Thanks to the generosity of Nick Mellis and his “Nick’s Virtual Garage” concert series, I was able to
present a full-length concert on December 16, 2022. Selections include a) entirely new compositions;
b) two classical pieces; c) music and visuals that up until now could only be seen in live performances;
and d) a new composition created using ONLY the sounds made my an MRI machine!
Italian composer, Alfredo Catalani and librettist Luigi Illica, created one of opera’s most beautiful
and most famous arias. And like so many sublimely beautiful arias, it’s contrasted by its subject
matter — one that pervades operas: Wally, the heroine, refuses to marry the man her father has chosen
and basically says, “If I can’t marry the man I am in love with, I shall do myself in.”
For forty-seven years this composition has held a special place in our hearts. This was the piece played
at our wedding. Never gets old.
“Life in Pink…” Ain’t got quite the same ring to it in English, huh? But the song’s still bootiful, ain’t it?
Edith Piaf, Marlene Dietrich, Louis Armstrong and lots of other singers sang it. Now, the theremin does.
Hard to believe that “Lesson From Vinegar Mother” was released five years ago. Back then, audiences
were able to watch both the theremin playing as well as the video. Here’s what you would have seen…
Here’s an interlude to go from the frigid winter to the leading edge of spring. The gardens around
our house provide the background for the All-Theremin Balalaika Ensemble’s rendition of “Troika.”
On February 23, 2022, I received an email informing me of something I was unaware of.
In the summer of 2019, I presented a theremin program for a local New Jersey channel,
PCTV – Piscataway Television. The show subsequently aired a number of times in 2020.
In 2021, that particular program won a JAG (Jersey Access Group) “Award of Excellence.”
Cool beans, right?
Many people are experiencing a serious problem with their Thereminis exhibiting compromised sound.
They describe it as “fluttering,” “wiggling,” and “sputtering.” After deciding to see what I could
dig up on this problem, I looked at threads in blogs and other comments, hunting for a solution. So far,
here’s what I’ve found.
That said, I’ve already received word of one instance where the grounding procedure has failed. I’m still
hopeful that the procedure will work for others. I’ll continue to explore possible solutions; it would be
great to find a fix that works 100%. We’ll see…
Friends! Romans!
Thereminists! Electro-Musicians!
Introducing the Juliet Shaw Legacy Project
The last six months have been like an archaeological dig, unearthing hundreds of items that detail the
life and career of thereminist/concert pianist and teacher, Juliet Shaw. As a contemporary of all the
famous thereminists from the 1930s, 40s and 50s and 60s, Juliet Shaw was concertizing, sponsoring musical
events, recording her own concerts, granting TV and radio interviews. Yet, she is virtually unknown
beyond a short bio and two theremin selections on her school’s website. Why?
The answer to that question begins with introducing the Juliet Shaw Legacy Project. This is a fundraising
effort that ought to be of great interest to any thereminist, theremin enthusiast, electro-musician
or lovers of electronic music. There are tens of thousands of you out there! And you can be a part of it.
Juliet Shaw’s legacy is arguably the most significant news in (and addition to) the history of the
theremin that has surfaced in decades. Visit the website at: jshawlegacy.com and make a donation. Help us to
finally bring Juliet Shaw’s legacy out of 70 years in the shadows and into the spotlight.
Thereminists! Electro-Musicians!
Introducing the Juliet Shaw Legacy Project