Ondes Martenot
The
Ondes Martenot ("Martenot waves"; also known as the
Ondium Martenot,
Martenot and
Ondes musicales) is an early
electronic musical instrument with a keyboard and slide, invented in
1928 by
Maurice Martenot and originally very similar in sound to the
Theremin. The sonic capabilities of the instrument were subsequently expanded by the addition of
filter banks and switchable
loudspeakers. The instrument is especially known for its eerie wavering notes produced by the
thermionic valves that produce oscillating frequencies, responsible for the female voice effects in the original
Star Trek theme .
The Ondes Martenot has been used by many composers, most notably
Olivier Messiaen. He used it in many of his works, such as the
Turangalîla-Symphonie and the
Trois Petites Liturgies de la Présence Divine; his opera
Saint-François d'Assise calls for three. Other composers included
Pierre Boulez,
Edgard Varèse,
Darius Milhaud,
Arthur Honegger and
Maurice Jarre;
André Jolivet wrote a
concerto for it in 1947.
Bohuslav Martinů authorized the adaptation of his "Fantasie" to the use of the Ondes Martenot when it proved difficult to perform on the
Theremin, for which it was originally written.
A first integration of the Ondes Martenot into popular music was achieved in the
Quebec musical scene. The two most popular quebecer musical groups of the time,
Beau Dommage and
Harmonium, used extensively of this instrument (introduced there by Marie Bernard) in each of their 1975 album, respectively
Où est passée la noce? and
Si on avait besoin d'une cinquième saison. Harmonium later toured with Supertramp and received several reviews of their work by English-speaking musical critics of
progressive rock, who noted their use of the Ondes Martenot.
The instrument was frequently used in soundtracks for television and horror and
science fiction movies, and is still used from time to time.
Barry Gray frequently used it in his scores for
Gerry Anderson's television series, and film composer
Elmer Bernstein incorporated the instrument into many of his works beginning with
Heavy Metal, in 1981. Films scores using the Ondes Martenot include
Ghostbusters (1984),
Lawrence of Arabia (1962),
Billion Dollar Brain (1967),
Tucker: The Man and His Dream (1988),
Amélie (2001), and
Bodysong (2003), by
Jonny Greenwood of
Radiohead. However, its first use is by swiss composer
Arthur Honegger for
Berthold Bartoschs film "The idea" (1930, score added 1934).
Greenwood is often credited with bringing the Ondes to a larger audience through Radiohead's
Kid A (2000),
Amnesiac (2001) and
Hail to the Thief (2003) albums. Greenwood uses the Ondes often in his solo efforts, and has written a piece for the instrument, titled "Smear." The Ondes Martenot was also utilized by
Bryan Ferry, in 1999, on the album
As Time Goes By, and by
Joe Jackson on his 1994 album
Night Music.*
Keyboard Museum entry*
Christine Ott: Ondes Martenot musican*
The presentation of Ondes Martenot C° Union des Enseignements Martenot 
