Another story of an accident yielding wonderful results. Leon Theremin, who discovered the instrument that came to carry his name, was a Russian physicist attempting to create a proximity sensor, with its obvious military uses, but ended up creating a musical instrument which is played without touching it. It ended up being used for making eerie music, or futurist sounds. It was actually the inspiration for the original Star Trek theme music. Now it is respected for its sound, and unique playing method,

man he actually plays it like intended and makes it sound good instead of only spooky music EDIT: this comment is 2 years old, about 50 people have told me, yes, he is the inventor, i have poor reading comprehension.

Kind of sounds like an old recording of an opera singer singing.

Please note: The Theremin video has an explanation (in Russian) for the 1st 14 seconds, followed by playing for the rest of the video. I think Leo Theremin, in his explanation, is saying the following: The electro-musical Theremin is the 1st of its kind. It’s a song-melody instrument. The melody is achieved by magnetic field changes near the instrument.

Kind of makes sense now, how a critic described the sound of a theremin as a cello lost in a dense fog, crying because it doesn't know how to get home.

This man is STILL ahead of THIS time.

this man literally connected to this instrument like wtf he looks like he feels the notes

Imagine having a family member owning a Theremin and plays it everyday to practice.. *You're either in a 1900s Disney Princess movie or a psychological horror movie*

And on that day, cheesy sci-fi horror was changed forever.

Most people don't even know how hard this is. Playing mary had little lamb in a theremin is about as hard as playing Für Elise with your feet (on a piano)

*when a 100 year old invention is ahead of your time*

It's amazing that 100 years later, the technique in playing this is exactly the same. Nobody ever figured out a better way of playing it.

This particular footage is from 1954, in Leon's 58th year, 34 years after the invention of the theremin. He went on to live another 39 years. The theremin, along with the musical saw, blaster beam & portative organ are 4 of the most interesting musical instruments.

Amazing to see rare stuff like this. He made history. And sounds actually beautiful! Like a violin.

This man is so far beyond most of us that he's playing "air" and making sound amazing. I used to own a Theremin but it was ruined by moisture 😭

Impressive. Such a clean pitch, he really did hit every note 😮

I was there, this concert was wild...

I own a theremin, but I haven't touched it in years.... XD

He was also probably the best player on its own instrument. Most of modern players can't get most from theremin: they do very low dynamic expansion. In his own hands It heards like a violin. And its own creator called it as Thermenvox, not theremin.

Wow, what control & musicality! Theremin was a triple threat: musician, inventor, electrical engineer.

I played this song for the funeral of my goldfish.

I will never be able to hear this and *NOT* think of an alien invasion!

This makes me feel joy that this dude was able to use the technology at his time to make this instrument instead of conceptualizing it and never seeing it be made

A beautiful sounding instrument and a beautiful mind. Thanks Leon. Rest in peace. x

If you were in an apartment, and someone decides to practice this at 3 am...it wouldve been a real scary time

For those wondering what the song is, it's Не брани меня, родная (Don't scold me, dear). Used to play it on the piano in my music school.

This man was literally ahead of his time. In fact, he's still ahead of time till this very day lmao

No one: The random mosquito in my room:

I was greatly pleased to see him actually touch the volume loop, making sure his instrument won't embark on its own personal solo performance. I do the same thing myself, as a sensible precaution! Thanks for posting!

Nice vintage filter. Hipster!

THIS SHIT STILL SLAPS IN 2021

It’s such a beautifully haunting sound, and from such a difficult instrument to learn.

that one fly when you're trying to sleep

Thank you so much for posting this. This needs to be archived for history's sake. I never thought I would see Lev Theremin play his own instrument.

This, a carnyx, and wash tub drum, and we've got ourselves a real winner.

The technique he's using (holding his forefinger and thumb together for a clearer, more precise pitch) was discovered by Clara Rockmore. She was a true innovator in electronic music of her time :)

Thank you Russia! :D Seen that many of you were wondering the source of this melody, song is "Ne brani menya rodnaya" by Alexander Dubuque ;>

truley amazing how even in the 1920's they were capable of making such an electrical instrument that has still to this day has the same built and shape, also played the exact same way.. lots of nock offs but this guy is the shit!!!!! amen to Leon. Starting the movement of electronical instruments which rule the world today.

I am saying hi from 2020! I really did not expect that there was an absolute amazing instrument invented back then. Now, I consider my self lucky to discover this. Theremin captured my soul. Idk why. Wish I could play it some time.

The theremin is the most bizarre musical instrument I've ever heard. Played to perfection in such sci-fi classics as "The Day the Earth Stood Still" (1951) & "It Came from Outer Space" (1953), as well as the modern masterpieces "Ed Wood" (1994) & "Mars Attacks!" (1996). I just love watching an expert theremin player at work

It's a common misconception that the Beach Boys used a theremin on "Good Vibrations". They used a different instrument called the Electro-Theremin, or Tannerin, which is more like a synthesizer ribbon controller with a fake keyboard superimposed over the ribbon. It was also used on the theme for the "My Favorite Martian" TV show. I collaborated with Tom Polk to produce a Tannerin sound for Arturia MMV (as well as Theremin and Ondes Martenot sounds).

Nothing else like it. Beautiful and haunting all at once.

this is the most hauntingly beautiful thing I've ever witnessed

i just got recommended this. get ready for a january 2021 wave of views.

A truly spectacular instrument. Thank you, Leon Theremin, wherever you may be.

What an incredible discovery, thanks google. Majestic.

for all of its faults, KZfaq is such a world-changing tool. without it, I don't think me, or you, or anyone would have ever seen this footage in their lives, much less had it randomly recommended to them 15 years after someone decided to show it to the world, and 65 years after it was first recorded. oh and Leon's ability is great too!

This looks easy to the eye but this is actually insanity. I salute to this guy with the most respect.

This is really cool to see inventors demonstrate their own inversions.

Можно только гордиться такими соотечественниками! Спасибо за то, что вы были!

Wooow!!! It is incredible! This man is really still ahead of our time!…

This is amazing... A uniquely gorgeous sounding instrument. Very cool to watch him play.

Hi Kristine, the title of the documentary is Theremin: An Electronic Odyssey (produced in 1994), and it is worth seeing. Here is an excerpt from the film; Clara Rockmore is reminiscing about how Leon Theremin courted her 60 years earlier (hopefully before he was married to the ballerina you mentioned, rather than during).

What a historic document! Many thanks for posting this.

The sour screeches of the dead, imbedded with the careful tact, and precision of symphonic beauty.

Fabulous I love this instrument, so ethereal and played without touching it, magic! Clara rockmore was a fine exponent of the device, this has been a treat to so the creator and his machine together!

i really hope this becomes more popular. it is a very underrated instrument

"Leon Theremin playing his own instrument" - i'm not sure what I was expecting.

He's a great musician!

Look at what people can do when they have the freedom to create and be the best that they can be! One day I hope we ALL can get back to that freedom and pleasure!

Masterfully played, the voice of the Theremin takes on an operatic human character. I have achieved similar effects on pedal steel guitar using an electromagnetic string exciter called the E-Bow. A neat effect when used tastefully. The opera singer's part on Ennio Morricone's "Once Upon a Time in the West" I feel would make an excellent arrangement for the Theremin.

Wow, what fantastic footage! I didn't realize he was such a good player. Beautiful tone and pitch and his movements are a dance unto themselves!

I've played around with a theremin before but never understood how you're supposed to go between notes and not sound choppy. Now I get it, the chop is hidden in the vibrato. Really really good stuff

The piece is called "Do not scold me, dear". A transcription of this music, for solo and piano, could be found here: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/acVnbMuWqayUZKs.html

tfw it's 3 am and you're a musician trying to listen to theremin music but the comments under every video are wildin' and youre distracted

Leon was not only a really brilliant constructor of his own instrument, but also a brilliant musician, I heard here!!! Thanks so much for this fantastic upload!!

You are a musical genius sir 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼

It sound so Eerie and creeppy but at the same time it sounds so Amazing and Melancolical

Now this really IS history. the father of the synth- thank you so much for this.

This piece is so sad :( My soul cries when it hears this melody.

Man, the song is still good to this day. Thank you for the upload

What a wonderful sense of pitch he had.

For those of you that are clueless, a Theremin is a musical instrument with electronic tone generation, the pitch and tone volume being controlled by the distance between the player's hands and two metal rods serving as antennas.

Impressionante .Principalmente quando se vê ao vivo, como já vi em Lisboa!

The mosquito singing at night while I'm trying to sleep

This man was brilliant! 👏👏👏👏😊🛸👽

Only ghosts play the Thermin

Thx Scishow. I'm learning every day.

One of the most beautiful things i've ever watched.

So beautiful was his performance. I have been listening quite much of Theremin music but this was the most touching.

Esse cara era um gênio, sua criação é um instrumento fantástico.

He's A Witch!

This sounds so beautiful.

I'm diggin' those good vibrations....

It is so cool. So I guess it was the soviets that are the fathers of EDM movement

so far ahead of his time world / music trend required another 80 yrs to realise its potential .

Can't help but think of all the 1960's Sy-Fy B movies I watched growing up, everytime I hear a Theremin😂

What a beautiful instrument.

Комментарии все не наши!!!( Эххх

His actual name was Lev Sergeyevich Termen, only Americans later introduced the name Léon Theremin

I've loved this instrument ever since hearing these in 50's Sci-Fi Movies during the late night TV Shows as a kid. RIP Captain Harold's Theater of The Sky, TNT Monster Vision, 100% Weird, and the other shows from the 80's and 90's era.

That still looks and sounds so whimsical and surreal.

russian genius

Hannibal brought me here

The music is so beautiful, the background white noise only makes it better

I keep coming to this video. It's so beautiful

awesome

I used to have a similar "effect" when i solded a part on my first pc soundcard, long time ago... later a friend told me i accidently built a "Theremin".... he had such a device back then ;)

Ratchet and Clank used this a lot in their PS2 era, especially in the third game

The phrasing is so beautiful!