Us Conductors

If you've never had the opportunity to hear the theremin, go to the nearest computer, and pull up YouTube. The beautiful, eerie-sounding instrument is played by moving one's hands over a board attached to two metal rods. In this work, music critic and blogger Michaels tackles the creation and evolution of the theremin and the life of its inventor, Lev Termen, know here as Leon Theremin. The Russian inventor is a fascinating figure who studied physics, then toured Europe and the United States demonstrating his most famous creation. During a decade-long stay in New York City, he taught the instrument and developed others while rubbing elbows with famous musicians, scientists, and socialites alike. Termen's adventure ended abruptly, shrouded in intrigue; back home he was declared a traitor and sentenced to eight years in a Soviet labor camp. Luckily, his creativity and knowledge helped secure his early release from the brutal camp. While Michaels stays true to what is known of Termen's biography, he also adds some spying and murder and focuses on what he takes to be the greatest romance of the innovator's life.