Cynthia Millar: Guide to the ondes Martenot

Cynthia Millar, master of the ondes Martenot, demonstrates the evocative sounds of this rarely heard electronic instrument. French composer Oliver Messiaen uses the ondes Martenot in his work, "Trois petites liturgies de la Présence Divine."

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Recorded Live: January 4, 2017

[ZeacorZeppelin]

I met her twice at performances of the opera The "Exterminating Angel", she was the nicest person I met at The Metropolitan Opera. I even have a letter from her. I hope to someday see her again

[gardnerlittleton]

Came from Koji Yamamura's "A Country Doctor"! Saw this in the bts for the music and vocals and WOW never heard of it before, very cool instrument.

[snoproblem]

The degree of creativity that led to the invention of this instrument and its unique speakers is mind - boggling... and decades before the Moog innovations. Nothing short of genius.

[markchapman]

The lady played on the Ghostbusters films including the latest

[Carol]

I've read that the British composer Barry Gray used this instrument in the music for the TV show UFO. It made that whirring sound of the UFO's as well as the space music. The forerunner of the Moog and other synthesizers.

[jaytonuk]

Absolutely fascinating. A lovely insight into a rare instrument that I'd not heard of until today. I want to know so much more now. Does it have it's own notation to ensure that the composer's wishes are met by the musician? Thank you to both Seattle Symphony and Cynthia Millar for this great little video.

[BTsMusicChannel]

thank you for this video!!!! i knew that the ones martinot was a theremin-like electro-acoustical instrument, but i did know the playing techniques like she shows in the video. i am glad that i understand them better now. plus i liked hearing the sounds that the techniques (electronic and physical) created. :D

[BluePlanetMedia]

Here's a tip: USE A MICROPHONE! Can't hear the person speaking at all

[JoshSemans]

Thank you for producing and sharing this!

[ivpluoq]

Maurice Jarre used an onde as the foundation in the the soundtrack to Lawrence of Arabia. Have not heard a better, more exotic, more haunting application of the instrument.

[AbdulazizShabakouh]

Hello, I see some indications on the score of Messiaen to change the sound to a cello-like sound, could you please show us how to use the other sounds of the instruments? and what should we write on the score to produce any certain sound or effect?
Thank you so very much for this quick lesson!

[moviebuffshatto]

Ah I Love to Hear The Classic Ghostbusters Score. Yeah she did those Spooky Parts of It

[Zy]

why do you have to use your left hand to press the brown button thing to produce sound, isn't better to use your feet instead like a foot pedal, so you can play with both hands? I'm sorry if this may potentially be a silly question, there must be a good reason i am just not aware of it at the moment.

[rendezvouzwithrama]

I'd love to hear Debussy, like Claire de lune, on this.

[knowingwhatthebuttondoes]

The name 'Ondes Martenot' sounds like an made up social media bot account name.

[mondellomusic]

The notes are precisely repeatable with a keyboard, seems like a real improvement over the theremin in that regard.

[travisdykes]

Jonny Greenwood of Radiohead brought me here. He uses an Ondes Martenot on quite a few songs to amazing results. Especially when playing a melody through the left channel while Ed doubles up with an Ebow on the right channel.

[gfcg]

I happened to be watching 'Counterweight' an episode of The Outer Limits on Talking Pictures and googled 'who played the Theremin on this episode' - As a Theremin player myself - I assumed it was a Theremin.
I was amazed to learn it in fact was a 'ondes Martenot'! I'd never heard of this before!
Again, like the Theremin, invented in the 20s using a heterodyne principle - fascinating!! I bet they are costly with all three different speakers etc. Also a bit like the 'Tannerin' as used on 'Good Vibrations' by the Beachboys.

[LucasDavalos]

Beautiful instrument, beautifuly explained.

[glade_maker]

Very nice and instructive video but sound is very low and with little noises... Actually we can hear the Ondes very well!