The most incredible musical instrument: how to play on glasses

On the streets of some European cities you can see an unusual picture. Wine glasses with water are displayed in a certain order on a small table, and the musician, gently touching his fingers with an unusual instrument, extracts enchanting sounds. A crowd of enthusiastic listeners always gather around such street performers, most of whom do not understand how to play on wine glasses with water. Today we will talk about this amazing musical instrument.

If you think that playing on glasses is a recent invention of enterprising musicians, designed to entertain tourists and the street public, then we are in a hurry to dissuade you. Glass harp, or crystallophone, is a musical instrument that appeared in the 12th century in China, where its first descriptions were discovered. Well, Europe at the beginning of the XVIII century for the first time began to give performances with the participation of a glass harp.

A modern crystallophone is a musical instrument consisting, as a rule, of 24-36 glasses. But there are glass harps that are made using 60 glasses and are played by two musicians at once, a duet with four hands. All glasses are selected so that the sound of each corresponds to one sound, and the entire instrument includes at least 2-3 octaves. Glasses can be adjusted by pouring a certain amount of water into each, but professional musicians perform classical masterpieces on special polished glasses without the use of water. The higher the water level in the glass, the higher the sound it makes.

Before the game, the musician thoroughly washes his hands, degreases and moistens his fingers with water: this is an important condition for extracting sound. They play the instrument with light circular movements without straining hands. Musical works performed on a glass harp are always the highlight of any festivals and performances of symphony orchestras. Musicians who are fluent in this instrument are not so common. But in recent years, the crystallophone has come out to conquer the streets of large European cities, enthralling even passersby who are far from the world of classical music. And finally, we suggest you look at the recording made on one of the streets of Prague.