This remnant will be replaced soon. The FAQ is back, with a new design! What is a theremin? Starting in the summer of 1996, Page has occassionally played a theremin on stage. (Not used much since then, but see 8/6/97.) One of the first electronic instruments, and the only instrument played without being touched, the theremin (taer'-uh-min) was invented in 1918 by Leon Theremin (Lev Terman?), a Russian physicist born 1895 in St. Petersburg who stumbled upon the "device" while working with radio signals for the Russian goverment. It was first sold by in 1929 by RCA; Big Briar (Robert Moog's company) is the leading manufacturer today. (Thanks to Dave Miller and others.) There was a special issue of Grand Royal magazine about electronicus (moogs, theremins, Dick Hymen, etc.) (Grand Royal is the accompanying rag for the Beastie Boys' label of the same name.) Also, an article in Electronic Musician included do-it-yourself instructions for building a Theramin -- not sure which issue. Online, see Dave Miller's, Bob Sexton's, or Jason Barile's page. Also (as Marty Hergert posted 1/27/97), "there's a new book-and-cd collection on experimental musical instruments (of which the Theremin is included) called Gravikords, Whirlies & Pyrophones, published by Ellipsis Arts. Some of it is really far out (like a woman playing "New York, New York" with car horns or people banging on ceramic pots), and some of it is so pleasing and unique sounding it's amazing that these instruments haven't gotten wider exposure (like Phil Dadson's tubes percussion stations featured in The Blue Man group's performance art). You must hear a track by Sugar Belly playing a saxophone made out of bamboo. " Related FAQ pages: How does a theremin work? Where else have I heard a theremin? "Bluegrass topped by a klezmer tuen, mock-classical counterpoint dissolving into free-form a capella vocals, pop lounge songs and light funk, blues guitar licks and bombastic rock vamps -- Phish's [concerts have] all that and more in nearly three hours of benignly virtuosic music." -- New York Times 'Pop Review', 10/24/96 This page last updated June 01, 2009. All contents © 1992-2007 Ellis Godard. All rights reserved.