Theremin's rhythmicon plays interesting and harmonious polyrhyhmic pitched rhythms. The original invention is probably the first ever drum machine. It was invented by Léon Theremin as a commission for the composer Henry Cowell. Each key plays a number of beats per measure and a pitch in the harmonic series. These combine to make the pitched rhythms, which change as you press and release the keys.
Here is a demo of one of his original machines in use:
It is an astonishing invention for its time (between the two World Wars at the dawn of electronics, in 1931). To find out more about the original invention see Rhythmicon (Wikipedia).
In this instrument the first key plays 1 beat to the bar, then it's 2 beats per measure for the second key all the way to 16 beats per measure for the last key.
With the Bounce Metronome Pro version you use the number keys on your keyboard, 1 to 0, then the first five keys on the scond row. The keys "toggle" the parts on and off, so you don't need to keep the keys held down for long periods of time and can play all 16 keys simultaneously (which would require two players for the original Rhythmicon).
Here is what it looks like and sounds like in Bounce Metronome Pro with all 16 rhythms sounding at once:
The notes always sound harmoniously together as each rhythm is played on a different note in the harmonic series. Notes of the harmonic series sound good together (on most instruments, anything with a "harmonic timbre").
So anything you play on this instrument sounds nice, whatever you do is right. Actually it uses some rather exotic harmonies (especially the 11th and 13th harmonics) which you rarely encounter in music - but because they are played as part of the harmonic series then they probably don't sound that exotic on the Theremin.
Here it is with 1, 4, 5, 8, 12 and 14 beats per measure played simultaneously
It's an instrument for making interesting intricate pitched polyrhythms. Don't expect to be able to play tunes that you know.
To find this metronome, download Bounce Metronome Pro, and select the A Version of Theremin's Rhythmicon from the drop list. You get a free 30 day Test drive - with all the features completely unlocked.
As with the Basic Metronome, you can accent or unaccent beats with RIGHT CLICK, skip beats with LEFT CLICK, adjust beat volumes with MIDDLE CLICK or SHIFT + LEFT CLICK. For details see the page about the Basic metronome.
You can also play your rhythm with a lilt or swing, varying the metrical pulse for each part if you like too, which alters the rhythm in interesting ways - or play with a gradually changing tempo, or add a lilt to the bar timings. For more about this see the page about the Pro metronome.
Version of the rhythmicon without the more exotic harmonies
WORK IN PROGRESS
- THIS WILL BE READY WITH NEXT UPLOAD PROBABLY TOMORROW (26TH JUNE) - NOT YET READY
You can remake the rhythmicon without the more exotic harmonies involving the 7th, 11th and 13th harmonics with Shift + click on Make Rhythmicon. Or you can use CONTROL + CLICK for a rhythmicon with just the bluesy 7th harmonic in addition to the 5 limit conventional major chord type harmonies we are used to.
The instrument starts off with all the parts silenced. You silence or play any of the parts by pressing keys on your keyboard - the number keys 1 to 9 for the first 9 parts, then 0 for part 10, then the first six letters of the next row of the keyboard for the next six parts (usually q w e r t y).
You can also press the letter key A at any time to silence all the parts. This is useful if you have set up a rhythm and want to switch off all the parts quickly to make a new rhythm. You can also press the Z key to play all the parts. Alternative keys are available for both shortcuts, for easy access while playing.
Here is what the keyboard display looks like mid-play.
By pressing other keys to silence or play parts you can play many different pitched rhythms like this.
When you unselect Show Silence Keys in the PC Keyboard player, then you can play any of the notes in the harmonic series up to 46/1 from the PC keyboard along with the Rhythmicon as it plays - or on its own.
Here is what the PC Keyboard Player looks like with Show Silence Keys switched off:
