The Art of Playing The Theremin with Dorit Chrysler

Learn how to play the theremin - Dorit Chrysler will guide you through tips and tricks during this workshop. Presenting some of her own works as well as historic repertoire samples, you can learn technical and practical aspects in how to approach this mysterious instrument and even try it out yourself.

Calibration, positioning, exercises, repertoire, woowoo - and no touching"

Dorit Chrysler

Born in Graz, Austria, Dorit Chrysler is a NY / Berlin based composer and artist. The recipient of the Austrian State Stipend in Composition 2023, she is also the co- founder of the NY Theremin Society. Since her encounter with the Theremin, she has mastered the instrument and applied its technology in her art practice. As artistic director of the nyts, she has curated a ten piece Theremin Orchestra at the Disney Concert Hall and shares her curriculum of mastering the Theremin world- wide. Laurie Spiegel has written a work of theremin for her. Commissions for Dorit’s work include the MoMA, Knightsbridge and the Siemens Foundation. As a participating artist at the 2023 Shanghai Biennale, her work has also been shown at Fridman Gallery, the Guggenheim and Berlin KW. Dorit has performed with the San Fransciso Symphony , Trentemøller and Alva Noto and has toured world- wide. Concert appearances include Lincoln Center, Moderne Museet Stockholm, Vienna Konzerthaus and Coachella. She has written music for film and tv and released numerous recordings. “Calder Plays Theremin” is based on her MoMA sound commission and is currently available at the MoMA store. www.doritchrysler.com

All proceedsfrom this event benefit WFMU and the NY Theremin Society
WFMU Radio’s Monty Hall, located at 43 Montgomery Street in downtown Jersey City (mere steps from the Exchange Place PATH station).

THE THEREMIN

The Theremin marks the beginnings of electronic music. Invented in 1920 by the young Russian scientist Lev Termen, it is based on electromagnetic fields and the principle of “Heterodyning”. Untouched, this instrument is played by studied movements in the air. Sound can be produced by any object or mass that changes the frequency of one of the oscillators by entering the electromagneticfield. In the words of Lucie Bigelow Rosen in 1935:

“This space controlled instrument does not have the polyphonic powers of the piano or organ but instead offers special qualities of its own not common with other instruments.”

The NY Theremin Society

The nyts is a non profit organization that promotes the visibility and application of the Theremin in performing arts, music and education. Founded by Suzanne Fiol, director of Issue Project Room and Dorit Chrysler, sound artist and composer, the nyts launched its first concert series in 2005 and has since produced programs worldwide, collaborating with organizations such as CERN, Gaite Lyrique, Pioneer- works, Sibelius Academy, LA Disney Concert Hall, Reese Harlem Charter School and the Caramoor Center For Music And Arts.

Join the nyts community and support us: www.nythereminsociety.org

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