Words by Sarah DiMuzio

From Midsomer Murders to Marvel Studios’ new Loki series, the theremin has been used in retrofuturistic, haunting ways in popular culture since its invention in the early 1900s. The seemingly magical electronic instrument was invented by Leon Theremin, and with the help of several key performers including violin prodigy Clara Rockmore, found itself a solid foothold in both classical and contemporary music. Now, a little over 100 years since its inception there are only a handful of world-renowned musicians who have taken on the challenge of honing the notoriously difficult instrument – meet four of the composers who are making waves with the theremin.

HEKLA

Who are they?

Hekla Magnúsdóttir, known professionally as Hekla is an Icelandic composer, cellist, and theremin virtuoso. She performs whispering vocals and precise theremin lines which she loops live using a pedal. Earlier this year she performed Dorit Chrysler's piece titled Fracture 22 at the Heroines of Sound Festival in Berlin, Germany, which also commissioned the piece.

What are they doing differently? Hekla recently announced her new album Xiuxiuejar (“to whisper”) which is to be released September 9, 2022, on Brighton, UK record label Phantom Limb. The first single from the album Í Kyrrð ("in silence") takes the theremin to a new ambient dimension not typically heard from this often pigeon-holed instrument. Hekla came from a classical music background via the cello and was captivated by the theremin’s otherworldliness. This sonic inspiration is present in all of Hekla’s previous theremin-related releases, and it is clear that this instrument has the power to unlock other dimensions in certain composers.

What should I watch or listen to? The first two tracks from the forthcoming Xiuxiuejar are available to stream on Phantom Limb’s Bandcamp page. Her mesmerizing 2018 debut album Á and 2020 EP Sprungur can also be streamed online, featuring Hekla’s signature distorted cello and iconic theremin playing.

DORIT CHRYSLER

Who are they? Dorit Chrysler is an Austrian-born, New York-based composer, producer, singer, and “superior wizard of the theremin.” At 7 years old Chrysler made her professional vocal performance debut at Austria’s historic Opera House Graz. Since then she has gone on to compose for film and TV including HBO’s Scientology documentary Going Clear and has worked on music for institutions such as the Guggenheim and MoMA to name a few.

What are they doing differently? Chrysler is the co-founder of the New York Theremin Society which “promotes the visibility and application of the theremin in performing arts, music and education,” and provides classes and community support for people at any stage in their theremin journey. They even have a workshop for building your very own theremin using Open Theremin, an open-source hardware project. Chrysler also developed a theremin teaching curriculum based on innovative music education, art and science, Kid Cool Theremin School.

What should I watch or listen to? In 2020 Chrysler collaborated with Moog to celebrate 100 years of the theremin. The result is Electric Storm, a haunting composition by Chrysler accompanied by a video filmed 30+ stories below ground in CERN (the European Organization for Nuclear Research) laboratories located on the Franco-Swiss border near Geneva, and home of the largest machine in the world: the Large Hadron Collider.

CAROLINA EYCK

Who are they? Carolina Eyck is a German-Sorbian musician, composer and theremin revolutionist based in Berlin, Germany. She began playing the theremin at age 7 and studied under Lydia Kavina, the granddaughter of Léon Theremin's first cousin. Eyck’s theremin accolades include performances at iconic venues such as the Kennedy Center and the Walt Disney Concert Hall. Her playing has also taken the online world by storm with over 100k followers on TikTok, and over 15 million views on her theremin and voice transcription of Ennio Morricone's The Ecstasy of Gold.

What are they doing differently? At just 16 years of age, Eyck developed the “8 finger position technique” which has changed the way the theremin is being played around the world today. She is responsible for publishing the first extensive theremin method book The Art of Playing the Theremin in 2006, and in 2018 gave a TEDx Talk about the symbiosis of self-control and freedom while playing the theremin.

What should I watch or listen to? Carolina Eyck’s popular TikTok channel of whimsical videos featuring theremin renditions of classical and popular songs boasts millions of views and is a great place to dive into Eyck’s playing. She also hosts a solo show called Theremin and Voice on her YouTube channel, and recently released Thetis 2086 a 12-track album which was designed to “take you on the journey from an alien planet, the eponymous Thetis, through space to land on Earth and explore the wonders of this world through the eyes of one never having seen it before.”

CHARLIE DRAPER

Who are they? Charlie Draper is a London-based performer, composer, thereminist, and early electronic instrument consultant. Since the start of his professional music career in 2005, Draper has performed at renowned venues such as London’s Wigmore Hall, New York’s Public Theater, and the iconic Glastonbury Festival to name a few. His theremin work also spans TV and radio including features on BBC1, BBC2, Disney+, and Classic FM. His theremin playing can be heard on Natalie Holt’s steampunk-inspired score for Marvel Studios’ Loki which has been renewed for a second season expected in the summer of 2023.

What are they doing differently? Aside from theremin, Draper also plays the ondes Martenot, another early electronic musical instrument patented by French cellist Maurice Martenot in 1928. Similar to the theremin in terms of haunting, otherworldly sounds, the ondes Martenot is distinguished by its laterally shifting keyboard (which allows for vibrato control), a ribbon control (to enable portamento transitions), and resonant speakers which add depth to the unique sounds of the instrument. Draper provides historical and musical consultations for theremin, ondes Martenot, and early electronic music.

What should I watch or listen to? Draper’s work on the Loki score is a great representation of the theremin being used in a subtle, playful way. The instrument takes the spotlight about 1 minute into the piece, and while it’s recognizably a theremin, it doesn’t fall into the cheesy category that is often applied to older cinematic theremin scores. On the other side of the spectrum, Draper also created a theremin cover of Pink Floyd’s The Great Gig in the Sky which again showcases a subtle side of the instrument. If you’re curious to compare the sound of the ondes Martenot, have a listen to Draper’s cover of the X-Files theme.