Composing for the theremin

One of the oldest electronic instruments, the theremin, was invented in the early 1920s by Russian professor Léon Theremin (born Lev Sergeyevich Termen).

In composing for any special instrument, there are several practical matters. What do you want to express? How, why, and in what form? The more precise your ideas, the easier it can be to implement them. Since music can take you into unexpected areas, a composer should be flexible enough to adapt, change, or even revamp plans at any stage, if necessary. One instrument that can really take your music into unexpected areas is the theremin.

Contemporary theremin scores reveal a continuum of writing styles from traditional staff notation through graphic scores to aleatoric or abstract. Many are various types of "hybrid" scores that may display traditional elements or be unique to each individual score.

The theremin is capable of a great many things that may defy traditional notation. The purpose of a good score is to convey as accurately as possible the composer's intentions to the performer.

Eric Ross wrote an article on the many facets of this unusual instrument.
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