Dr. Samuel J. Hoffman and the Theremin [BOX SET] [IMPORT]

Harry Revel (Composer), Billy May (Conductor), Leslie Baxter (Conductor)

Product Details

• Conductor: Billy May, Leslie Baxter
• Composer: Harry Revel
• Audio CD (May 4, 1999)
• Number of Discs: 3
• Format: Box set, Import
• Note on Boxed Sets: During shipping, discs in boxed sets occasionally become dislodged without damage. Please examine and play these discs. If you are not completely satisfied, we'll refund or replace your purchase.
• Label: Basta Records
• ASIN: B00000IJH7
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #91,574 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Originally released as a series of 78 rpm recordings for Capitol in the late 1940s, this set collects the work of Dr. Samuel J. Hoffman, the leading theremin virtuoso of his age. After adding theremin to a number of successful films (most notably, Spellbound, The Lost Weekend, and The Day the Earth Stood Still), Hoffman (a podiatrist by profession) teamed with British composer Harry Revel. The result: three albums that introduced this oddly provocative instrument to the world. On Music Out of the Moon, the tone is optimistic futurism with Hoffman guiding his instrument through dramatic swoops across the universe while an enthusiastic chorus oohs and ahhs at the wonder of it all. With tracks like "Lunar Rhapsody", "Mist O' the Moon," and "Radar Blues", Moon may be the most unintentionally hilarious disc in the set. The second disc, Perfume Set to Music was, according to the liner notes, inspired by "world famous perfumes." The music, of course, is as ridiculous as the concept. The chorus remains on Perfume, but the mood is a bit more sedate, stepping away from futuristic jazz and utilizing more string arrangements. On Music for Peace of Mind, listeners are instructed that "This music has a message, if you will open your mind and heart to receive it. Turn down the lights, relax in an easy chair, and listen. Then, for a few stolen hours, perhaps you will warm to happy memories and blissful hopes." Oh, you will, all right, you will. --S. Duda

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Unique & rewarding, but for hardcore fans only, May 21, 2004

By	MilesAndTrane (Chicago, Il USA) - See all my reviews

Be warned, most of your money spent on this so-called "box set" will be paying for the gatefold-style casing, paper disc sleeves and the accompanying 28-page booklet. Each of these albums clock in at under 20 minutes, combining for a total of only 54 minutes of music across all three discs. Nonetheless, this is truly vintage; embodying the rapid, dashing orchestral sounds of WWII movie previews and Warner Brothers cartoons. Whenever my wife's friends hear this music, they always get a crooked face and say, "This sounds like an old Disney movie."

The first two discs, "Music Out Of The Moon" and "Perfume Set To Music" (arranged by Les Baxter), sound like a game show orchestra tuning in some otherworldy sounds; Hoffman's theremin flirts alongside a piano, harp, strings, and even a vocal choir (not quite the Ray Conniff style if that irritates you). The great Billy May conducts the last disc, "Music For Peace Of Mind". The expressive song titles on this disc indicate the gentle mood that is intended, emphasized by wavy flutes and strings. The first track, "This Room Is My Castle Of Quiet", swallows my thoughts up and takes me away every time I hear this. Hoffman restrains himself with the theremin; most of the songs have small passages where he is buried deep within the orchestra or not heard at all.

The aforementioned booklet details the theremin's origin, as well as an explaination of Hoffman's induction into music (he was a chiropodist by trade). A couple of these tracks have appeared on Volume 3 of the Capitol Records Ultra-Lounge series, and I recommend buying that as well if this disc really excites you. I enjoy this box set but I would endorse it more for fans of lounge music than for fans of the theremin.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good For A Trip To The Moon, July 23, 2004

By	Robert I. Hedges - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

I will be the first to confess that this is not the type of music that I would generally listen to on my own accord. The theremin is a peculiar instrument and it is used to good effect here. A word of caution though, if you are looking for a CD showcasing the theremin for the "spooky sounds" it is capable of, do not buy this CD. This is very melodic theremin and vocal jazz from the 1950s. All three volumes are very structured and emphasize harmonies. This is a strangely absorbing CD set, and I bought it for a very quirky reason.

I am an airline and former Air Force pilot, and Neil Armstrong has been my hero since childhood. When he went to the moon on Apollo 11 he took with him a tape of "Music Out Of The Moon", which he played in the tape player he shared with Buzz Aldrin and Mike Collins. He took it because it had long been a favorite of him and also his wife, Jan. He played some of the peculiar sounds over the NASA downlink at one point on the way home as a private message to Jan, much to the confusion of the flight controllers. Ever since I read the story I wanted to hear this recording and was not disappointed, although it isn't exactly what I expected, either. For more information, see "First On The Moon", by Armstrong, Aldrin, and Collins. Since the time of these recordings many other artists have experimented with the theremin, including Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin.

If you like music from the 1950s you will like this. If you like experimental music you will like this. I only gave it four stars as a value statement: the set is rather expensive and contains three CDs, yet there is only about an hour of material total, which seems a bit excessive. A better package would have had all three volumes on one CD, but then nobody would pay thirty dollars for it I suppose.

Bottom line: give it a listen. If it's good enough for Neil, it's good enough for me.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This Music Actually Went to the Moon with Apollo 11, February 27, 2000

By	Jim McDade (Birmingham, AL USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

In July 1969, Neil Armstrong requested two specific musical works to carry aboard Apollo 11. One was Dvorak's "Symphony From a New World". The other work was Hoffman's Music out of the Moon. Just thought prospective buyers of this box set would like to know that.