Armonica, ca. 1780F. A. Böhm (Karlsruhe, Germany)- Materials: Wood, glass, copper alloy, iron,

Armonica, ca. 1780
F. A. Böhm (Karlsruhe, Germany)

-Materials: Wood, glass, copper alloy, iron, rubber, paper
-Width: 115.8 cm
-Range: 33 glasses (f-sharp to d’“)
-Other Notes: The glasses form a row of bells played by friction [instead of being struck]. The bottom of the case is lined to hold water that wets the glass bowls as they rotate on the axle operated by the treadle, then are stroked with the fingertips. The gold-edged rims sound the accidentals, while the plain sound the natural notes. This automated version of musical glasses, if you will, is originally attributed to Benjamin Franklin in 1761. Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, and many contemporaries composed for it.