View movie

View thumbnails

Play / Download (help)

(3.77 MB)quicktime
(4.43 MB)Ogg Video
(4.76 MB)512Kb MPEG4

Resources

all shades of color

lev theremin's granddaughter playing the theremin in a rare appearance in copenhagen. synaesthesia wavelength


This movie is part of the collection: Ourmedia

Individual Files

Write a review
Downloaded 353 timesReviews
Average Rating:

Reviewer: Tom Farrell - - December 15, 2006
Subject: A very unusual video...
This is a fascinating video.

First, I don't think it's Lev's granddaughter; I don't think any of his grandchildren are noted for being able to play his instrument. From the style of clothes and what little is visible of the face, it appears to be Lydia Kavina, who I believe is Lev's grand niece, who is a world renound thereminist.

The instrument sounds like Lydia's usual instrument sound - she seems to like a very hollow, cold sound - but the style is very unlike her usual performances. It's much more emotional, romantic... it's like she's doing an imitation of Clara Rockmore. Indeed, it's absolutely uncanny as such. I'd heard Lydia could do a very good imitation of Clara, but wow!

Also as Charlie D pointed out in another venue, it seems like she changes pieces in the middle of it.

And then of course there's the strange cropping of the video, so you can't see the performer's face and you can't see the instrument, just the hands. And the video looks squishy, like it's been converted into the wrong aspect ratio.

So, what is this? What was the context of the recording? Why is it cropped like that? I'm fascinated, but confused, and I'd really love to see more of it... uncropped, if possible.