I was sent this video today, and I thought it was super cool. It was the first time I'd ever seen that musical instrument; I didn't even know it existed... and Clair de Lune's musical performance was spectacular.

So I decided to Google it to see what it was, and I found it fascinating.

The Theremin is one of the strangest and most fascinating musical instruments in the world: it is played without being touched.

Invented in 1920 by the Russian physicist Lev Sergeyevich Termen, it is the only instrument that is played by controlling the musician's own electromagnetic field.

Years later, the legendary Bob Moog (creator of the Moog synthesizers) perfected its circuits, making his company the gold standard for this instrument to this day.

How does it work?

The instrument consists of a box with two metal antennas.

Each antenna generates a radio frequency field around it. The human body conducts electricity, so your hands act like the plates of a giant capacitor, altering these fields:

Vertical Antenna (Right Hand - Pitch):
Controls the pitch. The closer you move your hand to the antenna, the higher the pitch becomes. Moving it away lowers the pitch.

Horizontal Antenna / Loop (Left Hand - Volume):
Controls the volume. Lifting or moving your hand away from the loop increases the volume. Bringing your hand all the way to the loop mutes the instrument.

The Challenge of Mastering It

Playing the theremin is an art of patience and precise control:

• No physical references: There are no frets, keys, or strings. You are playing in empty space. Pure muscle memory: You have to blindly trust the exact position of your hands in the air.
• Strict control: Any involuntary body movement, blinking, or heavy breathing can throw the note off-key.
• It's like you have to be really good to "play" that instrument.

I was really amazed today by that instrument and everything you can do with it. Here's another super cool video: