Here now are 167 musicians playing the absolute hell out of 167 matryomins, to the tune of a boogie-tastic Beethoven’s 9th. Be apprised: “matryomin” is a portmanteau of matryoshka (as in nested matryoshka doll) and theremin. It’s… basically exactly what it sounds like.
The theremin, of course, is the hallowed noise-maker of every science fiction score-composer since always. Matryomins, being single-oscillator theremins, are typically marketed as “theremins for beginners,” which I suppose makes this a little less impressive than 167 musicians tremelo-ing their way through Beethoven’s 9th with both hands. But only a little.
https://gizmodo.com/the-theremin-scary-music-to-our-ears-5675882
https://gizmodo.com/the-bizarre-musical-instruments-behind-classic-scifi-mo-5815346
And while we’re on the subject of theremins, here’s io9 eic Annalee Newitz learning to play a two-handed version with the assistance of theremin-virtuoso Rob Schwimmer.
Trust us – it’s harder than it looks.
[Spotted on Mental Floss]
