Léon Theremin

Lev Sergeyevich terms, later Leon Theremin (Russian Лев Сергеевич Термен, scientific transliteration Lev Sergeevič terms; * 15.jul / August 27 1896greg in Saint Petersburg, .. † 3 November 1993, Moscow) was a Russian physicist and inventor. He invented the Theremin named after him, the first instrument that generates sounds electronically, and is thus regarded as a pioneer of emerging later inventions such as a synthesizer or drum machine.

Life

Leon Theremin was born into a family of French and German descent. He had a sister named Helena. Theremin graduated from the St. Petersburg Conservatory in professional cello and then studied physics at the University in his hometown. From 1919, he headed the physical-technical Institute in Petrograd and worked together since 1923, working closely with the Moscow Institute of Musicology. 1919/20, he invented the Theremin in the laboratory for electrical oscillations. At this time, he called it yet etherophone. Two years later, the theremin was presented in Moscow.

A Theremin similar arrangement could be used to monitor valuable objects in museums and on the approximation of control inputs. Also, metal and mine detectors operate on the principle of the theremin.

From 1927 terms went with the Theremin on a world tour and enthusiastic with his "ghost music " the audience. In the course of this, terms in 1928 settled in New York. In the U.S., the theremin was patented and sold the production license to RCA, which is now manufactured the device. Terms Americanized his name and called himself Leo ( n ) Theremin. In New York Theremin built on a kind of sci-fi studio where he rich sponsors and patrons with the latest, revolutionary for its time, impress " toys " used. The pianist Rosalyn Tureck came in 1924 with Theremin in contact and later studied for a time with him. In 1931 she made ​​her debut as a soloist at Carnegie Hall with a theremin instrument.

In 1938 Theremin under mysterious circumstances in the Soviet Union, where he was arrested after a short time for anti-Soviet propaganda and sentenced to ten years' imprisonment. He first came to Siberia to a gulag, and later in an academy for captured scientist in Moscow, where he participated in the development of aircraft. After the dissolution of this group he worked on, still in prison, again with its own developments. He developed various bugs. According to the invention, one of the first bugs for the KGB in 1952 he received the Stalin Prize, First Class. He now had the opportunity to leave his prison, it preferred but, for the time being to continue working in a familiar environment. After his release, he worked on for the Soviet secret service.

Overall, Theremin was imprisoned 27 years in Soviet camps and the KGB. He appeared only in 1964 again, and was both outside and inside the Soviet Union completely forgotten. In his years in the clutches of the KGB him all his titles and awards had been revoked, all the documents that confirmed these destroyed. The Physical Institute in St. Petersburg, on the Theremin his pioneering invention was made, nor claimed in the 1990s never to have possessed such employees. 1964 Theremin Director of the Department of acoustic research at the Moscow Conservatory. Four years later he was transferred to the Physical Faculty of the Moscow University. The mid-1960s he began again with engineers and musicians in the studio together for electronic music of Scriabin Museum to develop new electronic instruments, and develop its old instruments.

At the same time began to work for Theremin acoustics of the Moscow Conservatory in the laboratory. In addition to his acoustic work he built refined versions of the theremin, several Terpsitone, and an electronic cello. His work has received some attention until 1967, Harold C. Schonberg became aware of theremin, and met with him. Schonberg wrote about this meeting in the New York Times, which the Moscow Conservatory Director, in turn, caused them to dismiss Theremin from the Conservatory.

Theremin then began to work as a mechanic for Physical Faculty of Moscow State University. He developed further Theremin prototype, but lost again.

For a long time prevailed in Western countries before the opinion that he had already died in 1938. He seemed to have disappeared for a long time practically from history.

In 1990 he joined the Communist Party, shortly before its dissolution. Previous applications for admission had been granted turned down, first because of his work abroad, and later for his arrest, then because of his age.

In the early 1990s he was honored internationally and led his Theremin before on various trips.

At the age of 97 years Leon Theremin died, the " Soviet Faust", as he was known in the biography of Bulat Galejew, on 3 November 1993 in Moscow.

Some inventions theremin

• Termenvox - the classic Theremin (1919-1920)
• Alarm systems, based on the Theremineffekt ( 1920 )
• Lichttheremin - reacts to brightness differences (1923 )
• Terpsitone - platform to transform dance into sounds (1932 )
• Theremincello - an electronic cello with no strings ( 1930 )
• Rhythmicon - a kind of early drum machine (1932 )
• Polyphonic Theremin ( 1960 )
• Harmonium ( 1930 ... 1960 )
• Visualization of the spatial fingerboard of the theremin ( Termenvox )