Own a piece of music history with Moog’s newest instrument: Etherwave Theremin. Based on the company’s original Etherwave circuitry and aesthetic, designed by Bob Moog himself in 1996, this evolution of the instrument delivers improved precision, portability, and playability for the professional thereminist or curious newcomer.
Asheville, NC, April 14th, 2022 — For over 60 years, Moog theremins have captured the imagination of players and audiences alike. Most recently over the last two and a half decades, Moog’s Etherwave Standard and Etherwave Plus have set the bar for performance theremin design. Now, the all-time highest-selling theremin models get an update to become simply Etherwave Theremin.
The only musical instrument that is played without touching, the theremin is controlled by moving one’s hands in the air in the proximity of two metal antennas: one exists to determine pitch and the other determines the volume. Higher notes are played by moving the hand closer to the pitch antenna, while louder notes are played by moving the hand away from the volume antenna. Throughout history, performers have achieved unprecedented expression by mastering this unique connection between the hands, the body, the environment, and the instrument.
The theremin’s elegant simplicity and inherently expressive nature caught the attention of Bob Moog, founder of Moog Music and inventor of the Moog modular synthesizer, at an early age. His lifelong love affair with the instrument began with the build of his first theremin at age 14 and concluded with his final theremin design: the original Etherwave. Today, the legacy of the Moog theremin continues inside the employee-owned company’s Asheville, North Carolina factory with the hand-built production of Etherwave Theremin.
The Evolution of the Etherwave Theremin
The new Etherwave Theremin focuses on the preservation of Bob Moog’s legendary theremin circuits to retain all the charm and character that made its predecessors so unique and sought after, while adding a host of new benefits:
- Improved bass response and stability in the lowest registers
- Updated antenna connections to enable quick assembly and easy removal for travel
- Quick-release mic stand adapter for attaching and detaching the instrument from mic stands
- Mute control for setting the instrument into a standby mode or used for “pitch preview” via headphones
- CV output integration from Etherwave Plus (Gate Out, Pitch Out, Vol. Out) for connecting with other modular, semi-modular, and Eurorack synthesizers
Plus, Moog has developed a custom-fit, tear-resistant Etherwave SR Series Case with generous padding and plenty of storage for safe and convenient transport of the instrument. Designed with artists for artists, these cases have been developed specifically for the touring musician.
For the novice enthusiast or the seasoned professional player, Etherwave Theremin carries on the Etherwave legacy with a design that is refined for the modern thereminist.
Learn more about the new Etherwave Theremin HERE.
Performance: “I Saw the Bright Shinies” by the Octopus Project Featuring Etherwave Theremin, Moog Semi-Modular Synths
The Octopus Project performs their 2007 track “I Saw the Bright Shinies” using the new Etherwave Theremin. Filmed in the Moog Sound Lab, the Austin-based electronica group uses a variety of vintage and modern Moog synthesizers, in addition to employing Etherwave as both a lead instrument and a CV controller for Moog’s paraphonic semi-modular analog synthesizer, Matriarch.
Watch the performance here:
'Lost in the Ether' by Professional Thereminist Grégoire Blanc (Free to Stream on SoundCloud)
This new EP, composed and performed by French thereminist Grégoire Blanc, showcases Etherwave Theremin’s ability to span a wide range of styles and genres.
"This little four-track album is the result of some very spontaneous improvisations. Four short electronic pieces where the new Etherwave Theremin is, of course, the main character. Choosing the other protagonists was quite natural: Matriarch, DFAM, Subharmonicon, Mother-32,” the electronic musician shares. “Making all these lovely instruments talk to each other was a lot of fun.”
For Blanc, it’s the “immediate joyful feeling” of experimenting with Etherwave and the semi-modular family together that brings this playful and lively EP to life.
Lost in the Ether is now free to stream on Moog’s SoundCloud HERE.
Ongoing Learning Opportunities with Composer & Theremin Expert Dorit Chrysler:
Moog Music and Berlin-based thereminist Dorit Chrysler are teaming up to offer a unique experience for registered Etherwave Theremin owners: a series of interactive online theremin workshops that will be offered on a regular basis for new players and thereminists of all levels.
Photo Credit: Jake Marsiglia
Through her organization, the NY Theremin Society, Dorit has helped adults and children learn to play the instrument through in-person classes, online sessions, instructional videos, and more.
Read more about the theremin's riveting journey over the last century HERE.
Find a Moog authorized Etherwave Theremin dealer near you HERE.
