Miquette's Theremin Room
[Japanese Version HERE]
Miquette's Theremin Room
[Japanese Version HERE]
|
You can listen to Miquette's theremin performance on this page. Time to time, new recordings will be added but also there is nostalgic old recordings.=>Miquette's Profile
|
|
Currently the latest performance --> Jours qui Passent
After a series of lively pieces, I'd like to present something a bit more introspective, in the spirit of autumn.
This is a small piece for theremin and piano. The days are passing by, or perhaps it is because I am getting older, but now they are flying away. This piece is about remembering the days gone by.
by Jun Yamamoto
This is a piece that Jun composed for the Theremin. I played it with heartfelt appreciation, savoring each moment.
by Miquette
Live Performance History
How to Listen to the Miquette's Theremin Music
Please click a link. A page of "Music Track" will open, then click "PLAY". Usually a designated music player such as Windows Media Player and Quick Time will play the music. (For your information, copyrights are properly treated by Music Track.)
You can listen to some of Miquette's Music in "YouTube" 
.
As for music with an illustration, please click it. Music will start directly in the "Music Garden"which is a part of the "Hanging Gardens of Miquette"website.
Jours qui Passent
This is a small piece for theremin and piano. The days are passing by, or perhaps it is because I am getting older, but now they are flying away. This piece is about remembering the days gone by.
by Jun Yamamoto
This is a piece that Jun composed for the Theremin. I played it with heartfelt appreciation, savoring each moment.
by Miquette
Recorded in home Ensemble October, 2024 Play in YouTube
Recorded in home Ensemble October, 2024 Play in Music Track
Wonderful World of Red Tuna
I performed "Wonderful Red Tuna World" from Hiroko Taniyama's album "Therru and Neko and Beethoven" using a theremin.
The red tuna is a fish featured in Masumura Hiroshi's manga Atagoal, and it's Hidayoshi's favorite!
Although this piece isn't well-suited for the theremin, I've played it live as a joke in the past. However, I love it so much that I decided to create a video!
In the sweltering heat of the Japanese summer, I dressed warmly to convey Hidayoshi's generous character. It may look ridicurous, but I’m too focused on playing so that I cannot ridicule myself :P
As for the cats in the video, they are still images generated by Bing Image Creator, the AI for image generation.
September, 2024 Play in YouTube
September, 2024 Play in Music Track
The Waltzing Cat
The Etherwave Theremin, which I've grown fond of over the years, has been beautifully transformed with elegant curves and a gold knob, thanks to the work of IKURU DESIGN's Ikuru Suto.
To celebrate my cats' 10th birthdays, I had their silhouettes and my name inlaid into the theremin.
For its debut performance, I chose a song by Leroy Anderson.
I used an auto-wah effect to give the theremin a meowy sound. I created the backing track myself and invited my cats to participate with video and meowing.
August, 2024 Play in YouTube
August, 2024 Play in Music Track
Londonderry Air "Farewell to Cucullain"
Trio di Montagna performed “Londonderry Air,” an old Irish melody arranged by Kreisler.
- The melancholy melody, which has been cherished for centuries, is familiar in Japan. We were inspired to explore this beautiful arrangement, so we formed Trio di Montagna, consisting of theremin, cello, and piano, and approached the piece with great care. This performance was recorded remotely from each of our homes. by Miquette
- I played the piece to the best of my ability, carefully considering the cello’s tone in each section-the first, the second, and the refrain-especially given the unique combination of theremin and piano in the ensemble. by Kei Yamamoto
- "Londonderry Air" is a truly beautiful piece. Despite the physical distance, we were able to connect and communicate through our music, which made the experience both enjoyable and rewarding. by Sawara
Trio di Montagna Theremin:Miquette Cello:Kei Yamamoto Piano:Sawara
Recorded in home Remote Ensemble July, 2024 Play in YouTube
Recorded in home Remote Ensemble July, 2024 Play in Music Track
Stardust 202404
Generative AI is rapidly becoming an amazing thing. While it has previously been capable of creating still images, it has now expanded its abilities to include music composition.
I played Claravox Centennia Theremin on a piano-only track generated by "Suno". I recorded it six times and layered these recordings on top of each other. I made some adjustments to the PAN and Reverb settings, but I didn't incorporate any additional sound sources. Due to limitations, I could only produce a two-minute segment at a time (though there are ways to extend this).
I also wrote an article titled "Generation AI Doesn't Seem to Know Theremin Yet" in "note" (in Japanese), which you might find interesting.
Robinson Crusoe
My first impression when I heard the main theme of the NHK(Japan Broadcasting Corporation)'s "Taiga" drama "Hikaru Kimi he" in 2024 was that it sounded like Rachmaninoff, but the melody was a bit nostalgic = "Robinson Crusoe" by Art Of Noise! So I tried to play that one on the theremin.
The similarity is not a coincidence. Yumi Tono, who was in charge of the music for NHK's "Taiga" Drama says in her profile that she was influenced by Art Of Noise, I guess she brought that one on purpose! I just grinned and said "So she did!"
This song became famous when Art Of Noise covered it in 1989, but it was originally the theme song for the TV drama "The Adventures of Robinson Crusoe," which was created in 1964 and broadcast as BBC version by BBC in 1965.
This time, I used Claravox Centennial for the main theremin, and made backing by programming, and in a short in-between part I added some "Rachmaninoff" flavor.
In fact, Etherwave also secretly participated in the project, and was in charge of the jungle birds-like sounds.
Please enjoy the feeling of being adrift on a desert island for a while🏝
La lugubre gondola II
This is a piece from the last years of Liszt's life. It is completely different from the glittering piano music that many people have an impression of Franz Liszt as requiring advanced performance techniques, and is stripped down, deep and dark, almost losing its tonality, and moving toward atonal music.
In February 1883, while on a trip to Venice, Richard Wagner died in Vendramin Calergi Palace, cared for by Cosima, Franz Liszt's daughter and Wagner's wife. It is said that this piece, written shortly before Liszt's death when he was invited to stay at Vendramin Calergi Palace, foreshadows Wagner's death.
Vendramin Calergi Palace is still located on the banks of the Grand Canal and is famous for its casino, part of which is now the Wagner Museum.
January, 2024 Play in YouTube
January, 2024 Play in Music Track
El cant dels ocells / Song of the Birds
This year, again, Miquette (Theremin) and Jun Yamamoto (piano) performed a Christmas song at their home.
"The Song of the Birds" is a Catalan Christmas carol that joyfully sings of the birds celebrating the birth of Christ. This beautiful melody was arranged by the cellist Pablo Casals, performed in his place of exile, and became known worldwide. In the commemorative concert for the 1971 United Nations Peace Prize, Casals, playing the cello, expressed, "The birds in the sky, in the space, sing, Peace! Peace! Peace!" and this moment was broadcasted globally.
Casals, who had declared, "I will not return until my country is free," closed his life at the age of 96 in 1973, two years after this concert, without realizing his return to his homeland.
Unfortunately, wars persist to this day.
May peace swiftly embrace everyone worldwide.
Recorded in home Ensemble December, 2023 Play in YouTube
Recorded in home Ensemble December, 2023 Play in Music Track
Live Performance (at Bunny) February 2014 Play in Music Track
Take a walk with a Camel
When I'm taking a nap on a hot day... a camel comes along with the hot wind. He invites me to go for a walk.
So, where to go today?
Let's cross the endless desert with the caravan, or go shopping at the market in the city of oasis... Look, I hear the sound of a bell.
This song is one of my favorites among the many works of Jun Yamamoto.
It was originally an old song from the 1980s, submitted as MIDI data to Nifty's FMIDIORG in the 1990s, and later became one of the songs on a home-made CD sold in 2002.
The title of the song was given by me, as I felt the rhythm of a camel. It is more like walking with a camel than riding on it. I heard that the composer's image is totally different from mine.
I love this song, but I have been thinking that it would be difficult to play it on the Theremin, but I think I can play it now.
I took the original MIDI data for the SC88, re-edited it in Cakewalk (formerly SONAR), added some ideas, and made a multiple recording with Etherwave Theremin.
The video is all sorts of irrational, but it is a nap fantasy.
by Miquette
This song is old. I wrote this song probably around 1989. It's a song about a feeling of "there was something very important to me, but it didn't go well, but the sky is very clear and the sun is shining brightly on the afternoon of the day.”
The original song was written on a sequencer called Voyetra Sequencer Plus on an Epson Equity II 8086-based PC (PC-DOS machine bought in the U.S.), driving through MIDI, Yamaha DX-7, Korg P-3, a rhythm machine (Yamaha RX-11), etc. The Voyetra data was then converted to SMF, and I reconstructed it for the Roland SC-88VL using Cakewalk (DAW).
This time, the data has been further arranged by Miquette with the help of other sound modules.
by Jun Yamamoto
September, 2023 Play in YouTube
September, 2023 Play in Music Track
Solitude in Morning Twilight
YASKAWA Toru's "Nocturnal Labyrinth" Op.188 no.4 in Dis Dur (2023) was performed by the composer YASKAWA(piano in Nagasaki) and Miquette(theremin in Tokyo).
This is the answer song to 'Nocturnal Labtrinth'.
If the 'Labyrinth' is "black", this work 'Solitude in Morning Twilight' should be "white".
The night that seemed to never end has at last passed, the labyrinth has vanished in the morning sun, and what remains in my hand is a glimmer of loneliness. Well, summer vacation is, too, coming to the end...
by Miquette
Because my previous work, 'Nocturnal Labtrinth,' was just too dark and lacked salvation, I created an answer piece in the parallel key, D-sharp major(!). I hope you can sense a gentle yet somewhat melancholic morning light in it.
by YASKAWA (Moclin) Toru
Recorded in home Remote Ensemble August, 2023 Play in YouTube
Recorded in home Remote Ensemble August, 2023 Play in Music Track
Washed Ashore Coconut(Yashi-no-Mi)
A summer vacation assignment from Moclin (Toru Yaskawa) drifted ashore, so I tried to play it lightly with Theremin. Lightly, but the Moclin’s reharmonizations are quite deep and heavy. This is a remote session between Moclin (arranger and piano in Nagasaki) and Miquette (Theremin in Tokyo).
I was playing around with an improvised arrangement of this song, but somehow I didn't like it, so I decided to make a proper lead sheet (melody and chord progression) and played this version of accompaniment.
On the accompaniment track, Miquette added a nice theremin performance and video. Nowadays, maybe because of my old age, these lyrics are so touching.
by YASKAWA (Moclin) Toru
So, a coconut drifted down from Moclin.
When I put it on my chest, it reminded me of my home planet, which is no longer existing... I was moved to tears by this fantasy.
I played the theremin with such feelings.
By the way, the nut in this video has been with me since I was a child. I always thought it was a coconut from the carved pattern, but no way a coconut is this small. What on earth could it be?
by Miquette
Recorded in home Remote Ensemble August, 2023 Play in YouTube
Recorded in home Remote Ensemble August, 2023 Play in Music Track
Nocturnal Labyrinth
YASKAWA Toru's "Nocturnal Labyrinth" Op.188 no.2 in dis moll (2023) was performed by the composer YASKAWA(piano in Nagasaki) and Miquette(theremin in Tokyo).
Cicadas are singing. It became an ensemble as if we played together in the music room of a school during the summer vacation.
The piano is tuned to Werckmeister III, A4= 442Hz. Moreover, the key is dis moll with 6 sharps, which is quite a labyrinth. You may not be able to come back once you get lost in the luscious chord progression that is typical in YASKAWA’s works.
by Miquette
The "Shape of a Dream" series, a collection of 1001 songs, has been completed, and this "Melody Collection" series, which I started in 2020, has now exceeded 150 songs before I realized it.
Among them, this one is particularly dark, and I think the tune and theremin create an indescribable atmosphere.
I hope that just by listening to it, you can fully enjoy the feeling of despair, as if you are sinking into the depths of the ground.
by YASKAWA (Moclin) Toru
Recorded in home Remote Ensemble July, 2023 Play in YouTube
Recorded in home Remote Ensemble July, 2023 Play in Music Track
Love Letter(Koibumi)
"Love Letter(Koibumi)" by Miyuki Nakashima arranged in Tango style and performed with Theremin.
It is not a complete copy of the original, rather, I imagined it as if it is a tango piece. I borrowed ideas from various sources, and also paid tribute to Astor Piazzolla.
The Claravox Centennial Theremin has a quantize function, which allows chromatic correction of the pitch, which originally changes infinitely according to the position of the right hand. In this case, I used quantize to get closer to the sound of the bandoneon. I had to play with the pitch stuck in a tight position because it did not adhere to the pitch I wanted. Naturally, vibrato cannot be cleaned up, so the quantization amount is lowered to make it a little looser.
Vocalise Op.34 No.14
Sawara on piano and Miquette on theremin, each played at home to match.
When I play this song, I get the feeling that I am being taken to a distant place and that I will eventually disappear. Or it feels like a lullaby, and in the final refrain, I feel as if I am being gently spoken to, "Once upon a time, once upon a time.
Things that will never be seen again
The one that comes and goes and never returns
Or a mother's lullaby
Recorded in home Remote Ensemble May, 2023 Play in YouTube Piano:Sawara
Recorded in home Remote Ensemble May, 2023 Play in Music Track Piano:Sawara
Recorded in home July 27, 2019 Play in YouTube Piano:MinakoTsukatani
April 21, 2006 Play in Music Track Accompaniment is borrowed from Moclin's MIDI data.
The Last Emperor
This song is the theme for the 1987 movie "The Last Emperor" and played during the end credits. The composer, Ryuichi Sakamoto, became world-famous after this song and moved his base of operations to New York.
Like many people around the world, I have many favorite songs of his, and I have covered many of them on the theremin. I have always wanted to play this song on the theremin and erhu, but it has not happened yet.
Unfortunately, Ryuichi Sakamoto passed away on March 28, 2023. Upon hearing of his passing, I hastily played the melody repeatedly on the theremin. I did not make any accompaniment, and it is rough, but I could not resist playing it now.
Traveling Through Scatter Petals
This is a famous song from Yumi Arai's era of Yumi Matsutoya. I played the melody on Etherwave and the interlude on Claravox Centennial.
I heard that this song was composed on the banks of the Asano River, a famous cherry blossom viewing spot in Kanazawa, and the images in the video are from my photos in the spring of this year (2023) in my neighborhood.
I tried to cover the song as faithfully as possible so as not to spoil the image of the original. The piano is originally a Rhodes, but I didn't have a Rhodes on hand, so I used a CP80 as the basis for the sound.
I felt that the song was about the melancholy of falling cherry blossoms, but when I listened to it again, I noticed that the bass guitar was bouncing in the latter half. I guess I was enjoying it more than I thought, or at least Mr. Hosono (playing bass in this tune) was playing it with a skipping feeling.
"Ode to Shara" from "Nirvana"
I played the fifth chapter, "Ode to Shara" from "Nirvana, a cantata for mixed chorus by Megumi Ohnaka by Theremin.
“Nirvana” was commissioned for a choir called "Chor Lumbini," which was directed by Rev. Masataka Mori, the chief priest of Renkoji Temple of the Jodo Shinshu sect of Buddhism. It is a solemn choral piece consisting of ten chapters, with music composed by Mr. Ohnaka, a Christian, on lyrics by Rev. Mori.
I was a member of this choir for only a few years but had a chance to sing the entire piece of "Nirvana" in a concert. This "Ode to Shara" is my favorite chapter, in which the Buddha finally lies down on the floor in the trees of the Shara in Kushinara, near his hometown, on his last trip.
The soprano, alto, and tenor are soft-toned Etherwave, and the Claravox Centennial, with its variable octave, helped me with the lower bass voices. Also, I added an extra note octave-higher than soprano with the Claravox to give it some heavenly feel.
O Holy Night / Cantique de Noël
This year, again, Miquette (Theremin) and Jun Yamamoto (piano) performed a Christmas song at their home.
This hymn was composed in 1847 by Adolphe Adan, a French composer famous for his ballet music "Giselle".
This song is world famous in The English title "O Holy Night", and it is also sung in Japan as the hymn called "Sayaka ni hoshi wa kirameki" (The Stars Are Twinkling).
Bibo no Aozora(Beautiful Blue Sky)
Chasing the back of the summer leaving.
I was able to complete it just in time by September. The cicada is sizzling to announce that the summer is leaving.
The song "Bibo no Aozora (Beautiful Blue Sky)" was sung by Ryuichi Sakamoto himself on his album "Smoochy" released in October 1995.
This time, I did not consider it as a cover of a song, but rather as an instrumental piece. (Of course, the theremin cannot sing the lyrics, though.)
The theremin I played this time was the Etherwave Standard, with which I can sit firmly on a chair. Compared to the Claravox Centennial, which requires standing or sitting on a higher chair, the Etherwave Standard is comfortable and allows me to move freely and perform relatively carefree. (I guess I am not supposed to move in the strict playing style of theremin, though.)
September 2022 Play in Music Track
September 2022 Play in YouTube
MAY
This is a cover of "MAY" by Hiroko Taniyama.
The lyrics were written by Hiroko Taniyama and the music was composed by MAYUMI.
I particularly like the a cappella version of this song, arranged by Kenjiro Sakiya, included in Hiroko Taniyama's 1987 album "Tomei-na-Sahkas" (The Transparent Circus) and I have been thinking of transcribing the chorus part for many years, which finally I realized this time.
This song was sung by Yuki Saito, and was released in 1986, hitting the second prize in the Oricon Weekly Ranking in Japan.
I tweaked a timbre in MODERN mode of Claravox Centennial. The main vocal part has a dreamy tone, and the chorus part is intended to express the way the nuance of a human voice changes with the dynamics of the voice.
Actually, I still haven't solved the problem of tone noise under certain conditions in MODERN mode. I have managed to mitigate it by mixing, but it is frustrating because there are some parts that are not clean enough.
The Claravox and its stand are designed to be played standing up, but it is still hard for my physicals, so I set it up on a low stand and sat on a high chair. The stand doesn't look very cool (I shot the video so that you can see the bottom part of the stand), and the chair has hard edges that hurt my feet, so it might be better to buy a chair with a height that matches the stand.
I made a video including the chorus group to show that I play everything on a theremin (Claravox Centennial), and it turned out to be kind of a great view (lol).
storytime
I collaborated with an Indonesian music friend, rhesa siregar.
He had collaborated with Jun Yamamoto before, and I had often listened to his music, but this was the first time with me.
At first, I tried playing Claravox Centennial, but Etherwave sounded more retro and soft, and suited Lo-Fi music better, so I decided to use Etherwave.
Please take a moment to relax and enjoy the music.
Rice Dumplings(Sio Bah-chàng)
The song "Sio Bah-chang/Rice Dumplings" is a Taiwanese pop song in 1949, reflecting the postwar period when the economy was in deep recession, the inflation rate and the unemployment ratio were very high. The lyrics are about a young man who graduates from school but has no job and no money to start a business, so he sells Sio bah-chang(rice dumplings) on the street. A movie relate to this song was made in 1969.
I learned this song through Yuichi Onoue's performance on his own ribbon controller, and I love it. Recently, he said, "I always thought it was a song about a girl in love with a rice dumplings vendor," which comment inspired me to create my own version. For the arrangement, I asked Jun Yamamoto, who has experience in writing for the Yangqin, to create the Yangqin part, and using that as framework, I added some colors to the arrangement. The melody was changed in one place to express the romantic feelings of a girl in love.
For me, this is the first performance video on the Claravox Centennial, developed to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the invention of the theremin. I played it in MODERN mode with the application’s timbre loaded. Since it is a vertical type, I cannot play it sitting down unlike Etherwave’s case. It is possible to play standing up, but it seems to put a lot of strain on my legs and they hurt. I may not be able to play it for a long time.
Whale's Sigh(Kujira no tameiki)
This is a cover of ‘Whale's Sigh’ from “Atagoal is a Cat's Forest” (DVD) in Hiroko Taniyama's “Fantasy Library” and “Hiroko's Home Recordings” (Hiroko-no-Takuroku, CD).
I performed it with an image of being somewhere between the wavering atmospheres of the play (“Atagoal is a Cat’s Forest”) and the grandiose arrangement of the album (“Hiroko's Home Recordings”).
‘Whale's Sigh’ is an imaginary brand of cigarettes with a cool, light marijuana-like fragrance. It's very different from (imaginary) Kusaya cigars, which are said to smell so bad that they make you go faint. (Note: Kusaya is a fermented fish in Japan, which has very strong smell if not as strong as Swedish surströmming.)
I have also uploaded a video of a song about cigarettes, 'Life is like one long cigarette', which I played in 2009, so please listen to it as well.
Grown-Up Christmas List
I, Miquette, on the theremin and Jun Yamamoto on the piano played a Christmas song at home.
The "Grown-Up Christmas List" is a Christmas song written by David Foster (music) and Linda Thompson-Jenner (lyrics), performed by Natalie Cole in 1990, and later covered by many other singers.
I added "The Christmas Song," which was made famous by Natalie's father, Nat King Cole, as an intro to the song.
No more lives torn apart
That wars would never start
And time would heal all hearts
Every man would have a friend
That right would always win
And love would never end
This is my grown-up
Christmas list
Suisou no naka no sakana (Fish in an aqua tank)
This is a cover version of a song written by singer-songwriter Keiko Matsui. I have always wondered what it would be like to play the expression of a fish at midnight in this song on the theremin.
Of course, I could not "sing" the lyrics by the theremin, so I attached the lyrics in the video.
Keiko Matsui's piano and powerful voice always inspire me. She has been performing live and on the radio in Japan, mainly in the Kansai area, and now you can also watch her live streaming on the Net.
The original song is on her CD named "Chiisana Chiisana Hanashi ga Shitai". Please check Keiko Matsui's website at for CD shopping and live performance information.
Ave Maria (Tanti Anni Primi)
I think there are many opportunities to listen to various “Ave Marias” on the theremin. This time, I tried to play Piazzolla's Ave Maria, which is probably not played on theremin very often.
This piece is called "Tanti Anni Prima" and is played on oboe in the 1984 Italian film "Enrico IV," of which Piazzolla was the music director.
I have not had a chance to see the film yet, but it is said to be a tragicomedy about a man who is so shocked by falling off from a horse that he thinks he is the Holy Roman Emperor Enrico IV, and Marcello Mastroianni plays the main role.
Other performances of Ave Maria
Gounod / J.S.Bach
Caccini Giulio
Schubert
Burgmuller
Rock 'n' Ave Maria
Clair de Lune
This particular arrangement of “Clair de Lune” was by Mr. Katsuhiro Oguri, composer, for my 2003 Theremin performance in a recital of the “Friends of the Theremin”, the Theremin player’s group.
It was difficult to play at that time, but it is a beautiful arrangement that I enjoy playing and cherish for a long time.
The image is that a drop of moonlight falls on the calm water surface and the water mark is widening infinitely. Especially in the latter half, the dynamic movement and excitement of the music makes me feel like having transparent wings on the back and flying around freely in the moonlight.
This music had been meant to be performed by Miquette on Theremin and Sawara on the piano at the live on April 12, 2020 as the second time. But the live has been postponed so that each one played at home and tracks are merged into one to create this video performance.
Recorded in home July 2021 Play in Youtube Piano:Sawara
Recorded in home July 2021 Play in Music Track
Recorded in home February 8, 2009 Play in Youtube
Recorded in home November 23, 2003 Play in Music Track
Recorded at the Recital October 13, 2003 MP3 file(Because of a live recording, there are some noise and the sound quality is not as good as studio recording.)
Mi-4-Si in Blue
I played "Mi-4-Si in Blue" for French Horn and Piano (Op.142 No.1), composed by Toru YASKAWA, with Theremin.
"Mi-4-Si" is a suite consisting of 3 pieces, i.e. “In Blue”, “In Red” and “In Green”. The sheet music is available at Piascore.
Elegy for Theremin and Orchestra
This is a composition in a style of Theremin Concerto composed by Jun Yamamoto!
The orchestra is a DTM performance with Garritan Personal Orchestra, but I dream of playing it with a real orchestra one day...
Spring is nearly here
This is a song which I want to hear in every spring time. I played it by theremin this time. It is a 1962 song by The Shadows.
I like Kenji Omura's 1981 cover version best, and at the end of the tune I want to modulate to semi-tone higher as his version does.
Relaxing spring time, forgetting these and those, it is ok to spend such time ... but we have lost such relaxing time and the second spring has come. I have not had the chance to wear the spring clothes I bought last year, so I decided to take this opportunity to wear them and make a lot of flowers bloom. Please relax and enjoy.
Dolphin Dreams
At last, I covered Lee Ritenour's “Dolphin Dreams”, which I have long thought would be nice on a theremin! This performance is based on the version of this song in Ritenour’s album called “ON THE LINE” in 1983. (The first appearance of this song was in “Captain Fingers” in 1977)
I made the background orchestra by synths in a DAW, then added the theremin and vallion to it. The vallion is an electronic musical instrument handmade by Mr. Hiroshi Takano of Japan, which is a single-note, portament-able instrument, like the theremin. Using the handle to control the pitch and pushing the volume button to control the volume.
Along playing the song, I dream swimming with dolphins in the blue ocean. What do the dolphins dream of?
Shuuchaku Eki(Far-end Station of a Train Line)
“Suddenly-coming-up-with-an-idea-and-quickly-played-it” Series. This time, I played another masterpiece of Japanese Popular Song in Showa era, Shuh-Chaku-Eki sung by Chiyo Okumura (1971).
When I was very young, I did not know the word past (“kako”) in the lyrics yet and I was wondering if it was a song in which a woman escaped from a basket (“kago”) somewhere,haha.
Kassai(Applause)
“Suddenly-coming-up-with-an-idea-and-quickly-played-it” Series. This time, I played a masterpiece of Japanese Popular Song in Showa era, Kassai sung by Naomi Chiaki (1972).
Ms. Chiaki happened to have an experience similar to this lyrics so that first she was reluctant to sing this song. This is a sad but romantic song.
In this recording, Miquette played the theremin first, and Jun Yamamoto afterwards add the piano accompaniment, in a process which was slightly different than usual.
Little Wing
I believe I do not need to explain this song, right?
Jun Yamamoto was making a piano accompaniment, so I take it and played the melody. I played it imaging phrases by an electric guitar with tons of effectors connected, but it is not so effective with theremin. It comes rather rough and short.
à la forêt
This is Jun Yamamoto's "To the Forest". It is a composition originally written for clarinet and piano, but I wished to play it with theremin. Since it is also suitable for theremin in terms of register, I play it as it is without transposing.
The composition was written after "To the sea", and the composer said that it was composed with the desire to make a straightforward "song" in a simple three-part format.
The score and the recording of the premiere (clarinet/piano) can be downloaded for free at imslp.
the “Kitchen of Sadness"
This time I have chosen a tune with a little different taste than usual. This is the title tune of the Tokyo Kid Brothers’ musical the “Kitchen of Sadness".
I am playing a song part with Theremin. I used MusicLab’s RealGuitar plug-in for the first time on the guitar part, and I modified the RealGuitar output for fine tuning tweaking MIDI data. The other parts are performed as usual. This is not a 100% copy of the originally staged song, because, considering it is a song written by Kei Ogura, I thought it would be better to make it a little softer than the original.
Theremin cannot sing the lyrics, thus I indicated it in the video.
It is not a very well-known song but it is a song that I love with some nostalgia.
In the musical the "Kitchen of Sadness", only this one song is written and composed by Kei Ogura. The musical was performed from October 1979 to January 1980, when the song writer was still working at a bank. I found out that it was self-covered in an album of Mr. Ogura himself. Sometimes it is even performed on his live stages. I definitely wish to hear such live performance.
I have never been to see the performance of Tokyo Kid Brothers. Yuji Ohno was in charge of the soundtrack for the TV musical "Saramumu", so I was interested in it, and I think “Saramumu” was the first LP record I bought in my life. I had a friend who was enthusiastic on Tokyo Kid Brothers and I borrow some LPs from him.
The photo of the jacket of the "Kitchen of Sadness" is Kyohei Shibata, Koichi Miura, Alice Jun, Naoko Tsubota, and Hiroaki Iiyama, and everyone is with a nice smile. Mr. Shibata has become a very “cool” elder now. It was regretful that Alice Jun died last year.
Granen (The Spruce)
From the Five Piano Pieces by Sibelius, Sawara (Piano) and Miquette (Theremin) played the 5th piece, "Spruce". Each part had been recorded separately in each home and combined.
Shabondama(Soap Bubble)
The second online session of arrangement by Toru Yaskawa. Sankeko participated in Theremin in the video of Yukiko Miyazaki playing the piano part.
Là sui monti(Jasmine)
It is a famous song that appears in Puccini's opera "Turandot". I've always been interested.
Nanatsu no ko(The Seven Children)
It's "Nanatsu no ko" arranged by Toru Yaskawa. There was a video of Naomi Furukawa playing the piano part, and I was invited for a session, so I participated in Theremin.
Ginga-tsushin
This is a cover version of Hiroko Taniyama's song, “Ginga-Tsushin" (literally meaning is “Communications over Galaxies".
A tribute to our invaluable friends, even if we are far apart or cannot meet each other now, and yet to see, future friends.
This song was scheduled to be performed live on April 12, 2020, but in this circumstances, each member played each part separately and edited to one movie.
Theremin: Miquette, Cello: Kei Yamamoto, Piano: Jun Yamamoto
Traumerei
March 2020(played on August 2019) Play in Music Track
March 2020(played on August 2019) Play in YouTube
Aliens
Estrellita
In my Theremin Live "The Traveling Theremin" Vol. 4 “South America To Back Home”, I featured the song 'Estrellita' by a Mexican composer, Manuel Ponce, which became famous by Heifetz’ arrangement for violin and piano. First, I intended to play the song in the original, simple vocal version by the composer, but I gradually wished to play it in Heifetz’ version, which boosted the original’s romanticism.
As the Heifetz’ version is semi-tone higher than the original, it is difficult to reach the highest note with my Etherwave Thermin, as the right hand almost reaches to the right antenna. Therefore, in the live performance, I played it in the original key. But in this home recording, I tried to shift the tuning of the Thermin higher so that it could play Heifetz’ version’s key. As you can see in the movement of the hand in the movie, it was difficult to play because the interval between the notes on the low register became wider than usual.
“Estrellita” means a “small star” in Spanish, and Ponce, the composer himself wrote the lyrics. The song call out to the star “I cannot live without his love" earnestly and sweetly.
Quarantine (from First Man)
Miquette covered the song "Quarantine" from the movie "FIRST MAN".
This original soundtrack has been written specifically for the Theremin. The composer, Justin Hurwitz himself has played Theremin for the soundtrack. I hope this music will become a standard number for the Theremin soon.
Traveling Theremin digest
From the “Traveling Theremin” series live for over 11 years(4 times from November 2007 to January 2019), we deliver a digest edition westbound.
The Summer Knows / Summer of '42
August 8 2018 Play in Music Track
August 8 2018 Play in YouTube
SPAIN(Live)
October 28,2018 Play in Music Track
October 28,2018 Play in YouTube
Suzhou Nocturne / Soshuu yakyoku
September 30 2017 Play in Music Track
High sky / Ta ka i sra
September 21 2017 Play in Music Track
My Motherland / Uo Dei Zu Gwo
August 30 2017 Play in Music Track
Theme of "Rabbit" / Theme of "U-sa"
July 4 2017 Play in Music Track
Madder Red Chorale(Choräle In F)
Toru YASKAWA (composer) “Madder Red Chorale” for horn quartet. This is the performance as it was in the early version before revision. In the last part, the bass went up one bar too early (sorry).
July 2017 Play in Soundcloud
Yastura no ashioto no ballads(Their ballads of footsteps) / Hajime Ningen Gyatoruz
March 12 2017 Play in Music Track
March 12 2017 Play in YouTube
Lupin Love Theme
November 21 2016 Play in Music Track
November 21 2016 Play in YouTube
Denwa wo suruyo (I will call you)
August 12 2016 Play in Music Track
Minna yime no naka (Everything in the dream)
August 1 2016 Play in Music Track
221B, BAKER STREET / sherlock holmes
This is the opening theme of the TV drama series the “Adventures of Sherlock Holmes” created by Granada Television. It perfectly fits to the gloomy atmosphere of London in the Victorian Age.
Jeremy Brett as Sherlock Holmes was, has been and will be the best casting and I cannot accept any other actor as Sherlock. Maybe only one possible exception would be the modern new character created by Benedict Cumberbatch.
I wished to play this tune with Theremin and asked Jun Yamamoto to prepare the orchestration. Though the tune is very short (about 1 minute), please enjoy the fascination at the opening of a mystery with the music.
TELSTAR
“Telstar 1” is the first active telecommunication satellite launched on July 10, 1962, more than 50 years ago. It relayed television broadcast from the U.S. to France as first time in the history.
A British band called The Tornados launched this tune “Telstar” and it stormed to the top of the Single Chart of HOT 100 of the U.S. “Billboard” in December 1962.
The tune feels like Techno music and also nostalgic, like dreaming bright future where people travels from star to star. I was not born yet then but heard that it was popular in Japan too. Also, I remember the tune had been used as a theme or ending of some radio show.
Unfortunately the “Telstar 1” became broken within a few months from the launch by the influence of radiation from a high-altitude nuclear weapon test. But the name was succeeded by the following satellites and currently the “Telstar 18” is active and working. The “Telstar 1” itself is said to be orbiting the earth even now.
Later The Tornados has broken up and the composer of the tune, Joe Meek, who was also the producer of the band, committed suicide in 1967. He might be dreaming still far-away space age at his end of life.
In this project, I used Roland SYSTEM-100, a remnant of the age of analog synthesis, which was salvaged from my husband’s old house, in addition to TTS-1 plug-in synth which comes with SONAR. The sound of SYSTEM-100 is blended very well with Theremin maybe because they are both analog synthesizers. The sound effects are the mixture of the actual launching sound of Thor-Delta Rocket which brought the Telstar 1 to the space and synthesized sounds of Theremin and SYSTEM-100.
In the original tune of “Telstar” by the Tornados, “Clavioline” had been used for the melody, which is an electric keyboard instrument invented in 1947 in France.
Sonate pour clarinette et piano 2. Romanza (Tres calme)
Written by Poulenc in his later years, this movement is a memorial to his friend Arthur Honegger, who died in 1955, but Poulenc himself had died in January 1963. In April 1963 the piece was first performed.
I recorded it in June 2016 because I thought the dark, melancholic melody would fit the theremin. This time I replaced the piano sounds with Pianoteq7 and made a video.
Apres un reve
The piano part is borrowed from MIDI performance by Alchemist with his permission.
COLUMBO-Mystery Movie Theme
This is the theme song for the so-called "COLOMBO," but it was originally "Mystery Movie Theme," which was the opening theme for an American program "NBC Sunday Mystery Movie. This program broadcasts several detective stories including "COLOMBO" in rotation, and this song was used as the theme when it was broadcast in Japan, so we are familiar with it as the Columbo theme.
I am often asked if the melody of this song was played with a theremin. But when I tried to play it myself, I was convinced that it is not the same. I was convinced that the melody was not right, because the higher register was missing, but only in Etherwave. So this time, I shifted the tuning so that I could play higher notes as much as possible. It was difficult because the pitch was not linear.
In fact, it was probably played on a synthesizer, most likely a YAMAHA YC-30. Or some say it was an ARP Odyssey or 2600.
All the parts except for the theremin were copied by ear, and I used only TTS-1 (a software synthesizer bundled with cakewalk's SONAR) as sound module. It was difficult to reproduce the rhythm unique to this particular song.
This song reminds me of the happy mood of watching TV with my family together when I was a child (even though a murder case was going to happen) and makes me feel excited.
March 3,2016 Play in Music Track
March 3,2016 Play in YouTube
Candlelight Carol(Live)
The town where a little bird comes.(Kotori ga kurumachi)
Late summer(Banka)
LEAVE ME ALONE
The main themes of 'Gunshi Kanbee'
You & Night & Whisky
Since this tune has on air in a TV-Commercial Film for Suntory whisky in 1990, many cover versions have been released. Tonight, Miquette presents a Theremin version of the tune. Who's bar do you want to have a drink? Koyuki-san, I guess....
October 2013 Play in Music Track
October 2013 Play in YouTube
Albeniz - Tango
In the six pieces of Albeniz’s “Suite Espana”, this second piece “Tango” is somehow very famous. A relaxed and sweet, southern melody sounds good in summer. It is not an Argentine tango, rather the rhythm of the habanera which the sailors of Catalonia loved. Later, habanera became the roots of the Argentine tango, mixed with flamenco.
Rock 'n' Ave Maria
The "Ave Maria", reputed to be composed by Caccini, is a calm and melodious tune, but I have long thought it should fit Rock'n'Roll music.
Ordered Jun Yamamoto to prepare the backing, I realized the other Maria who likes dancing.
Too wacky? I don't think so because the tune should be composed in the 20th century actually.
By the way, the original Maria is HERE.
"Autumn In Rome" from Stazione Termini
"Autumn in Rome" from a Hollywood movie "Stazione Termini" in 1953. Though the film is American, the director is Maestro Vittorio De Sica.
I played the tune because the melody very much fits to the theremin. I remember the somber atmosphere of the Station "Termini" in Rome.
Accompanying piano was performed by Jun Yamamoto.
Video of farewell snap shots of Tokyo Shibuya Terminal of Tokyu-Toyoko line with the theremin performance of "Autumn in Rome" from "Stazione Termini" is in YouTube.
March 15th, 2013 Play in Music Track
March 15th, 2013 Play in YouTube
"RED" Theremin Version
This tune was released in January 1997, at FMIDIORG (Midi Original Forum) of Nifty-Serve, by Uni-uni-san. I love this song very much. Many people contributed to the original version and I have long desired to join the performance and that is realized after 16 years. The animation is English subtitled. Special thanks to Mr. K. Hata for editing of video and sound remix.
"Walking In The Air" from "The Snowman"
"Walking in the Air" from the famous picture book and animation "Snowman", the tune is used as BGM in the scene the Snowman flying with the boy. The accompaniment track is prepared by Jun Yamamoto, using SONAR X2 with Garritan Personal Orchestra 4. Wish you enjoy it.
December 2012 Play in Music Track
December 2012 Play in YouTube with movie
Delicatessen
The tune is the theme of the 1991 movie "Delicatessen".
A strange performance of a strange music with a strange instrument.
August 2012 Play in Music Track
August 2012 Play in YouTube with movie
If
I'd blink my eyes
And wave my arms
I'd wish a wish
To stop all harm
June 2012 Play in Music Track
June 2012 Play in YouTube with movie
Star-circling song
A Rose for Ecclesiastes (3 Gymnopedies) for Theremin and Piano (2005)
This suite is written by Jun Yamamoto for theremin and piano. The score and the recording of the premiere can be downloaded for free at imslp
Though it includes some old ideas, it is composed for my theremin performance. The world premiere was in the live performance in May, 2005 in Tokyo. Theremin and Synthesizer version is publicized on the internet in January,2006.
This time, I newly recorded the theremin and piano version. (The older, cinematic performance is here (sound only).
September 2011 Play in YouTube
1. M'Cwyie (recorded in home) September 2011 Play in Music Track
2. Braxa (recorded in home) September 2011 Play in Music Track
3. A Rose (recorded in home) September 2011 Play in Music Track
The Song of Therru (accompanied with the piano)
Suddenly I wanted to play the song (inserted in the movie "Tales from Earthsea" so I video taped my performance with Theremin in casual wear.
This version is close to Ms. Taniyama's original version. The piano is by Jun Yamamoto.
More closer-to-the movie version is here. (sound only)
Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini Variation 18:Andante cantabile (D flat major)
This 18th variation is very different from other variations of this music as the theme of Paganini is demonically arranged one after another. It is difficult to see where the theme is in this variation. Actually an inversion of a fragment of the theme became the melody of this variation. It sounds as if it is a different music from the rest. This variation sounds very "white" and I call it the "part of Angel".
For theremin, I thought it might be a too-easy selection of music but I surrender to the charm of music like a flower to bloom breaking deep snow or flying freely in the sky.
To be honest, I did not feel like playing the theremin or piano part editing on sequencer for a while after the earthquake.
But because of a private reason completely different from the earthquake, I had to plan a blank period that I cannot play the theremin, I rushed to upload this music though it is a little rough. Or, I need a time to play the theremin for myself. I had to prepare many things and had not slept enough but I needed this time for the theremin.
Simply I wanted to play. Neither had I played for anybody, to heal anyone, nor against a mood of self-control. Always, the basic motivation is that just I want to play.
Parolibre
This tune is from Mr. Sakamoto's solo album "Miraiha-Yaro" (Futurism-Guy) in 1986. "Parolibre" means a free-style poem.
"Miraiha" (Futurism) is the avant-garde movement in early 20th century spread from Italy. It was very aggressive and inclined to destructive actions. According to Mr.Sakamoto's explanation, he wrote this piece as if Puccini writes an intermezzo of an opera...this seems to fit the music.
In the original, the melody of the first part was performed by Ondes Martenot but in the album it is recreated by YAMAHA DX-7. Ondes Martenot is an electric musical instrument which has invented in the same era as the theremin. It is said that the tone is similar to the theremin but the looks is very different and rather big and grand.
Since its invention, Onde Martenot has become a major instrument unlike the thereminand many compositions have been written for it. Here, I played the melody by the theremin. The vocal part of the last half is also recreated by theremin.
Other parts were my headache. It is reckless to mimic synthesizer orchestration of Mr.Sakamoto by TTS-1. Please take mercy on my desperate effort.
Chiisana Sora (Small Sky)
Here is a 9-part theremin ensemble of "Chiisana Sora" written by Mr.Takemitsu originally for the mixed chorus.
The lyric is written also by Mr.Takemitsu and I am sorry there is no lyric in the theremin performance. But I think you would feel a soft sense of nostalgia from the tune.
Misirlou
Please enjoy an exotic aspect of the theremin.
Do you notice this is a very popular tune? Or, you don't know. This tune of Dick Dale version was very popular used in the movies such as "Pulp Fiction" and "TAXI".
Originally it was a popular song in Greece. Misirlou is a name of an Egyptian girl. "I want to take you with dark eyes away from Arabi..." A love song. It was transferred to the United States and became a smash hit then Japanese Miquette playing with the theremin, a Russian instrument...a very globalized performance.
Songs flowing like winds- theme from "Getsuyo-Kumikyoku (Monday Suite)"
This is theme music of a TV program "Getsuyo-Kumikyoku", where a singer-songwriter, Mr.Oda, played a leading role. It sounds like a bright summer sky in your mind.
In the last episode of the program, the theme was performed in its full version. But I dare to take a shorter, usually used version in the program and try to recreate the same atmosphere of the show. The sound is of course different because this is a theremin version performance.
I have gotten the music down by ear for the rest of orchestration and recreate it on the sequencer. I used Garritan piano sound and the rest is by TTS-1 only. I had difficulty to recreate the guitar part because I do not have playing experience of the instrument.
"Ieji"- Largo from Symphomy No. 9 "From the New World" the 2nd movement
"Largo" from Dvorak's 9th Symphony, which is famous in Japan as "Ieji" (Road to Home). It should be very popular in Japan with the lyric "the sun goes down in the far mountains..." It became a theremin's standard tune so that many played it on the theremin. I did not, but this time I decided to play it by returning to the basics.
It is said that Dvorak composed it thinking his home land, Bohemia, while he stayed in America (the New World). I imagine a scene that one walks back to his home with peaceful mind.
Bachianas Brasileiras No.5 Cantilena
This is a well-known piece of Villa-Lobos, Bachianas Brasileiras No.5 Cantilena (Aria). The original is performed by soprano and 8 violoncellos. This time I played a theremin with sequenced piano. Most difficult part this time was the lyric of the middle part. Of course, theremin cannot sing words but if I do not understand the lyric, it will be a constant repetition of the same note. I would be glad if I am successful in playing like singing.
Piano part rendering took a long time. It is difficult to create piano performance in mind without actually playing the piano.
Recorded in home February 2010 Play in Music Track
Recorded in home February 2010 Play in YouTube
Live Performance (at Casa Classica) January 27 2019 Play in YouTube Piano:Sawara
Santa Clause is My Boy Friend
Farewell to "Mysound" (YAMAHA's music community) commemorate Karaoke. The back orchestration is by MIDI file provided by YAMAHA music data shop.
Lively finale! I think the tune is a little hard for the theremin : -) I tried to recreate the sound in an arena.
Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence
Farewell to "Mysound" (YAMAHA's music community) commemorate Karaoke. The back orchestration is by MIDI file provided by YAMAHA music data shop.
Title tune of the movie "Merry Christmas, Mr.Lawrence"
Sonata Pour Piano et Violon en La majeur, 1er mouvement
I played the first movement of Frank's violin sonata by the theremin. I think the image of floating on clouds, a little mystified feeling suit to the theremin. I recreate the piano accompaniment in my mind by sequencing.
This time, I replaced the piano sound with Pianoteq7 and created a fluffy movie.
Recorded in home November 6, 2009 Play in Music Track
Recorded in home November 6, 2009 Play in YouTube
Playing Love
This music is from the movie, "The Legend of 1900 (La leggenda del pianista sull'oceano)". The only music that the main character of the movie, 1900 (Nineteen Hundred), recorded on vinyl. It is a beautiful and wistful improvisation expressing his one and only love. Beginning with fast passages showing his virtuosity, when he saw the girl through a window, suddenly it turns into a gentle ballad reminding repeating sounds of wave of the ocean.
The original is piano solo. I played the main melody by theremin. I also elaborated on the piano part to recreate the music which sounds in my mind.
Recorded in home June 7, 2009 Play in Music Track
Recorded in home June 7, 2009 Play in YouTube
A Life Is Like One Long Cigarette
The song is very calm and deep. Would this sound also reach someone's dream calmly someday...
This time, I elaborated on all the sounds including accompaniment.
Sakura Sakura
I played this version of Sakura Sakura in the opening of a live performance in April 2006. This is rather Jun Yamamoto's world. Cosmic sounds evoke a "herry Blossom Viewing" in Mars to me. Well, the moon might suit to the scenery. I have played in home again and attached animation.
Recorded in home Play in Music Track (Sounds better)
Recorded in home March 14, 2009 Play in YouTube with animation
Telephone
A phone call from a south land rings the bell of telephone in the season that orange trees bear a lot of yellow fruit and Camellia blossoms. The call is from the East Wind and greets that his beloved daughter, the bush warbler will come soon. Let us extinguish the stove and go out, and sit on the grass.
The theremin is accompanied with an organ which you might find in the elementary schools a long time ago.
Bella Notte
The beginning and the ending of a Disney movie "Lady and the Tramp" both related to Christmas. "Bella Notte" is the music of the famous scene that Lady and the Tramp eat spaghetti and are strolling in the night. Watching the movie again, I was impressed by how it is romantic! I rather love cats but dogs are lovely too. It is performed by the theremin and simple accompaniment by the piano.
Vocalise Etude no. 151
The year 2008 is the 100th anniversary of Messiaen of his birth. I tried to play his music this time though I have long listened to many of them.
Unfortunately Messiaen did not write for the theremin though he wrote for Onde Martenot. Here, I played the vocal line (to be sung by vowel originally) with the theremin.
Brazil (Aquarela do Brasil)
It is said that Barroso wrote this music in a rainy night. The original title means "watercolor of Brazil". I tried to express such an atmosphere with wet and waving sound of the theremin.
Moonlight (Tuki no hikari)
An original tune by Manzo-san. The vocal of nagi-san is featured and Jun Yamamoto is participating with the piano.
Play in the page of the website of nagi-san (with lyric) June 2008
Train Station of Face (Kao no eki)
This was a real adventure but I really wanted to try this music once.
A full throttle of Theremin's destroying power! Theremin is not only a gentle and tender instrument. But my hands are also close to be destroyed. It hurts severely even if I play this tune once, so that I cannot play this again and again. Sorry for the rough performance.
The orchestra is the elaboration of Jun Yamamoto. It should have been tough especially this time. Again, theremin cannot express lyric unfortunately. Please try Hiroko-san's original with lyric and feel its extraordinary surrealism.
You must believe in spring
The title tune from jazz pianist Bill Evans's album "You must believe in spring". Originally, this music was titled "Chanson de Maxence", which Michel Legrand wrote for the movie "Les Demoiselles de Rochefort". But now, the English title and lyric is better known and I myself had thought it were Evans's original music.
I do not think I have to repeat the anecdotes surrounding the album because it is so famous. Recorded in 1977, and released in 1981 but Bill Evans himself has passed way at that time.
"You must believe in spring" is not a phrase which a person who can spend springs as ordinary thing. The seasons are repeating but there is spring which would never come...
Berceuse op.16
Live performance featuring pianist, Misato Ishiwata.
Lullaby with a little grown-up feeling or, maybe, one for adults. Misato-san's piano is lulling Miquette's theremin comfortably.
Live Performance (at Casa Classica) March 22, 2008 Play in Music Track
Meditation de Thais
The piano part is from the same piece performed by Michel-san used with his permission.
This is the tune I thought that I could not play with my playing style (not using fingers) for a while after I started the theremin. I even thought it might be a good example of a tune which you could not play without using fingers. But recently I come to think that I may play this difficult tune with my technique development so that I decided to upload it as a token of my progress. I wish to continue exercising this music to realize a performance as I imagine.
The tune itself is an intermezzo between scene 1 and 2 of the second act of opera "Thais" located in Egypt. Namely, the curtain is closed and no one on the stage. But it is a moment that the beautiful heroin, Thais, is meditating to change for the better from past hedonistic life and convert to a sanctified woman. It is a meditation which is not a stern one but expressed as a very sweet and mellow music as you know.
Lydia
A song of love for a woman named Lydia. Like a white lily with golden curly hair, my soul is lost to your kiss...Lydia is the name of the woman and the music is written on the Lydian mode. Is it a pun?
Melodia Sentimental
Villa-Lobos is one of the greatest composers of not only the South America but also the 20th century worldwide. This is a true gem of his more than 1000 compositions.
Live Performance(in Casa Classica) November 28, 2017 Play in You Tube
Recorded in home December 18, 2007 Play in Music Track
"Proof of Human" (Ningen-no-Shomei) (Live)
As a memorial to Joe Yamanaka, I made a movie with the sound source from my live performance with precious(?) spoken lines. The piano of Jun Yamamoto cries and the theremin of Miquette roars.
Live Performance(in Casa Classica) November 23, 2007 Play in You Tube
Woman (from the movie "Tragedy of W")
This is the theme song of the movie, "Tragedy of W". It was sung by the main actress of the movie, Hiroko Yakushimaru. I heard recently her singing the song and rediscovered its beauty. I wished to perform it with the theremin.
The Rose
This tune is so famous one sung by Bette Midler in the movie "The Rose", which is loosely based on the life of a rock legend, Janis Joplin. Here, I played it simply following the original as a theremin trio.
So in Love
This music was the ending theme of a TV program" Sunday Foreign Movie Show". I thought it sounds like Russian-Romantic music but in reality it was a Cole Porter tune.
Live Performance (at Casa Classica) October 14, 2019 Play in Music TrackRecorded
Recorded in home January 21, 2007 Play in Music Track
White Christmas
A Christmas standard in a little different arrangement.
Christ is born
Maybe a little minor but I like this Christmas song very much.
Be Wind-for Green (Kaze ni nare - Midori no tameni)
I have long wished to perform this lovely song "For Green". Accompaniment is simply by the piano.
Aria di chiesa
Zigeunerweisen
The accompaniment is borrowed from Moclin's with his permission.
Sky
Melody is performed by the theremin. Only synth version is in MIDI JAZZ TOKYO.
Amarilli
Song of Therru(the movie preview version)
I performed an inserted song in the movie "Tales from Earthsea" (preview version) by theremin.
Visionally Moon (Maboroshi no tsuki)
I am sorry that the theremin cannot reproduce the good lyric. This is originally a tune by COIL and Chitose Hajime covered it.
Ave Maria 
Nessun dorma(TURANDOT) 
I tried to ride the current trend :- ).
Soledad
I asked Mr. Oguri to arrange this music for the 5th Recital of the Friends of Theremin.
Live Performance (at Casa Classica) January 27 2019 Play in YouTube
Recorded in home December 18, 2008 Play in Music Track
A Rose for Ecclesiastes
Based on a novel of the same name by Roger Zelazny (1963). In the format of Sati's Gymnopedie, this consists of 3 fictional dances of Mars. Each piece is titled as 1. M'Cwyie 2. Braxa 3. A Rose.
This is a theremin and synthesizer version. Theremin and Piano version is here. Only synthesizer version is in MIDI JAZZ TOKYO.
Memories of Time (Toki no kioku)
A tune from the sound track of the movie "Save My Earth". Melody is played by the theremin.
Ave Maria 
The last half is performed as three-voice ensemble.
Er Quan Ying Yue (Moon Reflected in Er Quan)
This is a very famous tune for erhu (2-stringed Chinese instrument played with a bow). I played this with the theremin solo. Currently in status of trial and error.
"Shikararete" (Being Scolded) 
Ave Maria 
Ave Maria 
China connection (AULD LANG SINE in Chinese Flavor) 
I performed the melody of the MIDI tune arranged past for the "Music Garden" of the "Hanging Gardens of Miquette".
Recorded in home November 27, 2002 Play in Music Track
Recorded in home November 27, 2002 Play in YouTube with movie
Yuyake-Koyake (Sunset glow)
I performed the melody of the MIDI tune arranged past for the"Music Garden" of the"Hanging Gardens of Miquette".
Le Cygne (from "Le carnaval des animaux - Grande fantaisie zoologique")
Accompaniment is borrowed from Issei Tsuruno's MIDI performance (for violoncello and piano) with his permission.
He Ri Jun Zai Lai ("When will you return?")
Air from Overture No.3 BWV.1068
Accompaniment is borrowed from the MIDI performance made by Moclin, UXK, Raff, and Chu with their permission.
[HOME] the"Hanging Gardens of Miquette"website (Japanese)
Miquette Copyright(C) 2002-2024 All rights reserved