Shueh-Li Ong

From its time spent in concert halls and sci-fi scores, the theremin has seen some shit. As one of the first electronic instruments, Leon Theremin’s primitive synthesizer was quickly embraced in the early 20^th century by avant-garde composers and toured across the globe for its innovation. Despite these early successes, the unconventional playability and haunting monophony slowly pigeonholed the instrument to a midcentury purgatory of sound effects and psych rock. But with contemporary music’s recent interest in early electronic instruments, the theremin is finding a second-wave wind. Local thereminist and composer Shueh-Li Ong has been a longtime advocate for the instrument both as a pop and classical performer, and Saturday’s concert at Steinway Piano Gallery will showcase both. Alongside Dallas-based jazz drummer John A. Martinez, Ong will perform original works as well as a handful of unlikely tunes — including Erik Satie’s Gymnopedie No. 1 and tango composer Astor Piazzolla’s Libertango. Workshop at 6 p.m., concert at 7:30 p.m. See shuehli.com for tickets. MATT FOX