The 'Theremin Cello' (1930)

The Theremin Cello was another adaptation of Leon Termen's, originally a cellist himself, Theremin instrument. The instrument was manufactured by Termens Teletouch company in New York City, USA, c1930. 

Instead of the Cello's strings, the Theremin-Cello has a flexible black plastic film fingerboard which produces a tone for as long as the finger is depressed, the pitch is defined by the position on the fingerboard and the volume is controlled by a lever. The timbre of the sound is controlled by two rotary knobs built onto the Cello's body. 

The instrument was used throughout the 1930's by a number of musicians most notably Leopold Stowkowski who commissioned Termen to design and build a bass Theremin Cello which was later abandoned due to the side effects caused by subharmonic frequencies on the orchestra's string section. 

Rear view of the Theremin Cello shows the volume control and tone generator. 

(images courtesy:America's Shrine to Music Museum) 

Further Information:

'Charles D. Stein Collection of Early Electronic Instruments' 
America's Shrine to Music Museum
University of South Dakota
414 East Clark Street
Vermillion, SD   57069

Phone:   (605)677-5306
Fax:   (605)677-5073
E-mail:  smm@usd.edu