Hello Robbie,  Here's one of the Portland (Maine) Press-Herald newspaper
reports on the current Theremin Festival.  The instruments are receiving
front page coverage right now, plus some local television spots as well;
it's a well-organized and multi-faceted event!

Tomorrow I'll return for the "all-day" symposium, which will include a
"player Theremin" of sorts, i.e. a robot (automaton) programmed by Jason
B.  Barile -- who hosts the Internet Theremin Page -- to *operate* a
Theremin!

Considering that mine was sold by The Aeolian Co. under its own name --
and was played in the '60s by me at our museum, with Duo-Art accompani-
ment (using special rolls I perforated for the purpose) -- another
Aeolian product! -- the idea of seeing a '90s "Theremin Pianola", as it
were, is highly fascinating.  The article appears below.  Happy Reading!

Regards,

Douglas

 [ The Theremin is certainly an established musical instrument, and
 [ a _player Theremin_ therefore would be a genuine self-playing
 [ musical instrument.  I'm looking forward to your report!  -- Robbie

 - - - - -

Preview of the Theremin Festival -- Theremin links

    By Amy Sutherland, Staff Writer
    (c) Copyright 1997 Guy Gannett Communications

<Picture> At left: Eric Ross, a jazz musician, performs on the Theremin
Wednesday in Congress Square.  The Theremin is the only instrument that
is played without touching it.  The First International Theremin Festival
runs through Saturday in Portland.  Staff photo by John Ewing

As Lydia Kavina played the first few bars of "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes"
Wednesday, the audience in Portland's Congress Square chuckled.  It
wasn't the old song or Kavina herself that prompted the tittering.  It
was the instrument -- the Theremin.  With its two antennae sticking out of
a metal box, the Theremin resembles a castoff from NASA and sounds like
an eerie cross between a human voice and a violin.  It is the only
instrument that is played without touching it.

The novelty drew about 250 people to the downtown square for a free jam,
part of what is billed as the First International Theremin Festival.
The audience included office workers, families, students, seniors and
tourists.  Robert Moog, inventor of the synthesizer that bears his name,
was also there, sporting a baseball cap from which sprouted two small,
silver antennae.

Not everyone was as enthusiastic as Moog.  "I think it has an interesting
sound but not as pleasing as an acoustic instrument," said David Webb, a
Portland lawyer who stopped by the square with his 4-year-old son.

The festival started Monday and runs through Saturday in Portland.
Still to come are a screening of an award-winning documentary about the
Theremin's inventor, a free symposium, a classical concert with Kavina
and the Portland String Quartet, and a jazz concert with Thereminist Eric
Ross.  Ross will also be joined by the string quartet.

The festival is the brainchild of Olivia Mattis, a Portland musicologist
who has taught at the University of Southern Maine and the University of
New Hampshire.  The festival is co-sponsored by several local organ-
izations, including the New Music Alliance and the Portland Conservatory
of Music.

The Theremin was invented in 1920 by Leon Theremin, a Russian scientist
who moved to New York City, where he introduced his namesake to American
audiences.  The sound is derived from the beating between two high-
frequency oscillators.  To change the pitch, the player moves his right
hand near the straight antenna.  To change the volume, the player moves
his left hand by the round antenna.

"It's really interesting, because you don't touch it," said Adinah
Barnett of Portland, who took her two young children to the jam.
"It makes you aware that music is sound waves."

Most people know the instrument's sound from early science-fiction movie
soundtracks or the Beach Boys' song "Good Vibrations."  Wednesday's jam
demonstrated the instrument need not be limited to background music for
spaceship landings.

Joined by local musicians, Kavina played a medley of songs -- "Smoke Gets
in Your Eyes," "Over the Rainbow," "Invitation" and "Summertime." Singer
Elizabeth Parcells joined Kavina for the last number for a duet.  At one
point, an emergency vehicle's siren sounded from the street, blending
right in with the Theremin and making for an unexpected jam.

Jazz musician Ross took the stage after Kavina.  Ross played the
Theremin, guitar and keyboards as he crashed through a free-jazz number
that chased away about half of the audience.

Gus Smith and Krista Bleinske, Maine College of Art students, stood their
ground.  "It's good to see that something far out is happening in
Portland," Smith said.