How to Notate for the Theremin?
Contemporary theremin scores reveal a continuum of writing styles from traditional staff notation through graphic scores to aleatoric or abstract. Many are various types of “hybrid” scores that may display traditional elements or be unique to each individual score. The theremin is capable of a great many things that may defy traditional notation. The purpose of a good score is to convey as accurately as possible the composer’s intentions to the performer. While Varèse and Rózsa both used traditional notation in their scores for theremin, Percy Grainger’s Free Music No.1 (1929) for four theremins is an example of a true graphic score. It is written on graph paper with four lines representing the instruments. The X-axis represents duration and the Y-axis is pitch. The score is not aleatoric; in fact, it’s actually quite specific. All four parts are about equal in difficulty. Its pitch range revolves around a minor ninth. It moves without interruptions from beginning to end, and it lasts
