funlover

Can anyone tell me what the thing is that makes that weird noise in the Midsomer Murders theme? Sounds like a musical saw. I find it almost supernatural.

narabdela

Never watched the program, but you seem to be describing a Theremin. Famously used in the Beach Boys "Good Vibrations"

Theremin - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

funlover

Thanks very much Nara. Seems to be the thing I am on about. Saw a small clip of a woman playing one. Had to giggle as it looked bit like a conductor directing the orchestra in the pit from up on the stage.

donna

never heard of a Theremin anyone got a pic of one.

funlover

See the pics of the thing on the page of Wiki indicated sweetheart. [click on the link]

donna

got it fun yes have seen one, just didnt know the name, thanks.

Gazza

It was used in the Ed Wood film, though not sure if Ed Wood himself used it?

Wicked Lady

Doubtful - would have been too expensive for Ed. (He would have been flat out paying for a saw and a violin bow). It's also hard to find people who can play them properly. The woman who played the theme from Ed Wood the Movie was found somewhere in Russia. She did a terrific job though. That's one of my favourite movie themes of all time.

CaptainWaggett

The Lost Weekend is probably the most famous film with a theremin in the score. A few years ago the NFT had a theremin-season - they had The Golem with a live accompaniment by a woman apparently waving her arms around in mid-air.

Steve Crook

The Theramin is probably the only musical instrument that you play without touching it

There are two aerials and you move your hands near them but without touching them and the capacitance of your body changes the electromagnetic fields around the aerials. One aerial controls the pitch and the other controls the volume.


A similar, but different, instrument is the ondes Martenot. This one does have a keyboard. But it also has a control box that alters the range that the keyboard covers. So although it's only a short keyboard (6 octaves) it has a much wider range than a piano (8 octave keyboard).

There's also a metal ring on a strip that you can slide up and down the keyboard to affect the pitch of the keys and to produce a swooping glissando.

It's used in quite a few films and TV series (see Wikipedia page) to get a spooky, eerie or alien effect.

Steve

funlover

I wonder if one can call a Theramin a musical instrument in the strict sense?

Guenther

Just thet the Beach Boys did not use a Theremin. ;)

Steve Crook

As that Wikipedia article says:
Contrary to popular belief, the theremin was not used on the 1966 recording of "Good Vibrations" by The Beach Boys, which featured Paul Tanner's "box", later called the electro-theremin. However, for concert appearances, an oscillator slide-controller was designed and built for Wilson by Robert Moog. Wilson helped to popularize the instrument when he recorded Paul Tanner playing his electro-theremin -- for the first time in recorded music history -- on the song "I Just Wasn't Made For These Times." The song appeared on The Beach Boys' 1966 album Pet Sounds, considered one of the most influential albums in popular music history.


Steve