Clara Rockmore

The hypnotic, undulating cadence of the Theremin has graced the soundtrack of a number of horror film soundtracks -- and at least one classic rock & roll tune, the Beach Boys' "Good Vibrations"). But the instrument has not inspired a large contingent of full-time adherents; it has mostly been used as a means of generating sound effects. The instrument's Russian inventor, Leon Theremin, envisioned his creation as a serious musical instrument, however. The Theremin's preeminent virtuoso is by most accounts the first, a contemporary of Theremin himself named Clara Rockmore. She d...