Name: The untouchable music of the theremin
Uploaded: 2008-02-13T02:40:00Z
Duration: 18 min 57 s
Description: Virtuoso Pamelia Kurstin performs and discusses her theremin, the not-just-for-sci-fi electronic instrument that is played without being touched. Songs include "Autumn Leaves," "Lush Life" and David Mash’s "Listen, Words Are Gone."

Virtuoso Pamelia Kurstin performs and discusses her theremin, the not-just-for-sci-fi electronic instrument that is played without being touched. Songs include "Autumn Leaves," "Lush Life" and David Mash’s "Listen, Words Are Gone."

The untouchable music of the theremin

The theremin turns thin air into melody, played without ever being touched. Movements of the hands near its antennas control pitch and volume, creating an eerie, expressive sound that once defined 1950s sci-fi. Mastering the instrument requires stillness and a profound awareness of the body, as even breathing can send the notes astray. The theremin’s origins trace back to a Soviet inventor tuning shortwave radios, revealing music where others only heard static.