Moog Celebrates Leon Theremin on 115th Birthday

In case you didn't know it, today would have been Leon Theremin's (Lev Sergeyevich Termen) 115th birthday. He of course brought us the theremin which Bob Moog built as kits when he was younger with his father, and that led to Bob Moog building synthesizers.

via Wikipedia: "In 1953 at age 19, Moog founded his first company, R.A. Moog Co., to manufacture theremin kits. During the 1950s, composer and electronic music pioneer Raymond Scott approached Moog, asking him to design circuits for him. Moog later acknowledged Scott as an important influence. Later, in the 1960s, the company was employed to build modular synthesizers based on Moog's designs..."

And via Moog Music where you'll find the full post:

"Today marks the 116th birthday of Russian physicist Leon Theremin, inventor of the musical instrument that bears his name and inspiration to Bob Moog.

Born Lev Sergeivich Teremen, Leon Theremin had an unusual educational background, holding both a degree in physics and a degree in cello performance, it was this unique combination of skills that was the impetus for the invention of the Theremin. The Theremin was born in a scientific laboratory. Leon was working with a device that measured the density of gas and had modified it to not only give a visual readout of the value, but an auditory representation as well. The device would emit a tone that would change pitch as the gas density changed, and Theremin discovered that his body’s proximity to the device would interfere and affect the tone. Using the control learned as a cello player Theremin managed to play a simple tune with the device and based on the delight of his coworkers, decided to develop it into a full-fledged instrument..."