MFSB Mysteries

**NickNack** · November 4th, 2003, 04:33 PM

I've been playing MFSB today. Can anyone tell me what instrument is creating that weird, wonderful sound on track 8, "In the Shadow", from Mysteries of The World? It's straight out of the old horror/thriller movies... The Shadow Knows

**BrunoRepublic** · November 4th, 2003, 08:30 PM

Normally this sound is done with a Theremin, an early electronic instrument. However in this case (and most examples of this sound done after 1970 or so) it has been faked with a synthesizer. This is likely because theremins are almost impossible to play a melody on, because you don't touch anything -- you just move your hands in the air and it responds accordingly. Only a handful of people have mastered the instrument to the point of being able to create recognizeable melodies on it.

**NickNack** · November 4th, 2003, 08:46 PM

Thanks, Graham. I've never heard of or seen a Theremin. Is it keyboard-like or something totally off the wall? It has to be sensitive as all get out to respond to air pressure created by moving hands.

**Bernie** · November 4th, 2003, 08:54 PM

Didn't the Beach Boys use a Theremin? I think on "Good Vibrations?"

**BrunoRepublic** · November 4th, 2003, 09:03 PM

Originally Written by Bernie

Didn't the Beach Boys use a Theremin? I think on "Good Vibrations?"

Yes and no. It was an electro-theremin, which produces the same sound, but was considerably easier to play.

**occasio** · November 5th, 2003, 01:59 PM

Originally Written by Graham_Start

Normally this sound is done with a Theremin, an early electronic instrument. However in this case (and most examples of this sound done after 1970 or so) it has been faked with a synthesizer. This is likely because theremins are almost impossible to play a melody on, because you don't touch anything -- you just move your hands in the air and it responds accordingly. Only a handful of people have mastered the instrument to the point of being able to create recognizeable melodies on it.

Found liner notes of a Les Baxter album which describes the theremin as a rare instrument (only about 200 known to exist today) that is closely akin to the human voice and heart. It is played by the motions of the hands in the air over an electronic field, the right hand gives pitch, the left volume, yet neither hand comes in direct contact with the instrument. The tone produced has a vibrant sweetness, with a tender, pulsing vibrato.
There´s also a Hitchcock record (Spellbound) with great theremin. Whenever there´s a dream sequence you hear
`ooo-ooo-ooooo`.
For the record.

**Nano** · November 5th, 2003, 02:30 PM

You can see a theremin being played in the Allison Anders movie "Grace of my heart" (1996), which recounts the life of a composer-for-hire turned singer-songwriter á la Carole King. At some point in the film she's in a relationship with a Brian Wilson-like composer and there's a scene of a studio recording with the theremin on action.
Pretty good movie, BTW. Produced by Martin Scorsese; Ileana Douglas in the starring role, Matt Dillon as "Brian Wilson".

I know there's also a documentary called Theremin: An electronic odyssey (1993) about the life of the Russian guy who invented the instrument, but I never saw it. According to the Leonard Maltin review of the film, these could be recognizable as fact:
1) the guy was named Leon Theremin.
2) Theremin was the first electronical musical instrument.
3) It was adopted by Hollywood for movie soundtracks during the 40s and 50s.
4) Brian Wilson used it for "Good vibrations" (he also does a semi-coherent speech in this movie).

**BrunoRepublic** · November 5th, 2003, 06:25 PM

Originally Written by occasio

Found liner notes of a Les Baxter album which describes the theremin as a rare instrument (only about 200 known to exist today) that is closely akin to the human voice and heart.

Perhaps only 200 of the original instruments remain, but you can still get a Theremin, or a kit to build one, today.

As for the sound, well... it's not much more than a sine wave, really...