Léon Theremin

Russian inventor who created the first electronic musical instrument and pioneered spy technology

Léon Theremin (1896-1993) invented the theremin in 1920 - the world's first contactless electronic instrument played by hand gestures. This revolutionary device influenced generations of musicians from The Beach Boys to modern film scores.

While contemporaries focused on improving existing instruments, Theremin's creation introduced electromagnetic field manipulation as a musical interface. His 1927 Carnegie Hall demonstration stunned audiences, making front-page news as 'Music from the Ether'.

During WWII, Theremin developed covert listening devices for Soviet intelligence, including The Thing - a passive cavity resonator hidden in a wooden US seal gifted to the Moscow embassy. This bug remained undetected for 7 years, revolutionizing surveillance technology.

Despite being forced into labor camps, Theremin later pioneered early electronic rhythm machines and the Terpsitone - a dance-controlled instrument predicting motion capture technology by 80 years.