THEREMIN: MESS in Conversation with Miles Brown
Acclaimed Theremin musician Miles Brown in conversation with artistic director of MESS (Melbourne Electronic Sound Studio), Robin Fox.
Of all electronic musical instruments, the theremin still captures the imagination like no other. MESS houses perhaps one of the last theremins built by Theremin himself in New York circa 1933-4. The origins of the instrument date further back to the late 19th century and have a peculiar connection to the race to develop television. Early versions were almost adopted by Lenin as intruder detection systems for the Kremlin.
Few have become truly brilliant players of the instrument, which, despite Theremin’s dreams of an instrument anyone can play, is fiendishly difficult to master. In Melbourne/Naarm we are lucky to have in our midst one of those very few. Miles Brown – a legendary figure in this city – studied with Russian theremin virtuoso Lydia Kavina, a direct relative of Theremin himself, and joins MESS in conversation to discuss everything from science fiction sounds, horror scores to the history of the theremin and, of course, his own musical journey with the instrument.
Presented by MESS and Fed Square.