Audiovisual tools and instruments

• The Optophonic Piano, Vladimir Rossiné, Soviet Union 1916 [1]
• The Theremin, Leon Termen, Soviet Union 1917 [2]

• 1920 Lev (Leon) Theremin, Russia, invented the Aetherophone (later called the Theremin or Thereminovox). The instrument used 2 vacuum tube oscillators to produce beat notes. Musical sounds were created by "heterodyning" from oscillators which varied pitch. A circuit was altered by changing the distance between 2 elements. The instrument had a radio antenna to control dynamics and a rod sticking out the side that controlled pitch. The performer would move his/her hand along the rod to change pitch, while simultaneously moving his/her other hand in proximity to the antenna. Many composers used this instrument including Varese.

• 1957 Warsaw at Polish Radio, an electronic studio established.

• The Rhythmicon, Henry Cowell & Leon Termen, USA 1930 [3]
• The Terpsitone, Leon Termen, USA/USSR 1930 [4]
• The Theremin Cello, Leon Termen, USA 1930 [5]
• The Sonar, N.Anan'yev, Soviet Union, c1930 [6]
• The "Ekvodin", V.A.Gurov, Soviet Union, 1931 [7]
• The Variophone, Yevgeny Sholpo, Soviet Union, 1932 [8]
• The Emiriton, A.Ivanov & A.Rimsky-Korsakov, Soviet Union, 1932 [9]
• The ANS Synthesiser, Eugeniy Murzin, Soviet Union 1958 [10]

Resources

• 120 Years of Electronic Music. Electronic Musical Instrument 1870 - 1990, http://www.obsolete.com/120_years/nav.html