Theremin Physics

Jason BuchananNovember 7, 2012

Outline

Call of the wild theremin (or. termenvox) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5qf9O6c20o

Beast of the machine Stalking the beast Taming the beast Symbiosis

How'd he do that? Lev Termen 1896-1920-1928-1938-1993 Beat Frequencies (heterodynes)

Oscillators Inductance, capacitance, resistance

C=eA/d + f=1/(2pi)/sqrt(LC) f=1/(2pi)/sqrt(LeA/d)cos(w1t)+cos(w2t)=2cos[(w1-w2)/2]t

Instrument Elements Monophonic

electrophone Null Point Lowest Pitch Musical Linearity

<www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAQChI7Yq-I&feature=related>

Where you may've heard itWhere you may've heard it

www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nsKnKcwkyEwww.youtube.com/watch?v=8nsKnKcwkyE Big Bang Theory (Sheldon) ('11)Big Bang Theory (Sheldon) ('11) The Machinist ('04)The Machinist ('04) ExistenZ ('99), ExistenZ ('99), Tim Burton's Mars Attacks ('96) & Ed Wood ('94)Tim Burton's Mars Attacks ('96) & Ed Wood ('94) Led Zeppelin “Whole Lotta Love” ('79)Led Zeppelin “Whole Lotta Love” ('79) The Day the Earth Stood Still ('51)The Day the Earth Stood Still ('51) The Ghost Goes West ('46)The Ghost Goes West ('46) Alfred Hitchcock's Spellbound ('45)Alfred Hitchcock's Spellbound ('45) <www.theremin.info/-/viewpub/tid/13/pid/3><www.theremin.info/-/viewpub/tid/13/pid/3>

Clara Rockmore First Theremin virtuoso Complete musical artistry 1911-1998 www.youtube.com/watch?v=g663B3pqYdo Lydia Kavina (45y/o)

Deep Space? PolyTheremin (Moog)PolyTheremin (Moog) Robin Fox: Giant ThereminRobin Fox: Giant Theremin

<www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FS7Hb-4AkY><www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FS7Hb-4AkY> Flavio Sosa's Guitheremiphone (guithesizeremin?)Flavio Sosa's Guitheremiphone (guithesizeremin?) Theremin puppets!Theremin puppets!

What remains to be seen in the future of theremins?!

Works Cited Christopher. “Lev's Antenna: Theremin Linearity is Lev's Gift” 7/28/12<http://www.oldtemecula.com/theremin/index.htm>

Cortez, Joe. “From Elfman to Theremin: The Sonic World of Tim Burton.” Tim Burton Collective, The 2004. Mike Jackson. <www.timburtoncollective.com/sonic.html>

DemidMS. “Ave Maria - BWV 846 (Bach-Gounod) played on the thereminvox & some other sounds” 2007/12/17

“Electrophone.” Encyclopedia Brittanica, Inc. 2012

<en.wikipedia.org/wiki/{Ed_Wood_(film); Léon_Theremin; The_Big_Bang_Theory_(season_4) }>

Erland, Jennifer. "Physics of the Theremin Musical Instrument." 2000. 123HelpMe.com. 06 Nov 2012 <http://www.123HelpMe.com/view.asp?id=153567>.

Frenkel, Thierry. “Welcome.” 2009/8/30 Top Notch. <theremin.tfrenkel.com/en/welcome>

Grossman, Carl. “Physics 22 - The Physics of Musical Sound Theremin Lab NotesI”

Kraftmakher, Yaakov. “Metal detection and the Theremin in the classroom” 2004. <www.iop.org/journals/physed>

“Lydia Kavina: Musik aus dem Äther” Kammermusikkammer. Montag, 19. January 2009 <kammermusikkammer.blogspot.com/2009/01/lydia-kavina-musik-aus-dem-ther.html>

Pringle, Peter. Several articles and pictures from his website. <www.peterpringle.com/pg1.html>

Schmidt, Ron. “Understanding electromagnetic fields and antenna radiation takes (almost) no math.” EDN Magazine. Mar. 2, 2000.

Slonikyouth. “Leon Theremin playing his own instrument.” 1928 Upl: Jan 14, 2008 <ww.youtube.com/watch?v=w5qf9O6c20o>

Thierry, Jason, and John. Theremin World. 2011-2012 <ww.thereminworld.com>

Z, Tom. “The Theremin: From a Physics Perspective.” Best Answer. 2007 Yahoo. <http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20071202200459AAu1Tz5>