Competition: Original Work for Theremin and Piano (prize = recording!)

OK. Deadline's been moved. It's now July 20th.

I believe I might have a go

I'll try to come up with something. The theremin's a great instrument - I'm excited to have this sort of opportunity!

-- The instrument's waveform can be altered to produce tones from a sine-wave to square-wave, as well as those vaguely equivalent to a violin, voice or cello.

Would it be possible to change between sound throughout the course of the piece? How much time would a change take?

-- If the passage falls within the combined ranges routinely expected of a cello, violin and soprano, then it will fall within the range of the theremin.

I'll assume something like ... F2 to C7? Anything wrong with that? Can it go higher? Can it not go that low?

--- Would it be possible to change between sound throughout the course of the piece? How much time would a change take?

It's worth saying firstly that not all theremins have tone controls. The original RCA theremins (from the 1930s) had only one, fixed tone. On the instrument used for this performance, a change could be affected, though I don't know of any piece yet composed which calls for one - probably for the above reason. If changes in tone were to be notated, they'd had best be general descriptions of tone colour, since (although most theremins now have tone controls) available palettes differ from instrument to instrument. The Etherwave Pro has six tones which can be selected. These are provided to give a general idea of what's possible (it would be better to notate the sound you imagine, rather than suggeting a number):

1# A custom tone, specified by composer or performer (altered using waveform, filter and brightness dials)
2# A flutey, open tone
3# A square, electric guitar-type tone
4# A vocal tone, with overtones
5# A more string like tone, rich in overtones, verging on buzzy.
6# The traditional RCA tone - very buzzy.

The change would take about a second if practised. A loud click from the dial would result, and the player would lose their pitch-position (so have to 'fish' for the next one audibly, or slide in from the lowest tone)

I'll assume something like ... F2 to C7? Anything wrong with that? Can it go higher? Can it not go that low?

Those ranges are realistic, but it can certainly go higher. I'll check the exact ranges for you.

Originally Posted by Zetetic

1# A custom tone, specified by composer or performer (altered using waveform, filter and brightness dials)

I assume, then, (basing my assumption on the Etherwave Pro manual) that you could keep it in this setting, and then alter the waveform, filter or brightness individually--without that loud click? I ask mainly out of curiosity--I don't think I'd dare actually use this without really knowing, for instance, what the filter sounds like. Maybe the waveform, if it's just a case of square/saw.

Well. This interests me, if that's not clear. No guarantees, and I don't think I particularly care if I'm in your list of entrants as I understand it makes no difference anyway... but I've already given myself away here, haven't I.

that you could keep it in this setting, and then alter the waveform, filter or brightness individually--without that loud click?

You could do that, but it would be very difficult to do precisely unless the performer stopped playing for several seconds. The performer would also have to find the next note slightly audibly (a bit like humming under your breath). The click isn't too loud - about the same volume as a finger click. I'll add you to the entrants, but obviously it doesn't bind you to entry. It would be great to have as many entrants as possible.

I would like to enter, but I have entered many comp's on here...and have not entered anything. So really...I would like to show interest. There. Ha.

Did you find out about the pitch...that was something I was wondering too. However, the pitch Enigmus said is large anyway! So yea?

The range is G1 to A6.

"Those ranges are realistic, but it can certainly go higher."

I said C7, but now you just said A6.... guess that's not much of a difference. I was close.
But GEEZ... I didn't think it could go that low!! G1? Wow.