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Quiz about Music from the Ether The Amazing Theremin

Music from the Ether - The Amazing Theremin Quiz

Is it a physics experiment - or a musical instrument? Come now! You have all heard the ghost like sounds in the Beach Boys' "Good Vibrations". That's what a theremin sounds like. Learn more about this unique musical invention and its inventor.

A multiple-choice quiz by Nannanut. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
Nannanut

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
193,267

Updated
Jul 23 22

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
1098

Awards
Editor's Choice

Last 3 plays: i-a-n (7/10), Guest 108 (3/10), Guest 136 (9/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. The theremin is an electronic instrument that is played without being touched. Quite simply - it is a boxlike device with two antennae. One antenna controls pitch and the other volume. As a hand approaches the antennae, the pitch and volume can change - usually producing the trademark ghostlike sounds. Who invented the theremin? Hint

Lev Termen

Jay Shelby

Theo Goldmerk

Hermann Gzorky

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Question 2 of 10

2. Theremin first showcased his invention at the Moscow Industrial Fair in 1920. Which prominent Russian figure of the time requested lessons on the instrument?

Answer: (Five letters - begins with L)

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Question 3 of 10

3. Leon Theremin arrived in the USA in 1927 and was eventually granted a patent for his invention. Mainly considered a novelty item, it was marketed and distributed by RCA. The concept of the theremin inspired a later electronic music phenomena. What was it? Hint

The Moog Synthesiser

The electronic organ

The amplifier

The woofer

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Question 4 of 10

4. Russian born Clara Rockmore was a musical prodigy. When a problem with her hands forced her to forego her chosen instrument she became the world's best thereminist. She was one of Leon Theremin's original students. What had been her chosen instrument? Hint

Piano

Cello

Clarinet

Violin

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Question 5 of 10

5. Space movies were quick to adapt the "spooky" noise of the theremin into their soundtracks. Which of the following movies featured the theremin? Hint

The Queen of Outer Space

All of these

It Came From Outer Space

The Day the Earth Stood Still

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Question 6 of 10

6. Even Alfred Hitchcock was not immune to the effect the eerie sounds of the theremin could have on a movie's suspenseful moments. In which movie was this sound effect used? Hint

Psycho

Rope

Vertigo

Spellbound

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Question 7 of 10

7. The 1957 movie "The Delicate Delinquent" featured a famous comedian. In the movie the character stumbles upon a nutty professor's theremin and a hilarious dance scene follows. Who is the comedian? Hint

Lou Costello

Jerry Lewis

Milton Berle

Jackie Gleeson

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Question 8 of 10

8. "Whole Lotta Love" by Led Zeppelin also features a theremin. Which member of the group played the instrument? Hint

Robert Plant

John Paul Jones

John Bonham

Jimmy Page

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Question 9 of 10

9. Leon Theremin and his wife lived in New York for ten years and in that time entertained many famous people. Which scientist was fascinated with Theremin's work and asked about the "colour of music"?

Answer: (Last name only - think relativity)

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Question 10 of 10

10. Leon Theremin was kidnapped in 1938 and returned to Russia. He was imprisoned and forced to work in a secret lab for the KGB. What did he develop? Hint

A radio jamming system

A signal coding machine

An eavesdropping device

A spy camera

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Most Recent Scores

Dec 12 2024 : i-a-n: 7/10
Nov 12 2024 : Guest 108: 3/10
Nov 08 2024 : Guest 136: 9/10
Oct 24 2024 : Guest 74: 8/10

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

Answer: Lev Termen

Lev Termen (who later changed his name to Leon Theremin) was a Russian physicist. In 1919 he finally presented the world with this unique musical instrument. While deciding to name his invention the theremin after himself, he also dubbed it the Aetherophone (sound from the ether).

2. Theremin first showcased his invention at the Moscow Industrial Fair in 1920. Which prominent Russian figure of the time requested lessons on the instrument?

Answer: Lenin

Lenin was so taken with the theremin that he asked for lessons. He also commissioned 600 theremins to be built and had them toured around the Soviet Union.

Answer: The Moog Synthesiser

Robert Moog began by selling theremin kits in the early '60s. By 1964 he was manufacturing his own electronic music "Moog" synthesisers. The Beatles and Mick Jagger bought a Moog. Carlos's "Switched on Bach" album was produced entirely with Moog effects. Unfortunately other companies produced more cost effective instruments and the Moog Synthesiser Company did not survive.

Answer: Violin

Leon Theremin's prot�g� Clara Rockmore was a virtuoso on the instrument. She played with symphony orchestras around the world. On her album "The Art of the Theremin" she is accompanied by her sister - Nadia Reisenberg. Rockmore died in 1998.

5. Space movies were quick to adapt the "spooky" noise of the theremin into their soundtracks. Which of the following movies featured the theremin?

Answer: All of these

"The Queen of Outer Space" (1958) was directed by Edward Bernds and starred Zsa Zsa Gabor. "The Day the Earth Stood Still" (1951) was a Robert Wise film starring Michael Rennie. "It Came From Outer Space" (1953) featured Richard Carlson and was directed by Jack Arnold. All movies used the ethereal theremin sound to add atmosphere and tension.

6. Even Alfred Hitchcock was not immune to the effect the eerie sounds of the theremin could have on a movie's suspenseful moments. In which movie was this sound effect used?

Answer: Spellbound

"Spellbound" (1945) starred Ingrid Bergman and Gregory Peck. Hitchcock wanted a "new sound" for this movie and commissioned Mikos Rosza to create one. Apparently neither Hitchcock nor producer Selznick had ever heard of a theremin. They thought that perhaps it might have been something one took for headaches!

Answer: Jerry Lewis

Jerry Lewis's dance with a theremin featured in the first movie he made after his split with Dean Martin.

8. "Whole Lotta Love" by Led Zeppelin also features a theremin. Which member of the group played the instrument?

Answer: Jimmy Page

Jimmy Page utilised lots of different gear to produce special sound effects on stage. He used a device called a Gizmotron as well as the theremin. Besides "Whole Lotta Love" the instrument's effects can be heard in "No Quarter"
The band even performed a concert named "Theremin Over Buffalo" in July 1973.

Answer: Einstein

Einstein was not only fascinated with the colour of music - he was also intent on exploring the relationship between geometric figures and music. He begged Theremin for some room in his house to work on these ideas and covered the walls with his geometric paintings.

10. Leon Theremin was kidnapped in 1938 and returned to Russia. He was imprisoned and forced to work in a secret lab for the KGB. What did he develop?

Answer: An eavesdropping device

Theremin developed a sophisticated surveillance device. He supervised the bugging of both Stalin's private apartment and the American Embassy.
He finally returned to the USA for one last lecture tour before his death in 1993.

Source: Author Nannanut

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Bruyere before going online.
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