The Qweremin

I invented a new instrument: The Qweremin is a qwerty theremin.

Background

In the summer of 2022 I built a C64-based theremin, described and explained here. The theremin, of course, is one of the oldest electronic instruments. Its main drawback—and strength—is that it's incredibly hard to master. The performer has ultimate control over volume and pitch, but it takes months of practice before you can play even a simple scale.

Meanwhile, I've also developed a line of instruments featuring qwerty keyboards, where the keys are laid out as on a Type B chromatic button accordion. The earliest example is the Sixtyforgan, presented in spring 2021, but there's also Qwertuoso, the Commodordion, the Paulimba, and the C=TAR. For these instruments, the main challenge has been how to incorporate phrasing and other forms of musical expression; to move beyond the rudimentary note-on, note-off of an organ.

The Qweremin represents the unification of these two worlds. On the one hand (pun intended) you have ultimate control over volume and expression, and on the other you can play quick melodies with large jumps, and even chords. It is my most