Glass harmonica
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The glass harmonica, also known as the glass armonica, glass harmonium, bowl organ, hydrocrystalophone, or simply the armonica or harmonica is a type of musical instrument that uses a series of glass
1900 illustration of a glass harmonica
Spinning glass disks (bowls) on a common shaft are arranged with the lower notes (larger disks) to the left and higher notes (smaller disks) to the right.
A glass harp, an ancestor of the glass armonica, being played in Rome. The rims of wine glasses filled with water are rubbed by the player's fingers to create the notes.
A modern glass armonica built using Benjamin Franklin's design
The Carnival of the Animals
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The Carnival of the Animals is a humorous musical suite of 14 movements, including "The Swan", by the French composer Camille Saint-Saëns. About 25 minutes long, it was written for private performance
Glass harmonica
…though before the premiere he was required by the producers to rewrite the part for two flutes. Camille Saint-Saëns used this instrument in his 1886 The Carnival of the Animals (in movements 7 and 14). Richard Strauss used the instrument in his 1917 Die Frau ohne Schatten. For a while the instrument was "extraordinarily popular…
Saint-Saëns circa 1880
Part of the original manuscript score of "Aquarium". The top staff was written for the glass harmonica. Playⓘ
Title page to "Fossils" in the manuscript including drawing by the composer
Orchesterwerke Romantik Themen