Pop Montreal Attempting Giant Theremin Party

08/26/09 5:43pm

by Erik Leijon (CHARTattack)

MONTREAL — One theremin is cool, but how about 16 theremins? In one room!

Pop Montreal is attempting to raise $5,000 by Sept. 21 so they can create the ultimate music room, consisting of 16 of these marvels of cold war design, emitting a symphony of haunting buzzes based entirely on goofy hand movements.

Used famously on old sci-fi movie soundtracks such as The Day The Earth Stood Still and Spellbound, the Russian designed instrument features an antenna that picks up hand gestures and then translates them into eerie music.

"A Community Curated, Built & Performed Musico Art Project: A Colossal Theremin Room, brought to us by Art Pop and the Pop Montreal Symposium," is the brainchild of live music avant-gardists David Beaulieu and Christian Pelletier, whose previous work includes the snakelike portable speakers used by Patrick Watson during their prop-heavy free Jazz Fest show in July.

It won't house the homeless or feed the hungry, but a large theremin room open to the public from Sept. 30 to Oct. 4 at Espace Reunion might be something worth philanthropism. There are some pretty unique prizes available to generous benefactors, including a Pop Montreal VIP pass, a musical performed in your honour by Pop Montreal, your very own Patrick Watson portable speaker suit, or an exclusive track by Gentleman Reg or Dishwasher.

For more info on making a pledge before the Sept. 21 deadline, visit here.

Pop Montreal runs Sept. 30 to Oct. 4 and will feature Fever Ray, Os Mutantes, Loudon Wainwright III among others.