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About this Episode
Dorit Chrysler has been dubbed a superior wizard of the theremin. An Austrian-born, New York-based composer, producer, and singer Chrysler is the co-founder of the New York Theremin Society and founder of the first school for theremin. As much as the theremin is a tool in Chrysler's electronic instrument arsenal she's also one of the most visible thereminists spreading the gospel of this mysterious sounding instrument which is basically played by massaging thin air.
Her music has been described by Ann Magnuson in Paper Magazin, "Imagine if Marianne Faithfull and Nikola Tesla had a love child with Jane Birkin as the nanny and Bjork as the wayward Girl Scout Leader!"
Arte TV calls Dorit "Theremin Goddess"
Wall Street Journal "A futuristic Lotte Lenya"
DoritChrysler.com
https://www.facebook.com/doritchryslerofficial/
https://www.instagram.com/doritchrysler/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=WKmMRtuLfCc&list=UU2FnHcTW8yYhKX8WGQcKEsA&index=1
Resources Dorit mentions:
New York Theremin Society - https://www.nythereminsociety.org/
Dorit at CERN Hadron Collider for 100th anniversary https://www.moogmusic.com/media/electric-storm-100-years-theremin
The Theremin 100 - https://www.nythereminsociety.org/theremin-100-4
THEREMIN GOES BROADWAY
I am happy to have contributed theremin for "FallingInLoveWithMr.Dellamort" a "mysterious new audio musical" by Jack Feldstein and Paul Doust with a tony-nominated cast - released on Broadway Records and making a splash on Playbill
In the podcast I used snippets from The Dark Shadows theme by Bob Cobert, Good Vibrations by the Beach Boys, and Clara Rockmore performing The Swan.
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Remarks
I've been fascinated by the theremin since 1966 when I used to watch Dark Shadows every day after school. Then of course the iconic sound of the instrument in Good Vibrations took the theremin out of the scary movie realm and into popular music. In 1993 we saw Theremin: An Electronic Odyssey in the theater and I learned more about the instrument's origin as the first electronic instrument invented in 1920. That's also where I learned of the amazing Clara Rockmore, Theremin's first virtuoso performer.
The idea of shaping sound in thin air with your hands intrigues me so much. I've never been patient enough to learn an instrument but I'm drawn to weirdness of a theremin.
My guest, Dorit Chrysler, is a virtuoso herself and a teacher. She's been playing for 20 years, and warns us that the theremin is difficult to learn. A lot of people start then give up. In our conversation Dorit describes her teaching approach and how to avoid some of the pitfalls that frustrate people so that they lose interest.
I kicked myself a few years when I missed an opportunity to take a class with her locally.. I learned about it too late. I sincerely hope I'll get another chance. Here's the interview.
Full transcript available at ialwayswantedto.net
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Hosts & Guests
No transcript available for this episode.
