Electro-Theremin
Encyclopedia
The Electro-Theremin, often called the Tannerin, is an electronic musical instrument
developed by trombonist
Paul Tanner
and amateur inventor Bob Whitsell in the late 1950s to produce a sound to mimic that of the theremin
. The instrument features a tone and portamento
similar to that of the theremin (or thereminvox), but with a different control mechanism. It consisted of a sine wave generator with a knob that controlled the pitch, placed inside a wooden box. The pitch knob was attached to a slider on the outside of the box with some string. The player would move the slider, thus turning the knob to the desired frequency, with the help of markings drawn on the box. The Tannerin doesn't actually sound much like the theremins of the time.
The instrument was custom-built at Tanner's request. Tanner appreciated the theremin's sound, but wanted greater control of pitch and attack. The Electro-Theremin uses mechanical controls, a long slide bar for the pitch (analogous to the slide of the trombone that was Tanner's main instrument) and a knob to adjust volume. This contrasts with the hand movements in space that was the original theremin's signal feature. The Electro-Theremin also produces a slightly less complex timbre than the original. This is not due to the nature of the instrument, but due to Dr. Theremin's intentional harmonic generation in the output of the Theremin, which Tanner did not do.
Tanner played it for the 1958 LP Music for Heavenly Bodies, the first full length album featuring the instrument, and played it subsequently on several television
and movie soundtracks—most notably on George Greeley
's theme for the 1960s TV series My Favorite Martian
—and on an LP entitled Music from Outer Space. Most famously, Tanner played his Electro-Theremin on three tracks by The Beach Boys
: "I Just Wasn't Made for These Times
", "Good Vibrations
", and "Wild Honey".
Tanner's prototype Electro-Theremin appears to have been the only one made. Tanner sold the instrument in the 1960s because he believed that newer synthesizers made it obsolete.
Electronic musical instrument
An electronic musical instrument is a musical instrument that produces its sounds using electronics. Such an instrument sounds by outputting an electrical audio signal that ultimately drives a loudspeaker....
developed by trombonist
Trombone
The trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate...
Paul Tanner
Paul Tanner
-Career:Tanner gained fame by playing trombone with Glenn Miller's band from 1938 until 1942, later working as a studio musician in Hollywood. He was a professor at UCLA and also authored or co-authored several academic and popular histories related to jazz....
and amateur inventor Bob Whitsell in the late 1950s to produce a sound to mimic that of the theremin
Theremin
The theremin , originally known as the aetherphone/etherophone, thereminophone or termenvox/thereminvox is an early electronic musical instrument controlled without discernible physical contact from the player. It is named after its Russian inventor, Professor Léon Theremin, who patented the device...
. The instrument features a tone and portamento
Portamento
Portamento is a musical term originated from the Italian expression "portamento della voce" , denoting from the beginning of the 17th century a vocal slide between two pitches and its emulation by members of the violin family and certain wind instruments, and is sometimes used...
similar to that of the theremin (or thereminvox), but with a different control mechanism. It consisted of a sine wave generator with a knob that controlled the pitch, placed inside a wooden box. The pitch knob was attached to a slider on the outside of the box with some string. The player would move the slider, thus turning the knob to the desired frequency, with the help of markings drawn on the box. The Tannerin doesn't actually sound much like the theremins of the time.
The instrument was custom-built at Tanner's request. Tanner appreciated the theremin's sound, but wanted greater control of pitch and attack. The Electro-Theremin uses mechanical controls, a long slide bar for the pitch (analogous to the slide of the trombone that was Tanner's main instrument) and a knob to adjust volume. This contrasts with the hand movements in space that was the original theremin's signal feature. The Electro-Theremin also produces a slightly less complex timbre than the original. This is not due to the nature of the instrument, but due to Dr. Theremin's intentional harmonic generation in the output of the Theremin, which Tanner did not do.
Tanner played it for the 1958 LP Music for Heavenly Bodies, the first full length album featuring the instrument, and played it subsequently on several television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
and movie soundtracks—most notably on George Greeley
George Greeley
George Greeley was an American pianist, conductor, composer, and arranger, recording artist and record producer who is known for his extensive work in film and television....
's theme for the 1960s TV series My Favorite Martian
My Favorite Martian
My Favorite Martian is an American television sitcom that aired on CBS from September 29, 1963 to May 1, 1966 for 107 episodes...
—and on an LP entitled Music from Outer Space. Most famously, Tanner played his Electro-Theremin on three tracks by The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys are an American rock band, formed in 1961 in Hawthorne, California. The group was initially composed of brothers Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. Managed by the Wilsons' father Murry, The Beach Boys signed to Capitol Records in 1962...
: "I Just Wasn't Made for These Times
I Just Wasn't Made for these Times (song)
"I Just Wasn't Made for These Times" is a song by The Beach Boys from their album Pet Sounds. It is the eleventh song on the album.- Information :...
", "Good Vibrations
Good Vibrations
"Good Vibrations" is a song by American rock band The Beach Boys. Composed and produced by Brian Wilson, the song's lyrics were written by Wilson and Mike Love....
", and "Wild Honey".
Tanner's prototype Electro-Theremin appears to have been the only one made. Tanner sold the instrument in the 1960s because he believed that newer synthesizers made it obsolete.
See also
- Ondes MartenotOndes MartenotThe ondes Martenot , also known as the ondium Martenot, Martenot and ondes musicales, is an early electronic musical instrument invented in 1928 by Maurice Martenot. The original design was similar in sound to the theremin...
, an electronic musical instrument invented in 1928, similar in sound to the theremin