Origin of the synthesizer

Answer 1

Nothing new under the sun. The idea of multi-role musical instruments is implicit in modern organs and the synthesizer is allied to these. as far back as the thirties there were odd hybrid instruments with piano/organ keyboards- usually split or double and odd downdraft resonators, I saw one of these at a convalescent home my aunt was staying at in l980. the instrument clearly dated to the thirties, probably late thirties. my aunt, who played keyboards well, could not get the hand of the strange instrument- it was clearly a synthesizer and not a normal organ. There were several manufacturers- this thing, still extant, should be properly maintained. the Theremin of Science Fiction films fame is an electronic instrument named for its Russo-American inventor, Leon Theremin, again there are different types, operated by hand gestures rather than keyboard technique. Theremins were made commercially by RCA in the late twenties onward- and there were more compact ( candlestick) models used in science fiction films. I hope this is of some enlightenment on synthesizers ( musically speaking) that antedate Robert Moog"s invention. somewhat down to earth the Moog company- still using a sound-wave trademark- markets auto parts.