Glass Armonica

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Glass Armonica

Artist Dominick Labino (American, 1910-1987)

Date1974

DimensionsCabinet (without legs)) L: 45 in. (114 cm);
H: 16 in. (40.6 cm);
W: 18 in. (45.7 cm)

MediumBlown glass, cork, and metal; electric motor; wood and plywood.

ClassificationGlass

Credit LineGift of Mr. and Mrs. Dominick Labino

Object number

1987.173

Not on View

Label TextIn the 18th century, amateur musicians in Europe often performed on sets of "singing" or musical glasses, generating sound by rubbing the rim of water-filled bowls. Benjamin Franklin, captivated by the sound while traveling in Europe, improved on this idea and called his new instrument an “armonica.” The Franklin armonica consists of a series of glass cups, called bells, of decreasing size that are mounted horizontally on a rotating spindle. The musician would moisten his fingers with water and stroke the side of the bells as they turned on the shaft, which was driven by a foot pedal and a fly-wheel. Toledo scientist and glass artist Dominick Labino created this replica in 1973. It is true to the original Franklin design, except that it is powered by an electric motor. For nearly a half century, glass armonica music enjoyed great popularity in Europe and America. Mozart, Beethoven, Richard Strauss, and others composed music specifically for the armonica. But the eerie tones created by the instrument were suspected of causing nervous disorders, perhaps even resulting in madness or death. Armonica performances were banned at many places and the instrument fell largely into disuse by 1820. [image caption:] Dominick Labino playing the glass harmonica, 1973. Use the audio wand nearby to hear an excerpt from “Adagio for Glass Armonica” by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756–1791), played by Martin Hilmer.