airyairyquitecontrary:

notcuddles:

jeffliujeffliu:

archiemcphee:

Matryoshka dolls are already more than they seem, simply because each exquisite dolls contains another, smaller doll. But in Japan some of these nesting dolls have an even bigger secret: their inner dolls have been replaced with electronics, turning them into some of the cutest, strangest theramins we’ve ever seen called the Matryomin QT. Designed by Japanese thereminist Masami Takeuchi, each handmade Matryoshka contains a miniature pitch-only theramin. No two instruments are exactly alike.

A group of talented musicians in Japan, the Matryomin ensemble, have mastered this unusual instrument and use it to perform familiar pieces of music that sound like nothing you’ve ever heard when played on little wooden dolls. What’s more, because they don’t actually need to touch the Matryomin in order to play them, they all look like magicians conjuring up unearthly sounds out of the air. Here you can watch them perform Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy”:

Visit the Matryomin ensemble’s YouTube channel for many more videos of the their marvelous performances.

If you’d like a musical Matryoshka of you own, the Matryomin QT is currently available to order via JapanTrendShop.

[via mental_floss and JapanTrendShop]

Ever wanted to hear a blues arrangement of Ode to Joy played by an ensemble on theremins shaped like Matryoshka dolls? So beautiful… I want one…

This is fucking surreal.  It looks like something pulled out of a sci-fi movie.  Like, just add some CGI so that everyone is an alien and I wouldn’t even question it

and now we will all make our dolls sing in eerie humming chorus
I am honestly impressed by people who not only do something this weird but can get their shit together to organise doing it en masse, and have obviously practised for hours.
Now imagine a rumble between the Matryomins and the Otamatones.