Ondes Martenot

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Image:OndesMartenotDemonstratedByInventor.jpg The Ondes Martenot (also known as the Ondes-Martenot, Ondes martenot, Ondium Martenot, Martenot and ondes musicale) is an early electronic musical instrument with a keyboard and slide invented in 1928 by Maurice Martenot, and originally very similar in sound to the Theremin. The sonic capabilities of the instrument were subsequently expanded by the addition of filter banks and switchable loudspeakers. The instrument is especially known for its eerie wavering notes produced by the thermionic valves that produce oscillating frequencies, responsible for the female voice effects in the original Star Trek theme.

The Ondes Martenot has been used by many composers, most notably Olivier Messiaen. He used it in many of his works, such as the Turangalîla-Symphonie and the Trois Petites Liturgies de la Présence Divine; his opera Saint-François d'Assise calls for three. Other composers included Pierre Boulez, Edgard Varèse, Darius Milhaud, Arthur Honegger and Maurice Jarre; André Jolivet wrote a concerto for it in 1947. Bohuslav Martinů authorized the adaptation of his "Fantasie" to the use of the Ondes Martenot when it proved difficult to perform on the Theremin, for which it was originally written. It was also utilized by Bryan Ferry on the album As Time Goes By.

The instrument was frequently used in soundtracks for television and horror and science fiction movies, and is still used from time to time. On television Barry Gray frequently used it in his scores for Gerry Anderson's series. Films scores using the Ondes Martenot include Ghostbusters (1984), Lawrence of Arabia (1962), Billion Dollar Brain (1967), Amélie (2001), and Bodysong (2003), by Jonny Greenwood of Radiohead.

Greenwood is often credited with bringing the Ondes to a larger audience through Radiohead's Kid A (2000), Amnesiac (2001) and Hail to the Thief (2003) albums. Greenwood uses the Ondes often in his solo efforts, and has also written a piece for the instrument entitled "Smear". The Ondes Martenot is also played by Greenwood during Radiohead's live performances.

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External links

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