Spellbound - A Visit to The Theremin Recorded 1930 - 1948 CD247

The movie 'Spellbound' brought fame to a technology that dated back to just after the Outbreak of the Russian Civil War in 1920. Experiments with proximity sensors for security purposes by 24 year old Russian physicist Lev Sergeyevich Termen (a.k.a.Léon Theremin) resulted in a musical instrument played with no physical contact. Lenin had 100 of the instruments built. Theremin toured in Europe until 1928 , when he moved to the U.S.A. It was tuned using proximity of the hands along with the finger positions shown in the pictures (see opposite). I don't think it unlikely that acoustical recordings could have been made in Russia. Quite the concept - Acoustic Electronica!!! RCA bought the patents and produced their instrument, the Thereminvox - as played by Lennington H. Shewell in the 1930 recordings at the end of this CD. Shewell and Edward C.Harsch-piano recorded 4 songs in July 1930 at the Camden New Jersey studio. Of the other 4 titles, he recorded 2 in Canada and 2 at Kingsway Hall in London, England in 1935. Shewell was hired by RCA to demonstrate the instrument all across the USA. His father,G.Dunbar Shewell, was vice-president of RCA at the time. Other musicians of note fascinated by the Theremin were Lucie Bigelow Rosen, a financier and promoter of the Theremin, and Clara Rockmore. Rockmore toured the U.S.,often with the company of Paul Robeson,and played the classics. In 1936 Harry Revel was in a Paris bar - at the Hotel George V when he noticed his companion's perfume inspiring him to inquire of the Parisian lady the name of her perfume -'Toujours Moi' by Corday was the answer - and the idea of Perfume set to Music had it's genesis. A trip to Southern France followed and in Grasse he sampled many different Corday perfumes then a return to Paris where he continued his quest for scents. It wasn't till he heard the Spellbound Concerto that his ideas came to focus and his concept came to life - followed by the 'Music Out Of The Moon' in 1948. Likely, the famous 'Star Trek' theme from the original series seems to have been spawned out of this music. These recordings are from my personal collection and transferred with a special hi-definition process for clearer, fuller sound - enjoy!!! ~ Mickey Clark

Spellbound-A Visit to the Theremin CD247

Spellbound Concerto-Symphony orchestra under the direction of Miklos Rosza ARA Set A-2 Recorded 1945

1. Prelude ARA 40008A 1090
2. The Subconscious ARA 40009A 1096
3. Dementia ARA 40010A 1091
4. Terror on the Ski Run ARA 40011A 1095
5. Scherzo ARA 40011B 1093
6. Love Theme ARA 40010B 1094/40009B 1092
7. Finale ARA 40008B 1097

   Perfume Set to Music Leslie Baxter Recorded 1947

8. Toujours Moi VIC 20-3205
9. Fame VIC 20-3205
10. Tzigane VIC 20-3206
11. Jet VIC 20-3206
12. Possession VIC 20-3207
13. L'ardente Nuit VIC 20-3207

    Music Out of the Moon Leslie Baxter CAP CC-47 Recorded 1948

14. Celestial Nocturne CAP 10080
15. Lunar Rhapsody CAP 10080
16. Moon Moods CAP 10081 1113
17. Lunette CAP 10081 1086
18. Radar Blues CAP 10082 1115
19. Mist o' the Moon CAP 10082 1114

    Rare early theremin recordings from 1930 by Lennington H.Shewell

20. LOVER,COME BACK TO ME LENNINGTON H.SHEWELL-THEREMIN VIC 22495 07/08/30 62672 HAMMERSTEIN-ROMBERG
21. DANCING WITH TEARS IN MY EYES LENNINGTON H.SHEWELL-THEREMIN VIC 22495 07/21/30 62687 DUBIN-BURKE
22. LONESOME LOVER LENNINGTON H.SHEWELL-THEREMIN VIC 216559 01/01/30 MONACO
23. YOU'RE DRIVING ME CRAZY LENNINGTON H.SHEWELL-THEREMIN VIC 216559 01/01/30 DONALDSON
    

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