Mon Dec 29 08:57:15 UTC 2025: Here’s a summarized news article based on the provided text:
Headline: Theremin: The Ethereal Instrument Played Without Touch Continues to Captivate
New York, NY – December 30, 2025 – The theremin, one of the earliest electronic musical instruments, continues to intrigue music lovers and scientists alike. Invented by Leon Theremin (Lev Sergeyevich Termen) in 1920 and patented in 1928, the theremin is unique in that it is played without any physical contact. The musician, known as a thereminist, controls pitch and volume by moving their hands in the vicinity of two antennas, which act as position sensors.
The theremin’s sound is highly sensitive to the player’s movements and lacks traditional tuning, making it a challenging instrument to master. However, its unique wavering sound and the scientific principles behind its operation, where the hand becomes part of a variable capacitor, offer a fascinating experience.
Clara Rockmore, a Russian musician and one of the greatest thereminists, mastered the difficult instrument and was able to make the instrument sound mellifluous. Rockmore was a classical violinist and learned how to play the instrument from the inventor Leon Theremin himself.
Despite early popularity, the theremin’s rise was hampered by the Soviet Union’s political climate. Yet, the instrument has persevered.
First Piper 