Leon Theremin plays Deep Night (1930) Charlie Draper 2020-07-27 | Here's where it all began. Inventor of the theremin, Leon Theremin, plays the Henderson-Vallée jazz standard "Deep Night" on what appears to be a 1929 RCA Theremin, the first manufactured electronic musical instrument in history. "Deep Night" was made famous by crooner Rudy Vallée, who purchased his own theremin and used one in his orchestra, the Connecticut Yankees. This performance was given in 1930, and committed to the relatively new medium of sound film.We can't be certain what the internals of the instrument in this video looked like, because Leon Theremin manufactured a number of custom instruments using the same cabinet as the stock RCA Theremin. You can hear a recording of this same piece on a recently-restored RCA Theremin, recorded using modern techniques, here: youtu.be/fDlgvMTgiI4Theremin - Leon Theremin / Lev Sergeyevitch Termen (1896-1993)Piano - UnknownSource - Les Actualités françaises, 1930.To find out more about the RCA Theremin and Leon's custom instruments, visit: www.rcatheremin.com
Brahms - Zwei Gesänge: Geistliches Wiegenlied - Theremin, Clarinet & Piano Charlie Draper 2021-07-16 | Johannes Brahms - Zwei Gesänge, Op. 91 No. 2, "Geistliches Wiegenlied"Theremin - Charlie DraperClarinet - Jenny MaclayPiano - Paul JacksonRecorded June 2021 for ClarinetFest 2021clarinet.org/events/clarinetfest-2021
Stravinsky - Pastorale - Theremin, Violin & Piano Charlie Draper 2021-02-18 | Stravinsky - Pastorale (arr. Theodor Kung). Igor Stravinsky's charming Pastorale was originally composed in 1907 for piano and wordless voice. Here you hear it arranged for theremin, piano and violin by Theodor Kung. For more music from the respective contributors, head to the websites below!Theremin - Charlie Draper (www.charliedraper.com)Violin - Theodor Kung (www.theodorkung.com)Piano - Mark Austin (www.mark-austin.net)
Fauré - Pavane - ELECTROCLASSICAL EP Charlie Draper 2021-02-09 | Conductor and arranger Herman Ringer and thereminist Charlie Draper are looking for your crowdfunding support — this summer, they plan to release an EP of classical works re-imagined as pop contemporary tracks, featuring the haunting tones of the space-controlled theremin.Entitled ELECTROCLASSICAL, this EP combines classical repertoire, electronic theremin and modern production to create novel soundscapes. This video contains the first track from the EP, Gabriel Fauré's PAVANE, presented with a contemporary twist and accompanied by imagery from Lotte Reiniger's "Adventures of Prince Achmed" (1926).To support the project, and ensure the production of further tracks for the album, head over to: facebook.com/donate/764526477775957 Don't have Facebook? No problem! Head to: paypal.me/pools/c/8wLXppFrTOFor £15, you'll receive the complete album and exclusive cover art as a digital downloadFor every £150 raised, a new track will be added until we complete the EP."Thank you for your support!
Britten - Balulalow - Theremin & Piano Charlie Draper 2020-12-17 | Benjamin Britten's "Balulalow" from "A Ceremony of Carols"Theremin - Charlie DraperPiano - Jacob Rainbow
Ravel - Pavane pour une infante défunte - Stranger Strings: Theremin & Harp Duo Charlie Draper 2020-12-11 | Maurice Ravel, "Pavane pour une infante défunte"Performed by Stranger Strings: Theremin & Harp Duo Charlie Draper - Theremin; Holly Lowe - HarpTEDxNaperville 2020Conjuring sounds from thin air, Charlie Draper and Holly Lowe perform as STRANGER STRINGS, an electro-acoustic classical duo combining theremin and concert harp. Modern circuits and antique strings combine in dramatic counterpoints: as hands flutter in mid-air, the instruments' complementary tonal streams cascade and blur into one. The results are otherworldly yet serene. Formed in 2019, the duo has performed with the Radio Science Orchestra at TEDSummit, at Bluedot Festival, and London's Thames Tunnel. Now, in their début solo programme, they present a spectrum of music for these striking instruments, producing music to delight, mystify and astound in equal measure.With thanks to Charterhouse SchoolFilmed 1 November 2020 for TEDxNaperville
Debussy - Beau Soir - Stranger Strings: Theremin & Harp Duo Charlie Draper 2020-12-11 | Claude Debussy, "Beau Soir"Performed by Stranger Strings: Theremin & Harp Duo Charlie Draper - Theremin; Holly Lowe - HarpTEDxNaperville 2020Conjuring sounds from thin air, Charlie Draper and Holly Lowe perform as STRANGER STRINGS, an electro-acoustic classical duo combining theremin and concert harp. Modern circuits and antique strings combine in dramatic counterpoints: as hands flutter in mid-air, the instruments' complementary tonal streams cascade and blur into one. The results are otherworldly yet serene. Formed in 2019, the duo has performed with the Radio Science Orchestra at TEDSummit, at Bluedot Festival, and London's Thames Tunnel. Now, in their début solo programme, they present a spectrum of music for these striking instruments, producing music to delight, mystify and astound in equal measure.With thanks to Charterhouse SchoolFilmed 1 November 2020 for TEDxNaperville
Morris - Transylvanian Lullaby - Young Frankenstein - Theremin & Orchestra Charlie Draper 2020-10-30 | Get in the Halloween mood with RETROPHONICA's rendition of the chilling "Transylvanian Lullaby" from "Young Frankenstein", composed by John Morris and arranged by Alex Palmer, featuring the haunting sounds of the theremin.Theremin - Charlie DraperViolin - Laci OlahViola - Sally WraggCello - Szymon PawlasDouble Bass - Freddie DraperFlute - Desislava DimitrovaClarinet - Jenny MaclayBass Clarinet - Karen BrownlieHorns - Alex Colson / Greg PhillipsOndes Martenot - Charlie DraperHarp - Holly LowePiccolo - Jonathan Beilby
Henderson/Vallée - Deep Night - 1929 RCA Theremin & Piano Charlie Draper 2020-07-27 | Charles Henderson and Rudy Vallée's DEEP NIGHT (1929), performed on 1929 RCA Theremin and piano.DEEP NIGHT was made famous by the crooner Rudy Vallée, who developed such a fondness for the theremin that he commissioned his own custom instrument from Leon Theremin, and featured it in performances of his orchestra, The Connecticut Yankees. In 1930, Leon Theremin performed and recorded DEEP NIGHT himself on an RCA Theremin for the new medium of sound film.The instrument in this video is a 1929 RCA Theremin, the first manufactured electronic musical instrument in history. Only 500 of these instruments were produced, as part of an abortive test run to gauge market interest in the United States, of which around 135 survive. This one is Westinghouse #200082, nicknamed "Electra".Theremin - Charlie DraperPiano - Paul JacksonWEBSITE: www.charliedraper.comFACEBOOK: www.fb.com/charliethereminINSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/charliethereminTWITTER: www.twitter.com/charliethereminTo learn more about the RCA Theremin, visit: rcatheremin.com
Achron - Nocturne-Fantasia - Theremin & Piano Charlie Draper 2020-04-26 | Resurrected from the archives: Isidor Achron's NOCTURNE-FANTASIA (1943) for Theremin and Piano, dedicated to Lucie Bigelow-Rosen, the New York socialite and theremin player who supported Leon Theremin's lab work during his American sojourn, 1927-1938. Born to a Russian Jewish family in Warsaw, Isidor Achron (1892-1948) was a pianist, composer and music teacher who found fame Jascha Heifetz's accompanist. A virtuoso in his own right, Achron left a small but beautiful collection of works including a Nocturne-Fantasia (op.9) and Improvisation (op. 12) for theremin and piano.I transcribed this piece from the archives at Caramoor, Lucie's country home in upstate New York. With her Estate's blessing, I've been working to typeset and digitize her scores for wider performance.This recording was made under coronavirus lockdown in April 2020. The theremin in the film is a Big Briar 91A, built by Bob Moog.Piano - Paul JacksonTheremin - Charlie Draper
Vaughan Williams - Vocalise for Theremin and Clarinet Charlie Draper 2020-04-10 | I'm delighted to release this collaboration with clarinet and classical music blogger extraordinaire, Jenny Clarinet. After her detailed investigations of solo works for clarinet, theremin and ondes Martenot, we finally found time in quarantine to record this coruscating "Vocalise" on our respective instruments.Composed in the last year of his life, Vaughan William's "Vocalise" combines a mastery of melodic pastoralism with unexpected modernist angularities. As theremin and clarinet interweave, they create creating shimmering difference tones and harmonics.Movement I from Ralph Vaughan Williams - "Three Vocalises for Soprano Voice and Clarinet" (1958), arranged for theremin and clarinet.Theremin - Charlie Draper (UK)Clarinet - Jenny Maclay Jenny Clarinet (CA)http://jennyclarinet.comhttp://charliedraper.co.ukhttp://jennyclarinet.com/2019/02/music-for-clarinet-and-theremin-or-ondes-martenot
Rózsa - Spellbound Concerto for Theremin, String Quintet, Piano and Oboe Charlie Draper 2019-12-27 | Here's a live recording Retrophonica's rendition of Miklós Rózsa's SPELLBOUND CONCERTO (1945), arranged for chamber ensemble by Alfonso D'Artega. Alex Palmer and I founded Retrophonica earlier this year as a new orchestral collective, intended to unite ancient and modern instruments in immersive concert settings.Miklós Rózsa's SPELLBOUND CONCERTO contains themes from the film of the same name, and was arranged for theremin, piano, string quintet and oboe by Alfonso d'Artega for Lucie Bigelow Rosen (1945). It was performed by Retrophonica at its Début Concert on 13.10.19 at the Brunel Museum.Theremin - Charlie DraperViolin I - Cecily McMahonViolin II - Zoe EbornViola - Tara McCarthyCello - Szymon PawlasDouble Bass - Freddie the Bassist (Freddie Draper)Piano - Paul JacksonConductor - Alex PalmerRecorded live at the Thames Tunnel, Brunel Museum, Rotherhithe by Alex McArthur, Jen Paterson and Freya Turner, with videography by Ant Draper.
Pierre Vellones - Fantaisie for Ondes Martenot and Piano (1930) Charlie Draper 2019-07-04 | "Fantaisie" for ondes Martenot and Piano (1930), by Pierre Vellones (1889-1939)Ondes Martenot - Charlie Draper Piano - Paul JacksonRecorded live at the University of Oxford, Saturday 11 May 2019.Pierre Rousseau Vellones was a French composer, painter and medical doctor. Diagnosed with Kahler's disease in 1926, he spent much of his life bedridden and keenly aware of his mortality. From 1930, he had a close and productive friendship with Maurice and Ginette Martenot, to whom he dedicated this piece. I love its extended harmony, gestural opening, and contrasts between drama and levity in this work. Vellones wrote several works for ondes Martenot, including:This "Fantaisie" for ondes and piano (1930 - unpublished), the second known work for ondes and the first written by a French composer according to Jean Laurendeau’s biography of Maurice Martenot.“Split” and "Vitamines" for ondes and ensemble (1935 - published by Salabert), composed for ondes, saxophone quartet, two flutes, contrabass and percussion battery including celesta and vibraphone; both were recorded for Columbia Records in 1935 under the title “Two Pieces for Columbia”, featuring Maurice Martenot on ondes. Both were also scored in piano conductor versions by the composer."À Cadix" (score dated 28 May 1938), a pasodoble for two ondes Martenot, 3 saxophones, trumpet, contrabass, piano, harp and percussion battery. Also scored in piano conductor reduction."Karakoram" (1935 - unpublished) for 7 ondes Martenot, piano and eastern ensemble, written to accompany the film of the same name."Fête Fantastique" (1936 - unpublished) for three ondes and large exotic ensemble, written to accompany firework and waterwork displays along the Seine during the International Expo of 1937. It was Vellones who had the idea to record these performances on disc, so that they could be freely replayed without the necessity of musicians."Une aveture de Babar" (1936 - published by Lemoine, and available as a recording)The instruments in this recording are a Mk 2 Ondéa / ondes Martenot by David Kean and Steinway Grand.
First Man Theme - Theremin & Strings Charlie Draper 2018-10-29 | "Crater" from the 2018 film "First Man", composed by Justin Hurwitz ("Whiplash", "La La Land"), arranged and performed by Charlie Draper and Herman Ringer."First Man" charts the gripping and intimate tale of Neil Armstrong's dangerous mission to the Moon, which culminated in humanity's first steps on another world. The film's instrumentation features a blend of vintage electronics, strings and space-controlled theremin in homage to Les Baxter and Harry Revel's 1947 theremin exotica album "Music out of the Moon", beamed back from translunar space by Neil Armstrong in 1969. Describing the theremin, Hurwitz said: "I loved how emotional and expressive the instrument could be. With its wailing quality, we were able to capture the type of cosmic pain that suited Neil's story."Recorded 21/10/2018, Hampstead Heath, LondonTheremin - Charlie DraperStrings - Herman RingerTranscription - Charlie Draper
Pink Floyd - The Great Gig in the Sky - Theremin Charlie Draper 2018-08-14 | Great songs don't always need words. "The Great Gig in the Sky" from Pink Floyd's "The Dark Side of the Moon" (1973), by Richard Wright and Clare Torry, played on theremin, an early electronic instrument controlled without contact. If you enjoyed this, please subscribe to my channel and follow me on social media at @charlietheremin and www.charliedraper.co.uk
Riccardo Valente - Complaint for Theremin & Piano (1934) Charlie Draper 2018-08-10 | Riccardo Valente's "Complaint" (1934), written for Lucie Bigelow Rosen (1890-1968), an important exponent of the theremin who commissioned such works as Bohuslav Martinů's "Fantasia for theremin, oboe, string quartet and piano" (1944).
Soundtrack - Cravendale Moonicow Charlie Draper 2018-08-10 | I had the pleasure of playing theremin for a new Cravendale advert, investigating the strange and unconfirmed sightings of the 'Moonicow'. (C) 2018 Arla Cravendale
Gershwin - Summertime Charlie Draper 2018-08-10 | Gershwin's Summertime performed on Theremin by Charlie Draper with The Radio Science Orchestra. Piano accompaniment by Adam Gray. Discover more: facebook.com/charliedrapertheremin (C) 2016 Gramophone Records
Joseph Schillinger — Vocalise No. 1 for Theremin and Piano (1928) Charlie Draper 2018-07-06 | Unheard since 1928: Joseph Schillinger's Vocalise No.1, op. 10 for theremin and piano, premiered by Léon Theremin on March 2nd 1928 in a recital of "Dematerialized Music" at Carnegie Hall, New York City.Joseph Moiseyevich Schillinger (1895–1943) was an influential compositional theorist, whose students included George Gershwin, Burt Bacharach, Glenn Miller and Henry Cowell. Schillinger was among Léon's closest confidants in New York, and composed several chamber works and a solo concerto for theremin. Piano & Theremin - Charlie DraperFacebook: fb.com/charliethereminInstagram: instagram.com/charliethereminWebsite: charliedraper.co.uk
Darius Milhaud - Suite for Ondes Martenot and Piano (1933), IV. Étude. Charlie Draper 2018-05-20 | Darius Milhaud - Suite (1933), IV. Étude.A live snippet from yesterday evening's recital; this movement from Darius Milhaud's Suite was probably my favourite thing we played. It's so exciting! I learned a lot preparing for this recital: Micka Luna showed me how to change the Ondomo's vibrato sensitivity, Ayako Hase offered some useful suggestions on finger positioning, Naoyuki Omo wired in a new, more sensitive control panel, and Paul Jackson provided excellent rapport from the piano.Recital at St John's College, #Cambridge. May 2018. Paul Jackson (piano). Charlie Draper (ondes / ondomo).www.charliedraper.co.uk/ondes-martenotwww.fb.com/charliedrapertheremin
Edward S. Michael - Élégie op. 9 for Ondes Martenot and Piano Charlie Draper 2018-03-22 | Edward Salim Michael (1921–2006), 'Elegy to an exiled soul', for Ondes Martenot and Piano, op. 9. Born in Manchester, Edward Michael spent various parts of his life in Iraq, Syria, England and France and his music was influenced both by this internationalism, and by his profound Buddhist faith. This haunting melody was one of several he composed for the Ondes Martenot.You can hear this piece, along with other original compositions for Ondes Martenot and Theremin, at St John's College Cambridge later this spring.Ondes Martenot (Ondomo) — Charlie Draper Piano — Charlie Draper Arizona Sunset footage - Moving Postcard: (youtube.com/watch?v=8Fdz2j8344A)@charliedrapertheremin#ondesmartenot #ondomo #elegy #soul #practice #piano #ondes #martenot #manchester #minimalist #relax #iraq #buddhism #france #england
Grieg - The Death of Åse (Theremin & Ondes Martenot) Charlie Draper 2018-03-16 | Edvard Grieg - The Death of ÅseTheremin & Ondes Martenot (Ondomo)A futuristic take on Edvard Grieg's haunting dirge, The Death of Åse, arranged for Theremin and Ondes Martenot (Ondomo). This piece was composed as incidental music for Henrik Ibsen's play Peer Gynt in 1875; it accompanies the death of the protagonist's mother, and precedes his journey from procrastination to action and final redemption.Performed on Theremin and Ondomo (Ondes Martenot). #grieg #theremin #ondomo #ondesmartenot #ondes #martenot #danish #norway #ibsen
Messiaen — Fête des Belles Eaux: III. Les Fusées Charlie Draper 2018-02-18 | In 1937, twenty composers were invited by the City of Paris to provide music for the nighttime fountain and firework illuminations of the magnificent Paris Exhibition. Olivier Messiaen delivered FÊTE DES BELLES EAUX, a seven movement piece for six Ondes Martenots. Despite its beauty, the difficulty of assembling such an ensemble means it is very seldom performed. This is the third movement, LES FUSÉES, which evokes the playful sparkle of rockets above the Seine. I recorded it in six passes.The difficulty of assembling an ensemble of six Ondes Martenot means the work is very seldom performed.Ondes Martenot / Ondomo (six tracks) — Charlie Draper
Fauré — Après un Rêve (Theremin) Charlie Draper 2018-02-18 | It's been too long since I posted any videos of the theremin. So here is Gabriel Fauré's haunting melody, "Après un Rêve", composed in 1877 after a poem by Romain Bussine. It tells of a lover's sadness to awaken from dreams of his beloved. I hope you enjoy it.Theremin - Charlie DraperPiano - Ben-San Lau
Konstantin Kovalsky plays Theremin for Komsomol: Patron of Electrification, 1932 Charlie Draper 2018-02-17 | This film clip is from a 1932 Russian documentary entitled "Komsomol: Patron of Electrification," made by Esther Shub, the most prominent Soviet woman filmmaker of her generation.The score for the film was written by a fairly obscure Russian composer, Gavriil Popov. This was only the second film score to make use of the theremin. (The first was "Odna," a Soviet film released in 1931.)For more information, visit www.charliedraper.co.uk
Leon Theremin demonstrates his invention in 1927 Charlie Draper 2018-02-17 | Leon Theremin demonstrates his new invention to the London Press in this 1927 newsreel.This film has no audio.To learn more about the theremin, visit www.charliedraper.co.uk
Ondes Martenot & Bass — Theme from the X-FILES Charlie Draper 2018-02-12 | Ondes Martenot & Bass — THEME FROM THE X-FILES (1996).In this video, the Ondes Martenot (Ondomo) is played in two different ways: the ghostly melody employs the sliding ribbon control; the underlying arpeggios employ the moveable keyboard.All the sounds you hear were generated by these two instruments. Bass: Freddie the Bassist (Freddie Draper)Ondes Martenot (Ondomo): Charlie Draper Theremin #ondesmartenot #ondomo #xfiles #filmmusic #bassguitar #theremin #1996 #marksnow #mikeoldfield #thexfiles #illuminati #music #oneminute #brothers
