Well its been a year now since I unwisely ordered an Etherwave theremin and got addicted. I basically did very little else musically this past year, yet still am not anything close to where i need to be in terms of playing the instrument.
But I've also written about 10 pieces for the theremin and arranged close to twice as many for it so its been a pretty productive theremin year. Maybe this year I'll try and build one with my son as a family project.
As my anniversary present (to myself) I wrote a much bigger piece experimenting with using the theremin as an ensemble instrument in a much larger setting then I've used before with it - and I also wanted to write a piece for my new Wavefront Classic. I seem to treat theremins like I do golf clubs. Instead of taking lessons and practice like crazy, I buy what I perceive as better clubs. That will I assume have to improve my game, right? When will I learn? Anyway, the Wavefront has a lovely low end and it's gorgeous to look at and maybe that will spur me on to practice more. I actually find moving from one theremin to another breaks the monotony a bit as each has its own tonal characteristics and response.
I also wanted to incorporate a number of ethnic instruments as I rather like the theremin used in that vein (I think it can take on a very ethic feel with its flexibility of pitch especially on some of the lower tones of the Wavefront). To this end, I wrote a tone poem to experiment with the theremin in combination with a number of ethnic samples - 8DIO Qanun (the zither-like instrument you hear), East West Silk Duduk (the sax like sounding double reed you hear), Soniccouture Giant Bass Tongue drum (a lovely low thumping tone) & East West Gypsy Solo Violin (quite a nice sampled violin sound) - and a few off beat things like Soniccouture Glassworks Cloud Chamber Bowls and a few of their Geosonics Wind sample patches - the effects in the background). Then I added some 8DIO Adagietto strings, 8DIO Lacrimosa Choir and Soundiron Voice of Rapture Soprano, so it's quite a mixed bag along with don't forget the theremin (the only real thing played). Though I just broke down and ordered a real Duduk as I'm hooked on this traditional Armenian instrument's sound.
So I kind of threw the kitchen sink at this one, though it's a MIDI "Mockup" orchestration, not a true orchestral piece (I will have to rescore it for orchestra and voices if I get the urge to create a real playable score). But if you like you can see the MIDI mockup score here.
I use a number of theremin doublings in addition to the ensemble solos. Perhaps next year I will be able to play it as I hear it in my mind. Doubling the voice with the theremin really adds power to it, especially doubling a soprano an octave above. Although my playing can obviously be improved, I think the theremin goes well in this kind of setting. I kind of like to stay away from "swooshing" when composing for the theremin unless I am writing some more effect oriented score. The theremin here is treated like another wind or string instrument though I also use it on some very long lines as a high pedal tone in the background, kind of just adding a really high drone. I'll talk more about my observations here in my theremin instrumentation thread.
