Video: Dave Yarwood performs on the theremin at Sean Michaels' Durham reading

Us Conductors, the debut novel by Said the Gramophone founder Sean Michaels, is a finely written fiction about the early electronic instrument called the theremin and its inventor's relationship with Clara Rockmore, perhaps the greatest thereminist of all time. (Read our in-depth interview with Michaels.)

Three days ago, Michaels visited Letters Bookshop in Durham and gave an engaging reading to a surprisingly large Sunday-afternoon crowd. Michaels enlisted local thereminist Dave Yarwood to open by performing a classical piece, Camille Saint-Saëns' "Le Cigne" ("The Swan"), on the theremin, accompanied by a recorded piano track. The INDY attended the event to make this video of Yarwood's performance, introduced by Michaels.

Watch Dave Yarwood performing "The Swan" below:

Video: Kathryn Rende
Text: Brian Howe