Terpsitone

The terpsitone was an electronic musical instrument designed by the Russian physicist Lev Sergeievich Termen (who later Frenchized his name to León Thérémin).

The terpsitone was the development of the teremín. The basic functioning of the terpsitone was the same as that of the teremín, but it was no longer just the arm that generated the musical note, but the entire body played an important role and the sound was generated from choreographic movements, that is, dancing.

The receiver was no longer two antennas, but an isolated metal plate under the dance platform, which was what recorded the movement of the body and converted them into tones (notes). The performer only had control over pitch, vibrato and volume were controlled by an operator from behind the stage.

The famous American firm RCA manufactured 500 units of the RCA Theremin Model.

The teremín was presented to society on April 1, 1932 at Carnegie Hall, to great expectations. Despite this, terpsitone was only used once more, in a demonstration at Columbia University. Clara Rockmore performed Bach's Ave Maria accompanied by harpist Carlos Salcedo. After this demonstration, the terpsitone was swallowed up by history.