musical glasses
Quick Summary
The term "musical glasses" can refer to two related instruments. The first, and older, is a set of drinking glasses filled with varying amounts of water to produce different musical notes. These glasses are played by rubbing their rims with moistened fingers, creating a sustained, ethereal sound.1
The second, more advanced instrument derived from this concept is the glass harmonica, invented by Benjamin Franklin. In this instrument, tuned glass bowls are mounted on a rotating spindle. As the spindle turns, the rims of the bowls are moistened by water, and friction from a player's fingers produces the sound. Both Mozart and Beethoven composed music for the glass harmonica.2
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