Konstantin Kovalsky

 

 

Konstantin Kovalsky (1890-1976) was a Russian trained violinist and one of the first Theremin players. 

As he had broken his hand and looked at the non-contact Theremin as an ideal instrument to start the music again, Kowalski constructed his own instrument, with which he varied the pitch with his right hand, but with a pedal the volume. With left he served a series of buttons that allowed further control over the music.

 

In 1932, for the Esfir Shub's documentary "Komsomol - Leader of electrification" with a Gawriil Popov's musical composition, Kovalsky played the Theremin parts.

Esfir Shub during the filming of Komsomol

Kovalsky also performed concerts during the period in which all forms of modernism in Soviet art were put forward.  

With the ensemble for electronic music of the television and radio of the USSR, he played more than 3000 concerts as a solo musician for folk music, Soviet political songs, and popular pieces of classical music.  

After his death, Lydia Kavina replaced him.

excerpt of "Komsomol - Leader of electrification" 

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