11 Facts About Clara Rockmore

Clara Reisenberg Rockmore was a Litvak classical violin prodigy and a virtuoso performer of the theremin, an electronic musical instrument.

Clara Rockmore was born in Vilnius, then in the Russian Empire, to a family of Lithuanian Jews.

Clara Rockmore performed widely and helped Theremin to refine his instrument.

Clara Rockmore made orchestral appearances in New York and Philadelphia and went on coast-to-coast tours with Paul Robeson, but it was not until 1977 that she released a commercial recording called The Art of the Theremin.

The album, which was produced by Bob Moog and Shirleigh Moog, featured Clara Rockmore's theremin playing with piano accompaniment by her sister Nadia.

Clara Rockmore died in New York City on May 10,1998, aged 87.

Clara Rockmore had extremely precise, rapid control of her movements, important in playing an instrument that depends on the performer's motion and proximity rather than touch.

Clara Rockmore developed a unique technique for playing the instrument, including a fingering system that allowed her to perform accurately fast passages and large note leaps without the more familiar portamento, or glide, on theremin.

Clara Rockmore discovered that she could achieve a steadier tone and control the vibrato by keeping the tips of her right-hand thumb and forefinger in contact.

Clara Rockmore saw limitations of the original instrument and helped to develop the theremin to fulfill her needs.

Clara Rockmore owned an RCA theremin given to her and substantially modified by Theremin.