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Benjamin Franklin is credited with many inventions and innovations still in use today, including the lightning rod, bifocal eyeglasses, and the Franklin stove. Franklin's favorite creation, however, was the lesser-known glass armonica. After hearing a performance of music played on the moistened rims of water-filled glasses, Franklin (an accomplished musician) was so charmed by the sweet tones that he set out to improve upon the method. Instead of tuning each note by filling a glass with water, he stacked glass bowls, graduated in size and thickness for pitch, on a spindle and rotated them with a foot treadle. The armonica's "mesmerizing" sound quickly captivated European audiences, and several composers of the day -- including Mozart, Beethoven, and Donizetti -- wrote music specifically for it. After the armonica became associated with lead poisoning and insanity, the instrument's popularity declined. However, contemporary musicians and modern materials have pumped new life into Franklin's pet project, and as Ben once said, "energy and persistence conquer all things."
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Directory categories:
Glass Armonica, Benjamin Franklin, Glass Armonicists |
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Archived under: American History, Arts, Benjamin Franklin, Music, Musical Instruments |
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