Samuel J Hoffman Dr. Samuel J. Hoffman And The Theremin CD

THEREMIN contains 3 original 10-inch LPs on 3 CDs: MUSIC OUT OF THE MOON (1947)/PERFUME SET TO MUSIC (1948)/MUSIC FOR PEACE FOR MIND (1950).

In the late '40s and early '50s, a series of easy listening albums appeared featuring the then-futuristic eerie theremin of Dr. Samuel J. Hoffman. Waves in the Ether: The Magical World of the Theremin collects three of them -- 1947's Music out of the Moon, 1948's Perfume Set to Music, and 1950's Music for Peace of Mind -- onto one CD, with historical liner notes. (Yes, this 18-track, 53-minute CD does include all three of the albums, as albums had shorter playing times back then.) In truth, it's rather arbitrary who is considered the "artist" of these albums; Hoffman did contribute theremin, but the music was composed by Harry Revel, and conducted and arranged by Les Baxter (on the first two albums) and Billy May (on Music for Peace of Mind). Also in truth, these records really aren't as exotic as they might appear. For the most part they're corny lounge jazz-cum-soundtrack music, with gossamer violins, dramatic piano flourishes, and wholesome white bread vocal choirs and jazz scatting. Often you expect a voice to come over the music at any second exclaiming, "And now, live from New York City, the [fill in the host name] Show!," or the music to fade in favor of dialogue as the opening scene of some 1949 film melodrama starts. As for Hoffman's contributions, they're less dominant than you might surmise, with entire lengthy passages going by without the theremin making a sound. Also, perhaps in part because of the dated recording techniques, the theremin parts sometimes sound more like a shaky violin than a theremin, though they undoubtedly comprise the most unusual features of the arrangements. This is more valuable as a timepiece of how music of the "future" was envisioned in the middle of the 20th century than for the (ironically) dated music itself, but at least this compiles the three most well-known albums with Hoffman's theremin together in a well-annotated package. ~ Richie Unterberger

Compiling three LPs recorded by theremin maestro Samuel J. Hoffman and composer Harry Revel between 1947 and 1950, this exemplary set is an ideal introduction to the eerily beautiful sound of inventor Leon Theremin's pioneering electronic instrument. The granddaddy of the outer-space exotica boom, Music Out of the Moon (credited to conductor/arranger Les Baxter) remains a landmark by any measure. The best-selling theremin record of all time, its celestial arrangements, wordless vocals, and idiosyncratic instrumentation established the template for dozens of space age pop records to follow, effectively defining the perception of what music from the cosmos would (or at least should) sound like. The music captures a wonder and beauty beyond the ken of human experience. Though assembled from organic, earthbound elements, Music Out of the Moon delivers fully on the experience its title promises, transmitting lunar melodies to the hi-fis of suburban America. Commissioned by the fragrance firm Corday, Perfume Set to Music is an odd and frustrating attempt at musical synaesthesia. These six performances strive to articulate the scents of perfumes but the end result is simply a series of formally elegant easy listening instrumentals textured by theremin squeals and squiggles. Music for Peace of Mind (created in collaboration with conductor/arranger Billy May) is the most avant-garde of the three records, vaulting Hoffman to the forefront of a series of space age tone poems that anticipate ambient electronica in their icy, deeply contemplative atmospherics. ~ Jason Ankeny

Music composed by Harry Revel.

Includes liner notes by Albert Glinsky.

All tracks have been digitally remastered.

3cds-Peace Of Mind/Music Out Moon/Perfume Set To Music

Personnel includes: Dr. Samuel J. Hoffman (theremin); Les Baxter, Billy May (conductor).