Who invented the theremin?
The theremin was invented in 1920 by Russian physicist Léon Theremin while he was researching sensors that detect motion.
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Unusual Instrument Facts
Unusual instrument facts and facts about unusual instruments.
119 facts on this shelf
How does a theremin work?
A theremin has two antennas. Moving one hand near the vertical antenna changes the pitch, and moving the other near the loop antenna changes the volume.
Which classic sci-fi movie used a theremin?
Bernard Herrmann's score for the 1951 sci-fi movie "The Day the Earth Stood Still" famously used the theremin to create an otherworldly sound.
Which Oscar-winning score featured a theremin?
Miklós Rózsa's Oscar-winning score for Alfred Hitchcock's 1945 film "Spellbound" featured the theremin.
Did "Good Vibrations" use a theremin?
The Beach Boys' "Good Vibrations" is often said to feature a theremin, but it actually used the Electro-Theremin, a different instrument played with a slider.
Who was Clara Rockmore?
Clara Rockmore was a classical violinist who became the most famous theremin virtuoso.
What spy device did Léon Theremin invent?
Léon Theremin later invented "The Thing," a hidden listening device that the Soviets placed inside a wooden Great Seal given to the US ambassador in Moscow.
Did Robert Moog build theremins?
Robert Moog built theremins as a teenager before inventing the Moog synthesizer.
What is a matryomin?
A matryomin is a theremin built inside a Russian nesting doll, created in Japan.
Why do theremin players have to stay so still?
A theremin responds to the electrical properties of the player's body, so even small movements can change the sound.
Who invented the Hang?
The Hang was invented in 2000 by Felix Rohner and Sabina Schärer of PANArt in Bern, Switzerland.
What does "Hang" mean?
"Hang" means "hand" in the Bernese German dialect.
What instruments inspired the Hang?
The Hang was inspired by the Caribbean steelpan and other percussion instruments.
Is PANArt still making the Hang?
PANArt stopped making the Hang in 2013.
What is a handpan?
"Handpan" is the general name for instruments similar to the Hang that are made by other builders.
What shape is a Hang?
The Hang is made of two steel shells joined together, giving it a UFO-like shape.
How do you play a Hang?
The Hang is played with the hands, usually resting on the player's lap.
What is the "ding" on a Hang?
The center note of a Hang is called the "ding."
How did people buy a Hang from PANArt?
People who wanted to buy a Hang once had to write a letter to PANArt.
Why does a Hang have a hole on the bottom?
The hole on the bottom of a Hang, called the "Gu," creates a deep bass tone.
Where does the didgeridoo come from?
The didgeridoo was developed by Aboriginal peoples of northern Australia, and rock art suggests it's been played for at least 1,500 years.
How are traditional didgeridoos made?
Traditional didgeridoos are made from eucalyptus branches that have been naturally hollowed out by termites.
What is circular breathing?
Didgeridoo players use circular breathing, inhaling through the nose while pushing air out of the mouth, to play a continuous sound without stopping.
Is "didgeridoo" an Aboriginal word?
"Didgeridoo" is probably not an Aboriginal word. One Aboriginal name for the instrument is "yidaki."
Can playing the didgeridoo help with sleep apnea?
A 2006 study found that playing the didgeridoo can help reduce snoring and sleep apnea.
Who can play the didgeridoo in Aboriginal tradition?
In some Aboriginal communities, cultural protocols say only men play the didgeridoo.
How many notes can a didgeridoo play?
A didgeridoo mainly plays a single drone note.
What is a didgeridoo mouthpiece made of?
Traditional didgeridoo mouthpieces are made of beeswax.
What type of instrument is a didgeridoo?
The didgeridoo is a wind instrument.
Can didgeridoo players imitate animals?
Didgeridoo players can imitate animal sounds.
Who invented the glass armonica?
Benjamin Franklin invented the glass armonica in 1761.
How does a glass armonica work?
A glass armonica has spinning glass bowls on a rod, which the player touches with wet fingers to make sound.
Did Mozart write music for the glass armonica?
Mozart wrote music for the glass armonica.
Did people think the glass armonica caused madness?
Rumors claimed the glass armonica caused madness, and some German towns banned it.
Who was Marianne Kirchgessner?
Marianne Kirchgessner was a blind glass armonica virtuoso.
What was Benjamin Franklin's favorite invention?
Benjamin Franklin called the glass armonica his favorite invention.
Where is Benjamin Franklin's glass armonica?
Benjamin Franklin's own glass armonica is at The Franklin Institute.
Was a famous opera scene written for the glass armonica?
Donizetti originally wrote the mad scene in "Lucia di Lammermoor" for the glass armonica.
Where does the name "armonica" come from?
The name "armonica" comes from the Italian word for harmony.
Did Franz Mesmer use the glass armonica?
Franz Mesmer used the glass armonica in his sessions.
How does a hurdy-gurdy make sound?
A hurdy-gurdy makes sound when the player turns a crank that spins a rosined wheel against the strings, working like a violin bow.
How do you change notes on a hurdy-gurdy?
A hurdy-gurdy player changes notes by pressing keys that touch the strings.
What are drone strings?
A hurdy-gurdy has drone strings that play a constant note.
What was the organistrum?
The hurdy-gurdy's ancestor, the organistrum, was played by two people.
What is the "dog" on a hurdy-gurdy?
A hurdy-gurdy has a buzzing bridge called the "dog."
Was the hurdy-gurdy popular in the French court?
The hurdy-gurdy was fashionable at the French royal court in the 1700s.
Why was the hurdy-gurdy linked to beggars?
The hurdy-gurdy was linked to beggars and street musicians.
Which Schubert song is about a hurdy-gurdy player?
Schubert's song "Der Leiermann" is about a hurdy-gurdy player.
What was "Hurdy Gurdy Man"?
"Hurdy Gurdy Man" was a hit song by Donovan.
Do metal bands use the hurdy-gurdy?
Some folk metal bands, like Eluveitie, use the hurdy-gurdy.
Who invented the waterphone?
Richard Waters invented the waterphone in the 1960s and patented it in 1975.
What is a waterphone made of?
A waterphone is made of a stainless steel bowl with bronze rods around the edge and water inside.
How is a waterphone played?
A waterphone can be played with a bow or struck.
Where have you heard a waterphone?
The waterphone is often used in horror and sci-fi film soundtracks.
What inspired the waterphone?
The waterphone was inspired by a Tibetan water drum.
Has the waterphone been used to communicate with whales?
The waterphone has been used in attempts to communicate with whales.
Why does a waterphone sound wobbly?
The water inside a waterphone shifts as the player moves it, which makes the sound wobble.
How did the waterphone get its name?
The waterphone's name is a pun on its inventor's last name, Waters.
Are waterphones mass-produced?
Waterphones are handmade in limited numbers.
Does a waterphone need to be tilted?
Players tilt a waterphone while playing to move the water inside.
What is a musical saw?
A musical saw is a handsaw bent into an S-curve and played with a bow.
How do you hold a musical saw?
Musical saw players usually sit and hold the saw's handle between their knees.
What does a musical saw sound like?
A musical saw has an eerie sound, similar to a human voice.
Did Marlene Dietrich play the musical saw?
Marlene Dietrich played the musical saw, including while entertaining troops during WWII.
What is the largest musical saw ensemble?
The NYC Musical Saw Festival set a Guinness record for the largest musical saw ensemble.
How do you change pitch on a musical saw?
Musical saw players change pitch by bending the saw.
When was the musical saw popular?
The musical saw was popular in vaudeville in the 1920s.
Do musical saws have teeth?
Some saws made for music don't have teeth.
Has the musical saw been used in movies?
The musical saw has been used in film scores, including the French film "Delicatessen."
Can a musical saw be struck with a mallet?
A musical saw can also be played by striking it with a mallet.
How old is the jaw harp?
The jaw harp is one of the world's oldest instruments, and bone jaw harps about 4,000 years old have been found in China.
How does a jaw harp make different notes?
A jaw harp player changes notes by reshaping the mouth, which acts as the instrument's resonating chamber.
Why is it called a "Jew's harp"?
The jaw harp, sometimes called a "Jew's harp," has no known connection to Jewish people, and the name's origin is unclear.
Where is the khomus the national instrument?
The khomus, a type of jaw harp, is a national instrument of Yakutia in Russia.
Was the jaw harp used in Western movies?
The jaw harp was used in Ennio Morricone's Western film scores.
Is Austrian jaw harp making recognized by UNESCO?
Austrian jaw harp making was added to UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list.
What is a Vietnamese jaw harp called?
The Vietnamese jaw harp is called the "đàn môi."
How is a jaw harp played?
A jaw harp is played by plucking a thin metal or bamboo tongue.
What is the kubing?
The kubing is a bamboo jaw harp from the Philippines.
Was the jaw harp used for courtship?
In parts of Asia, the jaw harp was traditionally used for courtship.
What is the Sea Organ?
The Sea Organ in Zadar, Croatia, built in 2005 by architect Nikola Bašić, is played by ocean waves.
How does the Sea Organ make sound?
The Sea Organ has 35 pipes under marble steps, and waves push air through them.
Does the Sea Organ play the same song twice?
The Sea Organ never plays the same song twice.
Has the Sea Organ won any awards?
The Sea Organ won the European Prize for Urban Public Space in 2006.
What is the Greeting to the Sun?
Next to the Sea Organ is the "Greeting to the Sun," a solar-powered light installation.
Is there a wave organ in England?
Blackpool, England, has a wave organ called the High Tide Organ.
Is there a wave organ in San Francisco?
San Francisco has a Wave Organ, built in 1986.
Can you visit the Sea Organ anytime?
The Sea Organ is free to visit at any time.
Who designed the Sea Organ?
The Sea Organ was designed by Croatian architect Nikola Bašić.
What is the Great Stalacpipe Organ?
The Great Stalacpipe Organ in Luray Caverns, Virginia, makes music by tapping ancient stalactites, and Leland Sprinkle spent three years building it.
What is the largest musical instrument in the world?
The Great Stalacpipe Organ is the world's largest musical instrument.
How does the Great Stalacpipe Organ make sound?
The Great Stalacpipe Organ uses rubber mallets to tap stalactites.
How big is the Great Stalacpipe Organ?
The Great Stalacpipe Organ covers about 3.5 acres.
How were the stalactites tuned?
Leland Sprinkle tuned the stalactites by sanding them.
Does the Great Stalacpipe Organ play by itself?
The Great Stalacpipe Organ plays automatically during cave tours.
Can you get married in Luray Caverns?
Weddings are held in Luray Caverns.
When were Luray Caverns discovered?
Luray Caverns were discovered in 1878.
Who was Leland Sprinkle?
Leland Sprinkle was a mathematician who worked at the Pentagon.
How many stalactites does the Great Stalacpipe Organ use?
The Great Stalacpipe Organ uses 37 stalactites.
What is a nyckelharpa?
The nyckelharpa is a Swedish keyed fiddle and is considered Sweden's national instrument.
How old is the nyckelharpa?
A nyckelharpa appears on a church gate on the Swedish island of Gotland dated to about 1350.
How many strings does a nyckelharpa have?
A modern nyckelharpa has 16 strings.
What does "nyckelharpa" mean?
"Nyckel" means "key" in Swedish.
Who revived the nyckelharpa?
Eric Sahlström helped revive the nyckelharpa.
How is a nyckelharpa played?
A nyckelharpa is played with a short bow.
How do you change notes on a nyckelharpa?
Nyckelharpa players change notes by pressing wooden keys.
Is there a nyckelharpa festival?
An annual nyckelharpa gathering is held in Österbybruk, Sweden.
What are sympathetic strings?
A nyckelharpa has sympathetic strings that vibrate on their own when other strings are played.
Where in Sweden is the nyckelharpa most associated with?
The nyckelharpa is especially associated with the Uppland region of Sweden.
Who created the Otamatone?
The Otamatone was created by the Japanese art group Maywa Denki.
What shape is the Otamatone?
The Otamatone is shaped like a musical eighth note.
How do you make an Otamatone "talk"?
Squeezing the Otamatone's face makes a "wah" sound.
How do you change pitch on an Otamatone?
The pitch on an Otamatone is changed by sliding a finger along its stem.
Why did the Otamatone go viral?
Otamatone cover songs became viral online.
What do Maywa Denki members wear?
Maywa Denki members perform in blue work suits.
Who makes the Otamatone?
The Otamatone is sold by Cube Works.
Are there different sizes of Otamatone?
The Otamatone comes in deluxe and jumbo versions.
Is the Otamatone a toy or an instrument?
The Otamatone was sold as a toy but is also used in performances.
Where does the name "Otamatone" come from?
"Otamatone" comes from the Japanese word for a tadpole-shaped musical note.