Editing Theremin (section)

== History ==
{{See also|Leon Theremin}}
The theremin was the product of Soviet government-sponsored research into [[proximity sensor]]s. The instrument was invented in October 1920 by the Russian physicist Lev Sergeyevich Termen, known in the West as [[Leon Theremin]].{{sfn|Glinsky|2000|page=[https://archive.org/details/thereminethermus00glin/page/26 26]}}<ref>{{YouTube|w5qf9O6c20o|Leon Theremin playing his own instrument}}</ref> After a lengthy tour of Europe, during which time he demonstrated his invention to packed houses, Theremin moved to the United States, where he patented his invention in 1928.<ref name=patent>{{US patent |1661058|US1661058}}</ref> Subsequently, Theremin granted commercial production rights to [[RCA]].

Although the RCA Thereminvox (released immediately following the [[Wall Street crash of 1929|stock market crash of 1929]]) was not a commercial success, it fascinated audiences in America and abroad. [[Clara Rockmore]], a well-known thereminist, toured to wide acclaim, performing a classical repertoire in concert halls around the United States, often sharing the bill with bass-baritone [[Paul Robeson]]. Joseph Whiteley (1894–1984) performed under the stage name Musaire and his 1930 RCA Theremin can be seen, played and heard at the [[Musical Museum, Brentford|Musical Museum]], Brentford, England.<ref>{{Cite web |title=MMCatalogue (All) |url=https://www.musicalmuseum.co.uk/mmcatalogue |access-date=2024-08-08 |website=The Musical Museum |language=en}}</ref>

During the 1930s, [[Lucie Bigelow Rosen]] was also taken with the theremin and together with her husband Walter Bigelow Rosen provided both financial and artistic support to the development and popularisation of the instrument.{{sfn|Glinsky|2000|pp=127–128}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thereminvox.com/|title=The Theremin|date=9 May 2007|publisher=Thereminvox|access-date=2010-07-13|quote=financially supported Léon Theremin's work}}</ref>

In 1938, Theremin left the United States, though the circumstances related to his departure are in dispute. Many accounts claim he was taken from his [[New York City]] apartment by [[NKVD]] agents (preceding the [[KGB]]),<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A520831 ''Tell Me More'', BBC, h2g2 project, Undated].Accessed:05-20-2008.</ref> taken back to the [[Soviet Union]] and made to work in a ''[[sharashka]]'' laboratory prison camp at Magadan, Siberia. He reappeared 30 years later. In his 2000 biography of the inventor, ''Theremin: Ether Music and Espionage'', [[Albert Glinsky]] suggested he had fled to escape crushing personal debts, and was then caught up in Stalin's political purges. In any case, Theremin did not return to the United States until 1991.{{sfn|Glinsky|2000|pp=185–187, 329}}

[[File:Moog Theremin Bausatz.jpg|thumb|The components of a modern [[Moog Music|Moog]] theremin, in kit form]]
After a flurry of interest in America following the end of the [[World War II|Second World War]], the theremin soon fell into disuse with serious musicians, mainly because newer electronic instruments were introduced that were easier to play. However, a niche interest in the theremin persisted, mostly among electronics enthusiasts and kit-building hobbyists. One of these electronics enthusiasts, [[Robert Moog]], began building theremins in the 1950s, while he was a high-school student. Moog subsequently published a number of articles about building theremins, and sold theremin kits that were intended to be assembled by the customer. Moog credited what he learned from the experience as leading directly to his groundbreaking [[synthesizer]], the [[Moog synthesizer|Moog]]. (Around 1955, a colleague of Moog's, electronic music pioneer [[Raymond Scott]], purchased one of Moog's theremin subassemblies to incorporate into a new invention, the [[Clavivox]], which was intended to be an easy-to-use keyboard theremin.)<ref>{{cite book|last=Glinsky |first=Albert|author-link=Albert Glinsky|title=Switched On: Bob Moog and the Synthesizer Revolution |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=New York City|date=2022 |isbn=9780197642078 |pages=26–33}}</ref><ref>[http://raymondscott.net/features/moog/ 1993 interview with Robert Moog posted at RaymondScott.net] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160311020751/http://raymondscott.net/features/moog/ |date=2016-03-11 }}</ref>

Since the release of the film ''[[Theremin: An Electronic Odyssey]]'' in 1993, the instrument has enjoyed a resurgence in interest and has become more widely used by contemporary musicians. Even though many theremin sounds can be approximated on many modern synthesizers, some musicians continue to appreciate the expressiveness, novelty, and uniqueness of using an actual theremin. The film itself has received positive reviews.<ref>[http://www.mrqe.com/movies?q=Theremin MRQE – Movie Review Query Engine – Theremin] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090918144710/http://www.mrqe.com/movies?q=Theremin |date=2009-09-18 }}, see also the rare 100% score at [http://uk.rottentomatoes.com/m/theremin_an_electronic_odyssey/ Rotten Tomatoes] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071210033322/http://uk.rottentomatoes.com/m/theremin_an_electronic_odyssey/ |date=2007-12-10 }}</ref>

Both theremin instruments and kits are available.  The Open Theremin, an [[Open-hardware|open hardware]] and [[open software]] project, was developed by Swiss microengineer Urz Gaudenz, using the original [[heterodyne]] oscillator architecture for a good playing experience,<ref>{{cite web|title=Sound and Oscillators|url=http://www.gaudi.ch/OpenTheremin/index.php/home/sound-and-oscillators|publisher= GaudiLabs |date=2018-05-17|access-date=2019-10-13}}</ref> combined with [[Arduino]]. Using a few extra components, a [[MIDI]] interface can be added to the Open Theremin, enabling a player to use their theremin to control different instrument sounds.<ref>{{cite web |last1=GaudiLabs |title=MIDI Interface |url=https://www.gaudi.ch/OpenTheremin/index.php/opentheremin-v4/midi-interface |website=OpenTheremin |access-date=4 August 2022}}</ref>

The theremin's singular operation method has been praised for providing an accessible route to music-making for people with disabilities.<ref>{{cite thesis |id={{ProQuest|304003165}} |last=Glinsky |first=Albert Vincent|author-link=Albert Glinsky|date=1992 |title=The Theremin in the Emergence of Electronic Music}}{{page needed|date=September 2023}}</ref>