Rob Schwimmer: Theremin Hero

Russian physicist Lev Sergeyevich Termen (Leon Theremin) invented the theremin in 1919. What's a theremin, you ask?

A theremin is the only instrument that generates sound without being touched. It is one of the first electronic instruments, inspiring the development of the synthesizer. Originally intended for classical music performance, the theremin instead found its success supplying eerie background music for numerous horror and science fiction movies.

The theremin has been utilized in popular music too. Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys employed the theremin on "Good Vibrations," a classic track off their brilliant record Pet Sounds. The theremin was also featured on Captain Beefheart's "Safe as Milk" and on Led Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love."

If there were such a thing as "Theremin Hero," the video game, there'd certainly be a character based on Rob Schwimmer. He'd possess long flowing locks with the steady intensity of a devoted conductor. But Rob Schwimmer is not only one of the few theremin virtuosos in the world, he's also a celebrated composer and pianist.

Schwimmer is a founding member of the highly acclaimed Polygraph Lounge music and comedy duo with multi-instrumentalist Mark Stewart. He has worked with countless musicians the list is ridiculous, everyone from Simon and Garfunkel and Stevie Wonder to Willie Nelson and Josh Groban.

Mr. Schwimmer will be performing with the NY Theremin Society on Thursday Sept. 20th at Joe's Pub. We caught up with The Maestro and picked his brain about the idiosyncratic theremin amongst other things.

Why did you start playing the theremin?

I felt an instant attraction to the instrument and the sound and approach of Clara Rockmore's style of playing. Her style was very different from all other theremin playing I'd heard before; it looked crazy! I couldn't understand the hand movements in correlation to what I was hearing. The heavenly/unearthly music/sound was the thing!

It was a beautiful singing style, infinitely shaded and not at all like the fast psycho sci-fi vibrato we know and love. I thought, "I must have this instrument!" I thought since I have very good pitch that I would be able to play well right away...followed by a rude awakening to a whole new wide world of difficulties.

I figured after about 5 minutes that it had to be a hoax! Impossible to play in tune! Nevertheless, I kept at it, annoying my family and neighbors to the best of my abilities until after a (long) time it started to sound better...slowly.

What’s your typical response to someone who asks what a theremin is?

"You talkin' to me?" Followed by too much information if they're really interested. Usually I get more people talking about it after they've seen/heard it. It's a very striking thing to see/hear something out of nothing. Kinda like tickling The Invisible Man and hearing laughter.

You’ve worked with a diverse group of musicians, from Simon and Garfunkel and Stevie Wonder to Willie Nelson and Queen Latifah. You’ve even worked with Kurt Vonnegut and Steve Buscemi. What experience has been the most rewarding musically? Personally?

I try to make the most rewarding thing I've ever done be what I am working on at that moment. While that sounds good it doesn't always work out that way. I really liked playing with Wayne Shorter, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Paul Simon, Bobby McFerrin at Carnegie Hall, Simon & Garfunkel in front of the Colosseum in Rome for more than 600,000 people, playing in my group Polygraph Lounge, playing my solo piano/theremin/continuum concerts. Oh, yeah, and playing for strippers at a truck drivers' convention.

Your last record was released in 2007. What have you been working on since then? Have you been recording new material?

I think I'm just going to agonize over my next move until complete paralysis sets in. I was very happy with how my last record Beyond The Sky turned out, so I want whatever comes next to be at least comparable. I had a great producer, Joe Mardin, working with me.

Actually, I have been recording new stuff (mostly piano, my main instrument), but lately things have begun to change in terms of wanting to record some different kinds of music. I could tell you more, but then I'd have to kill myself.

You recorded with Martin Rivas on his most recent album, Reliquary. Can you tell us about the session?

Evidently producer Alex Wong and Martin had been thinking of using theremin on a tune. I didn't know Martin or Alex at the time. (Strangely enough a good friend of mine asked me a few months before, "Did you ever hear a guy named Martin Rivas? Really good!") I was heading out of town when they wanted me to come in and the only possible time was the morning. It's hard to make a good impression on new people on an impossible instrument when I'm such a cantankerous fuck at that time of day. We had a great time and they were fun and funny and great to work with.

What’s next musically?

My latest passion is an instrument called the Haken Continuum! It's amazing! Rather than try to describe it for 12 paragraphs here are 2 links of me playing at home with lousy camera sound. The first is The Beatles' "Because." Check out the totally polyphonic aftertouch and vibrato.

This second one is imagining Jeff Beck blowing on a Rachmaninov etude.

5 Comments

Cool!
It's good to see an established, mainstream artist like Rob using this unique instrument. I've been having a blast learning to play mine, and sharing stories and techniques with other theremin players.

One bit needs clearing, however.
Brian Wilson did own a theremin, a Moog Melodia like we see Rob jamming on above, but he did not use it on "Good Vibrations". Because the theremin is so hard to play accurately, Brian used an "Electro-Theremin" also known as a Tannerin to record the song.

More theremin info at...
www.thereminworld.com

Posted by: Rob George | 09/12/2012 at 06:21 PM

Hi, Rob. Thanks for stopping by and clarifying that point. I searched through dozens of Beach Boys' clips and couldn't find one in which there was an actual theremin being played.

Hope you'll come back to the blog.

Best,
Richard

Posted by: [email protected] | 09/13/2012 at 06:19 AM

I sure will! You're in my favorites list now.

Posted by: Rob George | 09/13/2012 at 06:21 PM

That's great, Rob. Thank you. I look forward to your comments.

Posted by: [email protected] | 09/14/2012 at 07:12 AM