Weaving Fantastical Musical Stories with the Theremin and Music Box
Takeshi Yoda (Japan)
Weaving Fantastical Musical Stories with the Theremin and Music Box
Takeshi Yoda (Japan)
Hello everyone, I’m Takeshi Yoda, a Theremin performer and composer based in Tokyo.
I create music for art exhibitions and visual works, blending the Theremin with synthesizers and various instruments. Nearly 20 years ago, I began experimenting with combining the music box and the Theremin. Encountering the Muro Box this time has finally allowed me to fulfill this long-held dream, and I couldn’t be more delighted.
My First Music Box Experience
When I was a child, my family visited a music box museum during a trip—that was my very first encounter with these enchanting instruments. I was deeply moved by the delicate automatic mechanisms and the sounds of the antique music boxes. I remember buying a 20-note paper-strip music box as a souvenir, and I listened to it countless times.
My First Music Box Experience
When I was a child, my family visited a music box museum during a trip—that was my very first encounter with these enchanting instruments. I was deeply moved by the delicate automatic mechanisms and the sounds of the antique music boxes. I remember buying a 20-note paper-strip music box as a souvenir, and I listened to it countless times.
My Fateful Encounter with the Theremin
I had known about the Theremin from picture books since I was young. However, I became truly captivated in 2001 when I watched a documentary about the Theremin’s inventor, Dr. Léon Theremin (produced in 1993). In that film, I was mesmerized not only by the Theremin’s astonishing sound but also by the inventor’s extraordinary and turbulent life. It completely drew me in.
The Theremin performer Clara Rockmore featured in the documentary deeply influenced me. Other composers who have significantly shaped my music include Joe Hisaishi, Haruomi Hosono, and Yoko Kanno.
In this video, I will personally demonstrate the magical way to play the Theremin without touching it, and also talk about its history and charm.
(Please click the gear icon on the screen to select subtitle language, choose “Auto-translate,” and then select the language you wish to read the video captions in.)
The Creative Process of Combining Theremin and Music Box
I once experimented in live performances by combining the Theremin with toy pianos, metallophones, and other instruments. After repeated trials, it suddenly occurred to me: what if I combined it with a music box? The result was astonishing—the two instruments blended beautifully. When the music box’s twinkling tones overlap with the floating melodies of the Theremin, it feels as if a story is being born within the sound itself.
The music box naturally evokes quiet, gentle memories and narratives, while the Theremin possesses a vibrato and timbre reminiscent of a female voice. I believe combining these two instruments creates a nostalgic and emotionally rich performance experience.
Influence of Instrumental Experience on My Compositions
When I was a child, I learned to play the electronic organ. In my teenage years, I used sequencers and samplers to produce club music. I think of instruments like colors in a painting—they can create a variety of effects depending on how they are combined. When composing and arranging, I consider the characteristics of each instrument to decide how much effect I want to achieve.
For example, with a music box, I tend not to stack too many instruments, preserving its original tonal response and composing in a simple, uncluttered way. Like other instruments, the Muro Box also has limitations in range and scale. I make a point to ensure that the “essential notes” in a melody are always retained.
How I Choose Songs for My Social Media Videos
I mainly select melodies that move me emotionally, and also choose songs out of curiosity—wondering what they would sound like on a music box. I pay attention to musical structures with beautiful arpeggios, elegant melodies, and lines that naturally blend with the Theremin. Every time I choose a song, I imagine the kind of world that will emerge when these two sounds merge.
① Arpeggio-rich compositions that beautifully complement the Muro Box’s tone
・“Reverie” by Claude Debussy
・“Ave Maria” by Charles Gounod
② Emotionally expressive melodies that stir the soul
・“Smile” by Charlie Chaplin
・“Hymne à l’amour” by Édith Piaf
③ Rarely adapted for music box, offering freshness and surprise
・“Corridors of Time” from the game
・“Isabella’s Song” from the anime The Promised Neverland
Beyond classical music, I also enjoy introducing story-driven soundtracks from films and video games, believing they carry emotional weight and narrative depth.
Target Audience and Desired Feedback on Social Media
I hope to connect with people who find healing or nostalgia through music. Regardless of age or background, I want my work to reach those who value emotional resonance.
I’m especially moved when listeners respond with comments like “The beautiful tone healed me.” And when people show curiosity about rare instruments, it brings me great joy.
Creative Collaborations & Recent Projects
I’m currently involved in composing music for art exhibitions, and I’ve also received a commission to create a soundtrack for a picture book. I’m especially drawn to projects that revolve around stories or dreams, and I aim to produce music that evokes a sense of the extraordinary—something beyond everyday life.
One of my recent collaborations is the exhibition Wa no Akari × Hyakudan Kaidan 2025: Parade of Spirits. This is a themed art event that blends traditional Japanese lighting with contemporary art, held at the historic Hyakudan Kaidan, a designated tangible cultural property in Tokyo. The exhibition theme changes every summer, and this year’s focus is on “Yōkai” (Japanese spirits), expressed through a variety of spatial installations.
The exhibition will run from July 4 to September 23, 2025, at Meguro Gajoen in Tokyo.
The beautifully illustrated CD cover shown above was designed by Mr. Takeshi Yoda.
To explore his musical creations, please visit: https://takeshiyoda.booth.pm/
Another ongoing project is the animated picture book The King of Amechacha Land, created by yarn animation artist Miho Yata. This work emphasizes human connection and conveys the warmth and creativity of handmade art. Scheduled for release in fall 2025, the animation uses a unique “yarn animation” technique—characters and scenes are knitted with yarn and brought to life through frame-by-frame stop-motion filming.
Here is my YouTube channel, where you’re welcome to explore my work and connect with me: https://www.youtube.com/c/TAKESHIYODA
Muro Box: My “Dream Machine”
In the past, people used mechanical devices to fulfill the dream of listening to music anytime in daily life. Now, with the Muro Box, we can freely control and enjoy its elegant tones—like having a museum-quality instrument at our fingertips. For me, it’s a dream tool that expands the possibilities of musical expression.