[net.sf-lovers] Space Opera - Theramin

idc@dcl-cs.UUCP (Iain D. Craig) (07/01/85)

In article <2187@topaz.ARPA> kerch@lll-tis-b writes:
>From: Berry Kercheval <kerch@lll-tis-b>
>
>I can think of several more Honest-to Verdi SF operas.
>...  Weber wrote one called something like 
>"the Bobolinks",A I know little more than the fact that the score is one 
>of the few "serious" musical works to call for a theremin.  
>
>
>   -berry Kercheval
>   kerch@lll-tisb.ARPA   or  berry@zehntel.UUCP

Sorry, I don't think Weber (i.e., Carl Maria v. Weber) used a theramin.
A Theramin is an electro-accoustic instrument invented, I believe, by one
Robert (?) Theramin (Theramin invented it anyway). The device was used by
Charles Ives in the 4th Symphony which dates from about 1920 (again I can't
quite remember the date). Weber may have used some other strange instrument,
but, as I say, I don't think he used a theramin at all (he was a contemporary
of Beethoven).

Just for useless information, Alban Berg is the accepted first user of the
vibraphone in the modern orchestra (Lulu - Opera in 3 Acts. completed by
Czerha in 1978-79).

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