The Theremin is played without being touched; it was the first and is still the only non-contact instrument.
In addition to being the inventor of the musical instrument that bears his name, Léon Theremin was also the inventor of the eavesdropping electronic-bugging device.
In 1991, director Steven M. Martin traveled to Moscow, found Léon Theremin, and bought him back to the United States for the first time since 1938.