Good grief. This video at once reminds me that I love the Theramin and that I don't know why I love the Theramin

anybody else is hearing the Theramin?

I hate to be Mr. Curmudgeon McFarkelson, because the kid is good at what he does, but why do we get blown away when we hear music like this played out of context? What I mean is this: if this video were of a high school orchestra playing the piece (and this piece is very playable by a good high school group, as is the Tchaik 4 in his other video), we wouldn't be moved to cries of "incredible" and "No Way!" After all, we expect as much. However, when we hear an accordion (or theramin, or crystal glasses on a bridge, or a jug band) play music with ANY requisite level of technique and musicianship, we are blown away. We short change our souls by being blown away by Vivaldi on an accordion but not giving the music a second glance when we see it in the expected venue.

And if I haven't already ostracized myself, the very simple fact is that the time needed to achieve artistic proficiency on violin (or viola, cello, etc...) is far greater than is needed for the accordion. If this kid had spent as much time on violin as he has spent on accordion, he would be very run-of-the-mill indeed.

Tags for this video have been changed from 'eels, live, strings, child abuse, real fkin music' to 'eels, live, strings, child abuse, real fkin music, orchestral, theramin' - edited by schmawy

Ah, thought it'd just be the theramin. The real soundtrack overlay kind of ruins it for me.

Fabulous. Love the theramin in the background.

OK that should sell some theramin (is an s required?) sell some theramins, like vitamins? It's more fancy without the 's'..

Huh, I was about to have you up for spelling Theremin wrong (I always thought it was Theramin) 'til I saw the very end of the video.
Oh, swell post btw.

That's Tina Theramin, she's a man, baby.

What the heck is a theramin? Glad you asked!
It was invented in 1919 by Russian scientist Leon Theramin, and is the only instrument played without requiring physical contact--just move the hands around the antennas
The theramin is (probably) most recognized in the soundtrack to The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951).

More info here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theramin

Thanks for the post. I myself have been an instrumentalist for 15 years and I'm still trying to learn new instruments or new styles. The theramin is most recent adventure. More power to Bobby Yang for trying something different.