The Sterling Stage, 6134 E. Hwy. 290
Austin's Part in Theremin History
RECEIVED Mon., July 28, 2008
Dear Editor,
The article on the theremin in last week’s Science Fiction Issue was good reading [“'Theremin: An Electronic Odyssey',” Music, July 25]. But how many people know that a piece of theremin history happened right here in Austin?
This was the release of the first published theremin learner’s manual, Robert B. Sexton’s Method for Theremin: Book I, first in a planned series of Tactus’ Thin Air series of theremin works. The Tactus Press, which published from 1992 to 2007 before its sale to GP Percussion of Leesburg, Va., was then the only publisher specializing in historic percussion works. Sexton’s sudden death in March 2000 prevented the continuation of its Thin Air series. Method for Theremin was dedicated to Dr. Robert Moog and was written with his etherwave theremin model in mind. From its publication until Moog’s death in 2005, his company, Moog Music, regularly sold Method for Theremin.
Sexton was also webmaster of a popular theremin site, Take a Look at Theremins, and taught several students, including Aileen Adler, who played theremin with Drums & Tuba during the Nineties and continues as a soloist and recording artist. Both the website and the book were featured by Popular Electronics and UK’s Sound on Sound. He was part of an online group interview of theremin enthusiasts in Wired, and was featured in the local Fringeware Review’s Weird Texas issue. He also delivered a presentation at UT’s symposium From Energy to Information: Representation in Science, Art, and Literature (April 3-5, 1997).
Peace!
The article on the theremin in last week’s Science Fiction Issue was good reading [“'Theremin: An Electronic Odyssey',” Music, July 25]. But how many people know that a piece of theremin history happened right here in Austin?
This was the release of the first published theremin learner’s manual, Robert B. Sexton’s Method for Theremin: Book I, first in a planned series of Tactus’ Thin Air series of theremin works. The Tactus Press, which published from 1992 to 2007 before its sale to GP Percussion of Leesburg, Va., was then the only publisher specializing in historic percussion works. Sexton’s sudden death in March 2000 prevented the continuation of its Thin Air series. Method for Theremin was dedicated to Dr. Robert Moog and was written with his etherwave theremin model in mind. From its publication until Moog’s death in 2005, his company, Moog Music, regularly sold Method for Theremin.
Sexton was also webmaster of a popular theremin site, Take a Look at Theremins, and taught several students, including Aileen Adler, who played theremin with Drums & Tuba during the Nineties and continues as a soloist and recording artist. Both the website and the book were featured by Popular Electronics and UK’s Sound on Sound. He was part of an online group interview of theremin enthusiasts in Wired, and was featured in the local Fringeware Review’s Weird Texas issue. He also delivered a presentation at UT’s symposium From Energy to Information: Representation in Science, Art, and Literature (April 3-5, 1997).
Peace!
Peggy Sexton (Mrs. Robert B. Sexton)
Round Rock
Round Rock
