Leon Theremin, inventor of the Theremin musical instrument died in Moscow during November of last year. He was 97.
Born in Russia and educated in music and physics, he developed the synthetic music instrument that became known by his name during the 1920's.
The Theremin used hand movements in the vicinity of an antenna, which causing capacity changes enabled control of the pitch of an oscillator , with a second antenna for volume control.
He spent some time in the USA during the 1920's and early 30's. He was abducted by the KGB in 1938 and returned to Russia. Accused and convicted of spreading anti-Soviet propaganda, he was sent to Siberia.
In 1991 he returned to the USA to receive Stanford University's Centennial Medal in recognition of his contribution to electronic music.
The Theremin is probably best known for its use to produce the eerie recurring musical effect in Alfred Hitchcock's 1945 movie 'Spellbound'. Many rock music groups also used it to good effect. Robert Moog built a Theremin while he was still at school and we know what that led to.