Leon Sergeivitch Termen, born in Russia and later a US resident, is best known as the inventor of
The Theremin, the first real electronic instrument. The Theremin is played by standing and
wavings one's hands. It was used to give a futuristic sound to
classic sci-fi films and still looks plenty sci-fi
when played[quicktime clip] and the music it produces is
strange and beautiful[real player].
Old Leon himself ended up getting kidnapped by Soviet agents and sent to a Siberian prison camp. After his release, he continued to work for the KGB, creating one of the first "bugs" -- then used to eavesdrop on the American Embassy. He was mostly unaware of the fate of his eponymous instrument. Meanwhile, his former lover,
Clara Rockmore, went on to try and change the thermin from novelty to serious instrument, she even had
her own unique playing style (heard in the real player clip above). Want to play?
build your own, or
download your own, and join the whole
odd subculture.
posted by malphigian
on Aug 11, 2002 -
25 comments
HP Lovecraft is often seen as the first modern horror writer, and maybe the best. His
stories tend to follow a certain formula: a protagonist investigates strange events and is drawn into ancient horrors and madness. Lovecraft himself seems to have been deeply freaked out by the ocean, and evil from the deeps is another
common theme.
Anyone who has seen
The Deep episode of the BBC's Blue Planet is well on their way to feeling as Lovecraft did. And recently,
strange artifacts and
strange sounds have arisen from the deeps.
Are you Afraid?
Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wagh'nagl fhtagn!
posted by malphigian
on Jun 14, 2002 -
18 comments
