrossma]

Theres good reason she plays that way. . .as a child Mrs. Rockmore was a violin prodigy, she was admitted to conservatory at the unheard of age of 4 years to study with masters! She not holding "chords" (its a one note instrument), but she did invent an idiosyncratic "fingering" system using shapes in her right hand to create the "gaps" between slid/portamento notes for a more conventional instrumental sound.

[@ItCameFromGoor]

Not surprising since Leon Theremin was a cellist and created the theremin to the a cello synthesizer.

[@HorstGutbrod]

Thank you "KZbin" that you make this possible ...!

[@danielvasquez2760]

google brought me here happy birthday, 105 years young

[@Spiroku]

+Daniel Vasquez woo

[@grossdingo8411]

+Daniel Vasquez same

[@lujain1]

106....now

[@allanstark4219]

She's not only a superb master of it, she is a master of masters. Perfect and musical. Weird to see a gesture-based instrument. Reminds me of some of the recent gesture control systems for some computers. I wonder if the Theremin will ever have multiple voices. Thanks for bringing this to us.

[@LokiFreign]

There is no other musician that can affect me the way she has. It goes without saying that no one will ever master this instrument the way she did. She's a true inspiration, and an angelic artist.

[@WILLIAMSONDL]

Her Performance is Superb and her Voice has a touch of Magical Melody, my Prayers for her.

[@zorkwork3841]

For those who want to know more ...watch Theremin-an electronic Oddessy 1993 About Leon Theremin-who invented this ethereal instrument back in the late 1920s. (his thought was it was to bring the spirits -He'd had a good friend who died) There were Theremon orchestras and Clara Rockmore(the woman playing) was his muse. She was beautiful and so talented! The movie is great!!

[@moibe182]

Beautiful

[@andrea405r4]

Amazing technology and it was created back in the 20s. Thank you, google. Great information.

[@NataliaAlmario]

Such a beautiful melody, and brilliant performance

[@jtomlinsonster]

Such amazing control! She will always be the best in my book!

[@TheCarledu]

Incrível, bravo 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@CassandraSciortinoMargareta]

how lovely and haunting

[@klassfreudman7359]

Am Anfang schwer und mächtig doch später kommt eine ordentliche Eingewöhnung. Mysteriös und unterhaltsam zugleich. Sehr gut die Dame und Dankeschön an die beiden Damen.

[@mazieferreira7757]

Wow. This is amazing.

[@reidwelch8419]

Summary. "This is the easiest thing you ask me to do," but Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky was crushed by a young Leopold Auer's rejection of his Violin Concerto. The infant Clara Rockmore's adoption, as a student of Leopold Auer in 1914 and her immigration to the USA with her family in 1922; Leopold Auer ineluctably following her from Russia to the USA. He introduces her five years later to a busily practicing Yehudi Menuhin at Menuhin's Carnegie Hall debut, 1927. Clara Rockmore one year later was a promoted world-class violinist on the cusp of her NYC debut. But she ruined her shoulder, forever, by over-practicing against the constantly disregarded admonitions of the Tchaikovsky-regret-ivist Auer (see Auer's 1922 book, Violin Playing As I Teach It). Leopold Auer lost will to live with his loss of his fourteen-year investment in Clara Rockmore. He would voluntarily quit life and die in 1930. However, in the year of her injury, 1928, the year her violin career ended, she met and fell in love with Leon Theremin. He had a new instrument and was in need of a champion. "It is known history..." In her last year Clara spoke to me. Her perishing mind (she was acutely aware that she was weakening), her intent, her finale, is her gift tape's intent today: that you, whoever, whatever musician great or unknown, you who hears this, Clara wishes for you to supplant her. She wishes to be exceeded. In even the simplest melody Clara Rockmore is a song of life that she desires to inspire you to play better, today. PLEASE DO NOT REPLY TO THIS TESTAMENT OF AN AMAZINGLY SINGULAR LIFE. "It's not that essay. .kzbin.info/www/bejne/o6Oli2t8f96oqtk

[@leholie93]

This is amazing. Thank you so much for your generosity

[@rainydayinsomnia]

haven't heard many theremin performances of this piece but hers is beautiful :D

[@opierussell1487]

Good job on the doodle Google Clara Rockmore is awesome, im glad I took the time to investigate

[@crystaljones9293]

so beautiful

[@JoseZamirOgazaRoman]

Artistic #respect

[@Yavor54]

The reason there aren't more theremin players is that it is possibly the most difficult instrument to play well. As a performing musician, I thought I could easily pick this up. Nope. Violin was easier. You have to almost stop breathing while playing. The exact hand formations are only one thing to learn. Without perfect pitch, you will have great difficulty playing it. Clara was the top player ever... better than Theremin himself.

[@Dirx01]

happy birthday, really loved her music

[@kacourse]

Beautiful! I have it w. Aaron Rosand vln, John Covelli pno. Album is 'Hebraic Legacies'. Thank you for this earthseeker!

[@Lisa0529]

Mesmerizing, wow!

[@eljusticierosocial242]

it is a fantastic experimental Sound coming from the past :-)

[@hessu3]

I wish someone could create a video where a ghost is going up and down while she is playing :D

[@lourdesm.velandia-calderon3486]

LOL!!! :D

[@user-sf7fh2qj2f]

Awesome...

[@MegaAurora73]

Strabiliante!

[@AsylumFreak19]

Happy Birthday Ms. Rockmore

[@michaeltreadwell777]

WOW, I saw the google doodle, then I bought her CD - FABULOUS ! I have seen one played at Woking, but nothing as good as this !

[@TheRamile]

Emotional and epic instrument!

[@abdielgarcia6737]

only 15 unlikes? must be a bunch of beliebers that don't appreciate true art

[@abdielgarcia6737]

I got yes jams good

[@RachyyBieber]

+I got yes jams +Abdiel Garcia same

[@65attila]

@Yavor54 Your modesty is refreshing. The violin and its siblings seem so tough. Regards-John

[@nanapopolvuh]

absolutly amazing woman and instrument...

[@razorman916]

I need to learn to play this.

[@mostpeoplearebots]

lol

[@65attila]

Stunning

[@leonivich]

Brilliant!!!

[@suryaraj93]

beauty :)

[@stradneri]

She's incredible...

[@carmenguerra3786]

Es asombroso, no conocia de esta modalidad de instrumento musical, algunos en sus comentarios dice que parece un mosquito o musica de fantasma , pero es muy apasionado la interpretación

[@chrisg9602]

Awesome very awesome

[@ksvijayan06]

Who r see google doodle game and come to see this video

[@iridescentgreen]

maybe she has emotions that come out both through her playing and through her facial expressions...it's kind of a melancholy song.

[@lredmon]

The Theremin from the forties used mostly in movies...more than one Hitchcock I believe. One was .."Spellbound".. She is Russian, that is why she is so expressive in her face. Well done !

[@raffaeleriddle]

Gorgeous

[@scottydoo32]

thats great my friend :P

[@debrawilson3840]

yep, the Google doodle led me here...cool, man....

[@Fedmund]

T_T so beautiful

[@vibhorgarg6314]

anyone came here after seeing google doodle??

[@MauriceAC2010]

+Vibhor Garg Yes, am in awe of this musician and her artistry...

[@lassatschwarz9106]

Lol yeah.

[@AlaniSugar]

+Vibhor Garg me

[@Jamnog]

+Vibhor Garg well pretty much everyone on here today i would imagine. (girls got game)

[@joeltan4960]

Yes! Was curious about this instrument & Clara.

[@amadeusd6161]

The vibrato👌

[@fntstck4309]

majestuoso

[@melwin086]

So this is where the Star Trek theme sound came from a theremin. WOW

[@newageintimidator]

+Melvin Winters If, if I am assuming right, you mean the theme to Star Trek: The Original Series (Kirk, Spock, McCoy, etc.), then you are mistaken. While the sound REALLY DOES sound similar to a theremin, any Trekkie knows that the them was actually sung (no words, just singing notes) by Loulie Jean Norman, a soprano who once sang for Bing Crosby's radio show.

[@chilena13120]

enorme!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@bernadettehoffman2562]

this is so cool. why we never learn about this stuff in music classes?!

[@ОксанаПисьменная-р1ъ]

Терминвокс. Интересно, сейчас на нём кто-нибудь играть умеет? Это ведь очень давняя запись. Волшебная... Только что слушала эту мелодию в записи Джозефа Хассида, на скрипке, и не могу решить, у кого она звучит лучше?... Обе можно слушать бесконечно. Спасибо, что дали послушать.

[@axioncrypt1879]

Magic

[@georgenemacdonald859]

Yes - fabulous Doodle!

[@bionicfighter4046]

So she couldn't play the violin because of muscle problems and so Instead she Played such a more beautiful and unique instrument, History is amazing, Wow beautiful how much passion she puts into this.

[@A1p0ure]

Как она так играет? Очень необычно! Мне нравится!

[@yvettej.9896]

Now I know this is the instrument played in many older films.

[@iridescentgreen]

good. just had to check.

[@DorothyPotterSnyder]

Clara Rockmore's contributions to the actual creation of the Theramin, which bears the name of its inventor who was also her friend and rejected lover, have been overlooked. It was Clara who made the instrument the flexible, multi-octave instrument that you are hearing here through her collaboration with Theramin and suggestions to him. What he delivered was an interesting oddity; in her hands and with her intellectual contributions, it became a real instrument. She deserves credit for that as well.

[@gilbertlara1547]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@wonniewonnie427]

If you like your theremin a bit more rockin' , check out John Otway Crazy Horses, he's a national treasure in England !

[@luserdroog]

She has to keep the body so very very still. Only the eyes have any freedom to emote.

[@ananixon]

@madamerotten It's Clara.

[@leroyosmon]

Beautiful. What is the use of the left hand?

[@jocelynebloch4030]

Oui, cent fois, à condition de se cantonner aux mélodies juives de l'Est, ça correspond au destin tragique de ce peuple dont il traduit exactement l'angoisse permanente.

[@akinderreality]

does it need to be fast to be good?

[@taaaaaami]

This is as bizarre as it gets. Somewhat ghostly, it's giving me creeps. I'm amazed there is such an instrument, though and it clarifies how old film noir's soundracks were recorded...

[@augustineriley5582]

mumienek I think its beautiful :) peace

[@chrisg9602]

They used this in 50s horror movies and space movies

[@Szowbell]

Brasil?? Vim pelo google msm

[@gabrielpanichi1053]

eu tambem po

[@cesarvidelac]

I insist, she's a vision from the future! To me, she is a suspect of beeing a time traveler making fun of us! :D

[@foobird58]

Sounds like voice sometimes. Notice her one pointed concentration.

[@shashagirl11]

You're right!! Sometimes it sounds like humming, sometimes like an opera singer! 🎶😊

[@vinayseth1114]

Mosquitoes! :D . Brilliant, though :)

[@robertolenny6260]

Mi sembra il rumore di un'interferenza radiofonica. Ma tutte quelle onde elettromagnetiche prodotte da questo strumento non faranno male?

[@dgjiephfurreighR]

notice she hasn't played anything really fast in any of the videos?

[@maazbinshahid649]

Hebrew Melody

[@technocrash09]

@KevyKooKoo Yup-----Totally awesome----and Totally creeeeeeeeeeeeeee-pyyyyyyyyyyyyy OOOOOoooooo!

[@iridescentgreen]

are you not at all familiar with the workings of the theremin? or was that a joke? :)

[@andreaputz7034]

krass und n bißchen unheimlich ;-)

[@andreaputz7034]

+andrea putz ach ja, und danke google :-) ma wieder n tolles doodle

[@azormage]

It's necessary to stand very still when playing theremin.

[@iriekramer518]

how old is she

[@Darkanoid29]

+Irie Kramer She died in 1998 :(

[@thatyoutuber1925]

Same

[@samueldd0616]

As first officer Spock would say- "Fascinating"

[@IM-dt3fc]

1:40

[@lsdvine]

@redenamel fuckin right

[@chrisg9602]

She's the jimi Hendrix of the theremin

[@BandofPants]

@madamerotten I doubt it, suga :)

[@Blue-Maned_Hawk]

Saved to goog

[@myco578]

would parkinsons come in handy when playing the therimen? but in all seriousnes this is beautiful

[@chrispham6599]

+Pedro Gonzalez Sir, I would like for you to produce evidence that states that she of Russian Nationality. I see that for one, quite stereotypical. Besides, her last name bear no implications that she is so.

[@The_Butler_Did_It]

Clara Rockmore was actually Lithuanian,(although at the time Lithuania was considered to be part of Russia) she was born as Clara Reisenberg in Vilnius in 1911 and originally studied the violin, she entered the Imperial conservatory of Saint Petersburg at the age of five and studied under Leopold Auer. Unfortunately, bone problems forced her to abandon violin performance in her teens. That however led her to discover the newborn electronic instrument and become perhaps the most renowned player of the theremin. Incidentally the pianist is her sister Nadia Reisenberg