The term “theremin” might beunfamiliar, but many people haveheard this musical instrument’seerie sounds. Its high-pitched warblegave horror and science fiction flicks acreepy mood in the 1950s and 1960s.Rock bands ranging from Led Zeppelinto Nine Inch Nails have peppered theirpop songs with its spooky tones.

Composer Bill Christy had heard these and other uses of the theremin, but hadn’t seen the unusual instrument played live until January 2001, when he watched a performance by Pamelia Kurstin, one of the few theremin virtuosos in the music world. Inspired by the sound, Christy wrote three pieces for the theremin and invited Kurstin to Ohio University’s Zanesville campus, where he’s taught music, art history, and interdisciplinary arts for eight years.

The composer, who has written new age, electronic, R&B, and modern classical pieces, was challenged by the task of writing for the unique instrument, which is played without touching. The performer moves his or her hands around two antennas protruding from the boxy device to change pitch and volume. The instrument produces a sound that’s a cross between a violin and a woman’s voice. “I was always trying to keep in mind as I was writing the piece how my hands would move around the theremin,” he says. “What would you do for a particular phrase?”

The three pieces Christy wrote for Kurstin to perform range from the somewhat somber and aptly named “Profoundly Bass” to “Minimus Monotonous,” a lively, warm tune with Asian overtones.

The Ohio University Visiting Arts Series partially funded Kurstin’s visit in November 2002, when she performed Christy’s pieces in Zanesville, Athens, and Columbus. Christy watched as the theremin master subtly moved her hands over the instrument to his songs, which produced amazing notes, he says. “She wanted a challenge, and I gave her one,” Christy says. “And she did a decent job on them.”

Next Christy hopes to publish and record the pieces with the theremin, as well as create more compositions for the quirky instrument. The composer, who teaches a history of rock ‘n’ roll class at the campus, also is researching a book on changes in popular music genres over the past 20 years. “Popular music and rock ‘n’ roll isn’t just for kids — it’s getting serious academic study now,” he says.

To hear one of Christy’s theremin pieces, visit http://mcconnaughy.cofa.ohiou.edu/minimus.html.For more information about the theremin, visit www.thereminworld.com/learn.asp.