Theremin: Ether Music and Espionage (Music in American Life) Paperback – Illustrated, February 2, 2005

At this date I am aware that Albert Glinsky's biography on Leon Theremin and his "Ether Wave" musical instrument, and on his involvement in Soviet espionage, has been subjected to quite an impressive number of reviews, including those here on Amazon. As a person who tried for over forty years to teach Americans about the Russian language, Russian literature, Russian (and Soviet) culture, I can attest that Glinsky's task was not an easy one. As you read, you encounter his constant attempts to provide us with explanations of Russian and Soviet history and politics, with arcane aspects of science and technology in radio wave generation and in television mechanics and electronics, and, of course, in music. As a teacher I can only admire Glinsky's constantly impressive ability to explain all these things so that the uninitiated reader can, at least with focused attention and effort at times, understand them and see how they give a context for Leon Theremin's accomplishments and his actions regarding them. When I was a graduate student in Russian Studies at Cornell University in the early 1970s I had occasion to meet and speak with Robert Moog, the "American Father of Electronic Music," who lived in proximity to Cornell outside Ithaca, New York. I remember that Moog was curious about how I, a non-Russian American from Montana, wound up studying Russian, and that was the topic of our brief conversation as I recall it. But, of course, he said nothing to me in that conversation about how it was a Russian, Lev Sergeevich Termin, who was essentially his inspiration and mentor in the creation of electronic devices to generate music. At that time I had never heard of Termen or the theremin. I could only recall this ephemeral contact when I read Moog's foreword to Glinsky's biography of Theremin (Termen). After reading the book, I went so far as to order a theremin of my own from an online source (not, I admit, a Moog theremin...though I may wind up getting one of those too). I equipped it with a used Fender guitar amplifier and set about to teach myself to play the theremin in my home office. I had Theremin's story of personally instructing Soviet founder Vladimir Ilyich Lenin in 1922 to play a well-known classical musical piece, and about how Lenin, at first guided by Theremin's hands from behind, took over on his own and successfully completed the playing of the piece. This story gave me hope. Theremin, in Glinsky's biography, tells people, most potential customers for the instrument I suspect, that "anyone can learn to play this instrument in a fortnight." I have to say that my own experience is contrary. Even availing myself of the online instruction ably given by such theremin virtuosi as Thomas Grillo and seeing the wonderful performances of others, I still, considerably beyond a fortnight, am making only embarrassing squeaks and squeals. I can't even play a recognizable "Happy Birthday," or "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star." I don't think any musical group would welcome aboard what my theremin might contribute. I'll have to keep my day job. But only think...Glinsky's book made me give it a shot and I, alleged as an expert already, learned a great deal about Russia and the Soviet Union, and about Radio Waves, Television, Espionage, and even electronic music. The book is a wonder. You definitely should buy it. Highly Recommended.

I got this book for my nephew for Christmas. He dug right into it. Fascinating topic, and such a well written story! I plan to borrow it when he's done.

I’ve been fascinated by the life of Leon Theremin… and his great inventions. This book has told me many things about his life that I never knew. The author spent ‘13 years’ researching and writing it. It’s a slow read because every arcane fact that he found has made its way into the book. It would have the same impact if it could have been edited more to provide a smooth narrative instead of being this encyclopedic rendering of names, dates, people, and tiny details.

Great book!

FANTASTIC - key to my research!

Everyone interested of world and music history should read this!

You don't have to care about Theremin's inventions and achievements to find his life story fascinating but if you do you'll be delighted by this book.

Interesting!