One century of Termenovs

In 2019, the Termenovs, invented a hundred years ago by Leo Sergeyevich Termen, celebrated the round date. About what place in modern music is occupied by this electric music instrument, the correspondent of the TRV-hunger Alexander Khokhlov learned from Alexandra Romanova [ 1 ], the St. Petersburg Terminist and Musician-Multormentalist.

- Alexandra, this year the centenary of the Russian musical instrument of Termen is celebrated around the world. As I understand it, he was one of the first in the history of electric music tools. Tell me how he was invented?

- Thermenovis is not only the first electroacoustic, but also the first contactless musical instrument. Lev Termen managed to release the sound into space, which allowed to literally feel the sound by touch. The Termen experimented with an electromagnetic field in one of the physical laboratories of the Polytechnic Institute in Petrograd, inventing the alarm on the principle of sound reaction to movement. He felt this connection of physics and music through acoustics and was well aware of how close they were - he played the cello himself, he had other musical instruments besides Termen. Initially, he christened his invention, the Eterophone, from the word Ether, did not nam in honor of himself. Later, one journalist wrote about Termen's voice, and now everything is repeated.

- At the end of last year, the cinemas showed Damien Shazella's film “Man on the Moon” about the life of the astronaut Nile Armstrong. In the soundtrack, the Termen was clearly heard, this is very suitable to illustrate the internal mood of the protagonist of the film and his release to the moon. Do I understand correctly that in reality Neil Armstrong took an audio cassette with the music of Termen to the ship?

- Yes, I really love this story! The album, which the choice of astronauts fell, is the Music out of the Moon, the thermalovs is therefore often called the "moon tool". Historically, the Termen is used in music for films on space topics, this year they shot documentary tape dedicated to the flight to the moon, and I recorded my version of voice acting on the Termenovs. It turned out very relevant, given that the year of the centenary of Termen coincides with the fiftieth anniversary of Apollo 11. This is very inspiring - to represent how the music played on the electromagnetic field is 380 thousand kilometers from the ground on the spaceship that made such an incredible journey.

- At first you played the violin, how did you go to the Termen?

- For me, thermenovs is, of course, a string tool, only with invisible strings. Lev Sergeyevich called his invention “voice”, and indeed, all strings strive to approach singing, vibrations, most touching and natural for perception. As a child, I asked my parents to give me to the violin to reflect on the sounds of strings - like Conan Doyle, and in general, all my life was in love with the very concept of strings and, of course, in string instruments, I had many of them: I played the Chinese erh, on Indian locusts, cello, now I am constantly playing alta.

- Is it necessary to know the device of the tool for playing it?

- In my opinion, the laws of physics and music most accurately, fully and clearly describe that which directly surrounds us, and what is hidden, invisible to the eye. I studied at the Polytechnic music university, often found myself next to the Laboratory of Termen, not yet suspecting that as soon as I hear the recording of the game of Lev Sergeyevich and see his invention, my search for the perfect tool for self -expression will stop. This turned out to be something so close, and the love of strings, like the knowledge of physics and acoustics, helps me play the thermalovka. However, a sufficient number of thermenists do not own professionally any other instrument and do not have a musical education.

- Did the attitude to the instrument change over these hundred years, how much was it in demand and in what styles of music?

- One hundred years ago, this invention shocked the world. Ideal in terms of electrification, found its response in the voice acting of science fiction cinema, in films about space. Now we hear weak echoes of former glory, despite its distribution on the Internet. But with the onset of the century, it became obvious that there was a new large wave in connection with the first significant date in the history of Termen, its Renaissance.

- Thermenovs is called a vocal instrument and, as I understand it, they usually play under the accompaniment. What music is performed on it now and what are you doing? How often and where does it work?

- As on any solo tool, playing with the accompaniment is more convenient than a chapel, and when you orient yourself mainly by ear, all the more. There are many interesting troops, for example, I really like to play with the organ. At the last concert in the Star Town, I had a chance to play with harp. I had many concerts in honor of the century, in April, as the most space month, there was a record - 15 different performances in different cities of Russia.

Thermanovis has a large unsolved potential, I would say that most often this tool is “used”. I am also constantly experimenting-I tried to play in a jazz band, in an improvisational orchestra, with pedals of effects, with electronics, synthesizers and ethnic instruments, but still most often on the thermanovka, I perform classical music, accompanied by piano. Now about 10-15 people in the world are playing academic music on the Termenovs.

“ I know that in September in Japan, as part of the celebration of the centenary of Termenovs, the record of Guinness Book“ The Last Ensemble of Termentovs ”was broken. How did this happen?

- This nomination appeared a few years ago, when the head of the Japanese school of Termen Massey Takeuti set the first world record of the Matryminov ensemble - the Termenovs placed in the Russian nesting house. Japan is now the most thermen country, there are several thousand performers on matro. When he came to the opening of the century to Russia, he brought Matrymin for me and offered to come to Japan and participate in the record. There were only five people from the guests - the Termen family, the Greek composer Marios Eliya and I, and in all in the ensemble it turned out 289 people. It was a very vivid event - on September 14, in the city of Kobe, we played the "ode to joy" Beethoven.

- How difficult is it to learn how to play on the Termen and where can this be done in Russia?

- In January of this year, at a round table in the Museum of Music, as part of the opening of the century, the Termen Petersburg Society was discussed, the development of instrument was discussed, but before the game on the Termen, they will teach in music schools, schools and universities, many stages still need to go.

Termenovs is a young instrument, the modern thermalist is in experimental-field conditions, most are in private with the instrument or from other musicians. Many of them give private lessons available to everyone. Moreover, each musician plays in his own way, so the instrument sounds a unique way-indeed, like a voice.

In this regard, many could open their schools and directions. Peter Termen [ 2 ], the great -grandson of the inventor, willingly recruits students. The most inspiring for me were the performances of Natalia Lvovna Termen. Virtuoso of the thermanovs of Clara Rockmore, which it compiled, also relying on the collection of famous violin exercises, is very useful - this is the most adequate material from the existing ones. I talked with most leading thermenists of the world, everyone has something to learn, but not everyone has a pedagogical gift. I can teach what I can.

Termenovs, like other musical instruments and, possibly, even more, requires constancy in the development, zeal, patience and a certain volitional vector inside. There is nothing simple in music.

Alexandra Romanova
Talked by Alexander Khokhlov

1. Group A. Romanova VKontakte : vk.com/etheremin
2. peter.theremintimes.ru