Surreal and eerie music coming out of nowhere – sounds like a scene from a science fiction movie or a thriller. No magic at all, pure physics. Almost 90 years ago a Russian scientist invented an electronic musical instrument, the first that cou

In 1919, Leon Theremin demonstrated the instrument to Vladimir Lenin, then head of the Bolshevic Party, who even had a crack at playing it. Then the government sent Theremin abroad to show off this piece of Soviet technology. On his return, the inventor was sent to a gulag to work at a secret science laboratory until the 1950s.
 
There are few theremin players nowadays. The inventor's grand-niece, Lydia Kavina, says it's all about intuition.
 
“You can play only with your musical ear, there is no mechanical or visual orientation. You always have to guess where the notes are,” she said.
 
To listen to this strange instrument, and to see it played, press the grey video button on the right.