The Theremin

Have you ever watched an old horror or science fiction movie and noticed a swooping, wailing sound? That was probably a Theremin, one of the first electrical instruments ever invented. It sounds like a ghost or a scream from another world. Its inventor, Leon Theremin, did not expect it to be used for spooky aliens in movies. He thought of it as a serious musical instrument.

Born in 1896 in St. Petersburg, Russia, Theremin loved music as much as he loved physics. When he was in high school, he spent his after-school hours playing the cello and learning everything he could about electricity. In college, he continued his studies but soon grew tired of reading books about theory. He wanted more people to make electricity a normal part of everyday life.