The Theremin and Its Inventor in Twentieth-Century Russia

The author, Leon Theremin’s niece, discusses the development and use of the theremin in Russia. Following Theremin’s invention of the instrument in 1920, the theremin enjoyed a brief period of rapid development that was soon hindered by the changing political climate in the Soviet Union, where Theremin himself was imprisoned and sequestered for over 20 years. However, both Theremin and his followers continued to experiment, teach and perform with the instrument throughout the greater part of the century. With the advent of perestroika came renewed interest in the theremin and in electronic music in general, a trend that has continued to date.