And Every Song Reminds Me of You

When I started this post it was going to be about how I am having some trouble moving on with certain things because I was recently dumped by my boyfriend. The title comes from the fact that we shared so many interests and I am contantly reminded of him by things that I like. I realized though, that the topic really didn't fit with the theme of the blog; I don't want this to just be a personal diary sort of thing. Also, I just don't feel like talking about it here and I am sure you don't want to hear about it. So, I deleted the three paragraphs I'd written and went back to the drawing board. The original title stayed because I liked it and it is from this title that I decided to do a little post on music.

To say that music is a part of my life would be like saying breathing is a part of my life. I do not exaggerate when I say that I always have a song in my head. Whether it's "Nightingale" by Norah Jones, "Let Me Drown" from the musical The Wild Party, or "StarStrukk" by 3OH!3 there is always some song providing background music to my day. Some people prefer to not have to imagine their music and in this digital age that is easier than ever. You cannot pass ten people on the street without seeing at least one mp3 player. Music can be streamed via internet and even cell phones. But even before these technologies music was everywhere you looked. The radio, television, movies. Silent films were set to music and imagine how boring certain movies would be if not charged with dramatic music. One thing some people fail to think about though, is the individual instruments that come together to form a cohesive piece of music. Unless, of course, you are a musician or just a very observant person, then you think about that quite a bit. We all know the standard instruments when it comes to music: all the symphonics such as trumpet, electric guitars, drums, things like that. But what of the lesser know instruments? They do exist, trust me. Here are two for you exploring pleasure.

Theremin
Patented by Léon Theremin in 1928, the theremin is an electronic musical instrument that has been featured in the soundtracks of such films as The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) and The Ten Commandments (1956). The theremin looks mainly like a box with two metal antennas. What makes the instrument unique is the fact that it does not need to be phyiscally touched to work. Rather than try to explain, I'll just let you watch this video:



Fun stuff. Of course, the theremin can also be kind of creepy, hence its use in science fiction films. Due partly to the difficulty of the device, the theremin fell out of popularity soon after the end of World War II, but in 1994 the film Theremin: An Electronic Odyssey inspired more people to pick up the instrument once again. Today, the theremin is used by more avant-garde artists and the occasional classical composer as well as some pop artists.


Waterphone
Inspired by the Tibeten Water Drum, the waterphone was invented by Richard A. Waters. The instrument consists of a stainless steel frame and bronze rods with an interior resonator that contains water and has been compared to the sound of Humpback whales. The rods can be played with a bow, by hand, or with mallets. In the following video watch as the inventor demonstrates his creation.



I don't know about you, but I think that's really cool. The waterphone has been used in the soundtrack of such films as The Matrix and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Mr. Waters still makes his waterphones to order. They start at $1000, so if you are interested in buying one check out his website http://www.waterphone.com/index.html. I'd recommend checking out his website anyway because it includes music and more information.


Well there you have it. If I have inspired you to look for more lesser known musical instruments, start here: http://www.oddmusic.com/gallery/index.html. From there, go wherever your exploring heart takes you. Let me know what you find out. I'm here to explore just as much as you are, so leave comments.