Theremin
The theremin in five languages — theremin, theremin, Theremin, thérémine
Related
Five languages
| Language | Name |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 特雷门琴 |
| English | theremin |
| Italian | theremin |
| German | Theremin |
| French | thérémine |
The theremin is one of the earliest electronic instruments, invented in 1920 by the Russian physicist Léon Theremin; Italian writes theremin, German Theremin, French thérémine. It sounds through the difference between two high-frequency oscillators: the right hand near the vertical antenna sets pitch, the left hand near the loop sets volume, and pitch is continuous, with no frets and no keys.
Watch out: playing a theremin involves no contact at all — capacitance between hand and antenna is the whole control, which is also what gets misunderstood; it is not controlled by light or a proximity switch, despite the gestures.
Read deeper → Theremin · Related Synthesizer
Sources
- 各语种乐器名依通行音乐术语词典（参 The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, "Theremin"）；本文为原创表述
Used for fact-checking only; all prose is original.