The Theremin is the electronic equivalent of the “ill wind that no one blows good.” According to some wags, the phrase ” which turns an old proverb inside out ” was first used by Sir Thomas Beecham in reference to the French horn, but things changed when, in the film “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty,” comedian Danny Kaye said, “And the oboe it is clearly understood/Is an ill wind that no one blows good.”
At San Diego Chamber Orchestra “Surprise, Surprise!” concerts March 10-14, excellent San Diego oboist Scott Paulson introduced many to the Theremin as a concert instrument in the world premiere of Linda Kernohan’s Concerto for Theremin. Invented in Russia in 1919, the boxlike Theremin is an electronic instrument best known for its more common use, to create eerie effects in film soundtracks.
Kernohan’s music for the orchestra takes its cue from films, delightfully recalling the sounds of mid-20th century movies, romantic, gothic and horror. Kernohan’s introductory gambit is redolent of Paul Dukas’ “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice.” That bit of drollery dissolves into a sultry tango. The orchestra melodies and scoring throughout are charming and accessible.
Admittedly difficult, the oboe has two temperamental reeds and forces its player to become a reed-maker; the Theremin forces the player to become a magician. It is played by the hands within the space between two metal conductor-like things, one a coil, the other an antenna. The right hand controls pitch, and the left, volume. Because there is no physical contact with the instrument, which possess no frets, strings, valves or guides at all, it is extremely difficult to play; and, one assumes, well-nigh impossible to play on pitch with a tuned orchestra. Surprise, surprise indeed.
Other surprises were Beethoven’s delightful Irish songs as sung by soprano Mary Ann Carr, a charming San Diegan with a great personality and presence; Joseph Haydn’s Symphony No. 94 (“Surprise”); and Baroque composer Marin Marais’ “Operation for the Removal of a Stone,” gleefully narrated by Maestro Jung-Ho Pak and scored for two cellos and harpsichord. All we needed was the patient, etherized upon a table.
The evening began with the usual admonition to turn off cell phones and locate exits. “Three Stooges” from the orchestra pantomimed these actions, eliciting great amusement. Playing the Theremin, however, proved a very serious matter.
SDCO’s next program comprises two works by Ludwig van Beethoven. Concerts are scheduled at 7:30 April 7 at Sherwood Auditorium, April 8 at Rancho Santa Fe and April 11 at St. Paul’s Cathedral. An Avery Fisher Career Grant recipient, violinist Jennifer Frautschi plays Beethoven’s Violin Concerto. Frautschi is familiar to local concertgoers from appearances with Muzik3 and SummerFest. Under the baton of Maestro Jung-Ho Pak, the orchestra performs Symphony No. 2.
For information and tickets, visit www.sdco.org or call (858) 350-0290, ext. 7.
