This is the glass armonica, invented by Benjamin Franklin. I wish someone had given him credit for his beautiful invention. Mozart and Beethoven both composed pieces for this ethereal instrument!
@ObiWanShinobi1 Thank you for your post! Benjamin Franklin is my hero, and one of the greatest, kindest, and most brilliant human beings ever to have lived! He is immortal, and beloved!
Greetings Tsanalretentive, it is what is known as a "cravat". It was the forerunner to the neck tie of modern times. Hope this help, peace be with you! :)
im going to have one made eventually, but im going to try to get different colored glass (not multi colored!) because I don't like the clear... maybe a cobolt with the gold
reallyed enjoyed that ! love the film as well really cool that u go to all that effort jus to bring a smile to cheer someone up much o respect on many levels
Mesmerizing composition and musicianship...and a great venue too. Looks like the Maestro made quite an impression as a gallant gent about town in 'early American apparel'(maybe this will become trendy fashion if we in the USA go back to the future and revive our Bill of Rights).
Only problem is, you just can't seem to take those Armonicas street busking anymore. Bummer dude.
No, "street busking" is over. Too many security problems--gangs physically pushing me out of the way to "try it", drunks hanging on one end swaying back and forth. Just can't risk it!! :-(
So, you must be marketing your music some other way, perhaps live appearances in coffee houses or high-end stores, or even weddings? Lovely music. Thanks for posting!
i'd love so much to have one for my music, glass harmonica and waterphones are definetly the most curious instruments i'd love to add to my repertoire, but it's impossible to get one in europe, or at affordable price :(
It began to be believed that the vibrations of the glass through the musician's fingers eventually affected the brain and drove the player mad. This is what I have read as the reason for the instrument's decline. Franklin didn't actually invent it; he changed it so that rather than the player running his/her fingers around a glass, the glass itself spun and was a disk set into a trough of water. Franklin's genius was to improve it more than to create -- not that he deserves the less credit.
yelloworangered, you know inventions aren't the creation of something completely unique alien. In fact naming an invention without prior ideas and knowledge of the components is impossible.
"something completely unique alien?" I don't understand the phrase. In fact, I don't understand your point. What do you mean that an invention cannot be named with knowing its components? What does this have to do with Franklin? Or the armonica? Franklin's genius WAS to improve existing creations rather than to invent whole cloth. I am puzzled by your post.
Hi William I came across your CD at a Waldorf Book Store in Ontario 2 years ago and I thank you for promoting such wonderful music.. I am so glad you are on you tube where so many have access.. Many blessings to you from Marianne
Absolutly beautiful. After stumbling upon this while searching for singing tesla coils, I am amazed at how beautiful this sounds! Do upload more videos! I would love to hear more.
I used to see you playing at concerts around Seattle. I saw you at St. James.. the concert that also had the 3 Small Liturgies by Messiaen. - I am enjoying hearing you online now.
You've really come up with some beautiful pieces. Bravo!
That's so pretty. I was wondering, is it like playing the piano? My dad plays piano, and the fingering looks very similar. Not only that, but how many years did it take for you to master this instrument? You play it with such ease.
I beleive a paino player would be able to pick it up very quickly, the glass bowls are set out just like the keys of a piano with the sharps and flats marked with a coloured rims. It would just be a case of getting used to the way it's played :)
Percussion? You'd better NOT hit it!! Actually, the 'string', 'woodwind', 'brass' and 'percussion' categories are for the conventional orchestra. There are instruments that don't fall into these categories (like the armonica). The armonica (and bells, ferinstance) are 'idiophones'.
Doesn't have to be 'crystal'. Other types of glass work fine. Historical instruments were commonly made of lead glass, for example. And regular glass (soda-lime) wine glasses sing fine too--as long as they're thin enough and the bowl has the correct geometry.
i imagine you could find one on ebay. you typically dont find armonicas in your average music/ instrument shop. i don't understand why, as it's a beautiful instrument with a simply breath-taking sound. it defies all logic that the armonica isn't more common and popular with the general public.
Actually, there is logic in the fact that it's not popular with the general public. It's expensive and hard to make with exact notes, they're delicate, and are larger and less common than harps. I'd want one, but I'm absolutely sure I could not afford it. I have a drum kit, a piano, three keyboards, four guitars, and two basses, but I'd give it all up for a glass armonica = (
actually they are being made today by Finkenbeiner Inc in Waltham MA Simply googgle the name will get you to their website but the instruments are rather expensive, from $ 7.000+ and up
Interesting, I just found out their was such thing as a glass armonica today. I also saw ppl playing wine glasses tuned with wine or water for the first time today, WOW!
Wow, fantastic stuff! I became intrigued about the nature of armonicas after reading 'The Glass Harmonica', and this has just blown my mind away. Truly, fantastic job.
yeah this is abosultely amazing, it sounds beautiful, i have a question though , are all the sounds coming from the instrument or have you added more sounds. and if they ARE all comign from the insturmenet, thats simply amazing. i need to learn more about this.
That was gorgeous. I'm a harpist myself, and I must say that the harp and the armonica together is the most divine sound on earth. Exquisitely gorgeous. Thank you so much for posting this.
Wonderful video. Enjoyed the sites & sounds. Especially the flowers. Congratulations on spreading the word (the music). Saw you in La Conner yrs ago. Cant wait for the book! NW, (WA)
I'm glad you made the video on "Venus". This is one of my more favorite songs. "Music of the Spheres" is awesome! I have most of your albums that I use for my massage clients and they feel heavenly with your music. I first bought your music album at the Beverly Hills park festival and watching you grow your success.
good music :D but i th9ught people said this instrument makes u crazy
36gala98pa 1 month ago
That's cool
flowerangel506 4 months ago
This is the glass armonica, invented by Benjamin Franklin. I wish someone had given him credit for his beautiful invention. Mozart and Beethoven both composed pieces for this ethereal instrument!
17monticello1 6 months ago
The surcoat is a great touch and homage to Franklin - a man I would stand beside DaVinci and a handful of others I can think of,
ObiWanShinobi1 1 year ago 2
@ObiWanShinobi1 Thank you for your post! Benjamin Franklin is my hero, and one of the greatest, kindest, and most brilliant human beings ever to have lived! He is immortal, and beloved!
17monticello1 6 months ago
@loneboatman sure why don't we play semantics. Keep your opinions to yourself.
bseven54 1 year ago
can i request you learn a song called lilium , i think it would sound so amazing on the glass armonica
MDNSBS 1 year ago
all very good but can he play wonderful tonight by god(clapton)on it?
to bseven54 below....do your hear something i dont?
as there is no words,being sung...its not a song then
so no words being sung must be a tune then eh eh eh?
splutter up lad we carnt hear you there.nice melodic tone to it
still prefer to hear something bluesy on one of these....but nice to relax with.
diolch.
loansumboatman 1 year ago
Thank you, WZ
Sloe1427 1 year ago
This is what I imagine heaven will sound like :)
LaineyAnime 1 year ago
Is this song avalible to download someplace. I would pay.
bseven54 1 year ago
@bseven54
wwzeitler 1 year ago
@bseven54 i-Tunes has it. Just look up "William Zeitler"
major600 1 year ago
damn,..... I want one!!!
warlordky 2 years ago
This is incredible! It would be a great duet instrument with Viola da Gamba!!!!!
MrMantisfly 2 years ago
That would be astounding.
twfeline 2 years ago
That's a beautiful sound it makes. o:
GhostWolfGlowStick 2 years ago
What a wonderful sound.
bseven54 2 years ago
BEAUTIFUL
DigiRarefaction 2 years ago 3
Please I need to know, how do you call the neck ornament he has on? Is it a cravat?
It kills me when I don't have a single word to refer to a particular thing that I see around all the time.
Tsanalretentive 2 years ago 3
Greetings Tsanalretentive, it is what is known as a "cravat". It was the forerunner to the neck tie of modern times. Hope this help, peace be with you! :)
AndrosEnigmaX 2 years ago 2
Thank you so much, it's been driving me nuts!
Tsanalretentive 2 years ago 2
im going to have one made eventually, but im going to try to get different colored glass (not multi colored!) because I don't like the clear... maybe a cobolt with the gold
katuroo 2 years ago
reallyed enjoyed that ! love the film as well really cool that u go to all that effort jus to bring a smile to cheer someone up much o respect on many levels
20atlas20 2 years ago
Magical and very, very beautiful.
roxanne1959 3 years ago
Make a CD. I'd pay for it.
yesfan157 3 years ago
Who was your harpist? Wonderful and amazing.
tinyctlo 3 years ago
Me! The wonders of overdubbing in the studio! Percussion also.
wwzeitler 3 years ago 4
Good for you. I'm sorry i thought you didn't credit your musicians. Do credit yourself as the player of the other instruments!!
tinyctlo 3 years ago
Would you be so kind as to tell me exactly what kind of harp it is that you are playing in this song?
DJReiko 2 years ago
Heavenly music...
Thank you for sharing! You make my day!
Akaliko 3 years ago 4
Hoping to see you at Downtown Disney, CA, again sometime...
midianmidnight 3 years ago
Alas! Too many security problems. I dare not play there any more!
wwzeitler 3 years ago
@wwzeitler your the artist playing this song aren't you? This is amazing, i wondered where u find such an instrument
69RastaMama69 1 year ago
Mesmerizing composition and musicianship...and a great venue too. Looks like the Maestro made quite an impression as a gallant gent about town in 'early American apparel'(maybe this will become trendy fashion if we in the USA go back to the future and revive our Bill of Rights).
Only problem is, you just can't seem to take those Armonicas street busking anymore. Bummer dude.
ManassaMaulerKO1 3 years ago
No, "street busking" is over. Too many security problems--gangs physically pushing me out of the way to "try it", drunks hanging on one end swaying back and forth. Just can't risk it!! :-(
wwzeitler 3 years ago
So, you must be marketing your music some other way, perhaps live appearances in coffee houses or high-end stores, or even weddings? Lovely music. Thanks for posting!
lsmith254 2 years ago
I want one. >:|
ClickleMeElmo 3 years ago
BEAUTIFUL! So haunting! Please submit MORE music of this wonderful instrument!
HensOnly 3 years ago
Absolutely beautiful. The armonica is a beautiful instrument and you play it so well.
modsandends 3 years ago
i'd love so much to have one for my music, glass harmonica and waterphones are definetly the most curious instruments i'd love to add to my repertoire, but it's impossible to get one in europe, or at affordable price :(
yidneth 3 years ago
It is not of this world. What an underrated and shunned instrument. Benjamin Franklin's overlooked inventions.
Dazubegener 3 years ago
It began to be believed that the vibrations of the glass through the musician's fingers eventually affected the brain and drove the player mad. This is what I have read as the reason for the instrument's decline. Franklin didn't actually invent it; he changed it so that rather than the player running his/her fingers around a glass, the glass itself spun and was a disk set into a trough of water. Franklin's genius was to improve it more than to create -- not that he deserves the less credit.
yelloworangered 3 years ago
yelloworangered, you know inventions aren't the creation of something completely unique alien. In fact naming an invention without prior ideas and knowledge of the components is impossible.
0lord0kinbote0 3 years ago
"something completely unique alien?" I don't understand the phrase. In fact, I don't understand your point. What do you mean that an invention cannot be named with knowing its components? What does this have to do with Franklin? Or the armonica? Franklin's genius WAS to improve existing creations rather than to invent whole cloth. I am puzzled by your post.
yelloworangered 3 years ago
Hi William I came across your CD at a Waldorf Book Store in Ontario 2 years ago and I thank you for promoting such wonderful music.. I am so glad you are on you tube where so many have access.. Many blessings to you from Marianne
eurythmycoach 3 years ago
Absolutly beautiful. After stumbling upon this while searching for singing tesla coils, I am amazed at how beautiful this sounds! Do upload more videos! I would love to hear more.
WolvenDance 3 years ago
BEAUTIFUL!
stale0302 3 years ago
It sounds like the instrument used in some of the Harry Potter songs
zomgFletch 4 years ago
omj this is so pretty
IceAndFireMusic 4 years ago
Oh my Jehovah.
bluesrunthegame 3 years ago
What a beautiful instrument, and what a haunting melody. :)
obviouslyindenile224 4 years ago
Hi William,
I used to see you playing at concerts around Seattle. I saw you at St. James.. the concert that also had the 3 Small Liturgies by Messiaen. - I am enjoying hearing you online now.
You've really come up with some beautiful pieces. Bravo!
Bryan
sidecars 4 years ago
Lovely piece, banal imagery.
Just hold on the player, or go for pure fantasy.
Street scenes are merely clash with the mood.
voidforpurpose 4 years ago
That's so pretty. I was wondering, is it like playing the piano? My dad plays piano, and the fingering looks very similar. Not only that, but how many years did it take for you to master this instrument? You play it with such ease.
LoveOfCheese 4 years ago 2
I beleive a paino player would be able to pick it up very quickly, the glass bowls are set out just like the keys of a piano with the sharps and flats marked with a coloured rims. It would just be a case of getting used to the way it's played :)
JingleJoe 4 years ago
What an uncanny instrument! : )
Zanite 4 years ago 2
I'e always thought the armonica was an amazing instrument.
I really like the vibrato you apply on some of the notes, I hadn't seen that before.
And finally, have you ever thought about an amplification system for the armonica? It it is so soft, it can be hard to hear.
JMDewald 4 years ago 2
what family of instruments does this belong to ?? percussion?? its amazing
Cubensis00 4 years ago
Percussion? You'd better NOT hit it!! Actually, the 'string', 'woodwind', 'brass' and 'percussion' categories are for the conventional orchestra. There are instruments that don't fall into these categories (like the armonica). The armonica (and bells, ferinstance) are 'idiophones'.
wwzeitler 4 years ago
whats a ferinstance?
mauserman3 4 years ago
For instance, I believe.
perfectfeet734 4 years ago
Such a strange picture... HK is supposed to be very noisy! And one can still find heavenly music amid all the hustle-bustle!!!
reebachan 4 years ago
i never knew they actually made glass instruments
kandiluvr 4 years ago
There aren't any. This is crystal.
flibbitygibet 4 years ago
No, kandiluvr is right, it's glass. Quartz glass, but glass nonetheless.
It looks like a Finkenbeiner one, with the gold edge bowls like that.
finkenbeiner(dot) com(slash) GLASSHARMONICA(dot)htm
LilyoftheShadow 4 years ago
Doesn't have to be 'crystal'. Other types of glass work fine. Historical instruments were commonly made of lead glass, for example. And regular glass (soda-lime) wine glasses sing fine too--as long as they're thin enough and the bowl has the correct geometry.
wwzeitler 4 years ago
where would you buy a glass harmonica? and how would you learn how to play? :)
stass5 4 years ago 2
i imagine you could find one on ebay. you typically dont find armonicas in your average music/ instrument shop. i don't understand why, as it's a beautiful instrument with a simply breath-taking sound. it defies all logic that the armonica isn't more common and popular with the general public.
AmazonGir1 4 years ago
Actually, there is logic in the fact that it's not popular with the general public. It's expensive and hard to make with exact notes, they're delicate, and are larger and less common than harps. I'd want one, but I'm absolutely sure I could not afford it. I have a drum kit, a piano, three keyboards, four guitars, and two basses, but I'd give it all up for a glass armonica = (
drummerofdeath21 4 years ago
oh, i'm sorry i wish i had one too but they don't sell them no more, they were more popular during the 1800's!
Sorry!
edvancrying01 4 years ago
actually they are being made today by Finkenbeiner Inc in Waltham MA Simply googgle the name will get you to their website but the instruments are rather expensive, from $ 7.000+ and up
Prometevsberg 3 years ago
oh, i didn't know that thanks
edvancrying01 3 years ago
lol, one of the songs on runescape, how random, i used to play that, heh. this song sounds so beautiful by this instrument, ah
NiNJack 4 years ago
this is one of the songs in runescape.... cool 5/5
xeroaxlvx 4 years ago
that is beautiful. i want to learn how to playyyy!
patrickeatspants 4 years ago
Interesting, I just found out their was such thing as a glass armonica today. I also saw ppl playing wine glasses tuned with wine or water for the first time today, WOW!
hooskinbagen 4 years ago
he wears the frilly shirt because he is pretending to look like Benjiman franklin who invented the glass armonica
ryanlisim 4 years ago
Good job, gooooood traaaaaavel. Thanks a lot. From Brazil.
tisbamar 4 years ago
Wow, fantastic stuff! I became intrigued about the nature of armonicas after reading 'The Glass Harmonica', and this has just blown my mind away. Truly, fantastic job.
shoangore 4 years ago
If you're referring to the novel by Louise Marley, you'll see in the front that I was the 'technical advisor'!
wwzeitler 4 years ago
Nicely done! Loved the walk through the Hong Kong streets in costume. Incredible music and really beautiful musical instrument.
Tapple2k 4 years ago
If you'd really like to get the armonica off of the endangered instruments list (which would be great), you must ditch the frilly shirts.
palmerkeen 4 years ago
yeah this is abosultely amazing, it sounds beautiful, i have a question though , are all the sounds coming from the instrument or have you added more sounds. and if they ARE all comign from the insturmenet, thats simply amazing. i need to learn more about this.
hobbit25 4 years ago
It's armonica plus a harp. That's it. (The armonica is roughly flute range, thus it has no bass end. The harp balances that out.)
wwzeitler 4 years ago
ahh, that explains it , i was on your site. learned all about the armonica. its amazing, keep the good stuff coming and good luck !
hobbit25 4 years ago
god it must have been so hot wearing that costume in Hong Kong
rocco2222 4 years ago
So beautiful, so relaxing. What a lovely post!
Thank you. :-)
OMM06 5 years ago
I've heard Glass Armonica music before, but not with a harps. Really nice combo. What is the bell like sound?
RyanGolddRedux 5 years ago
Finger cymbals!
wwzeitler 5 years ago
Incredible! An instrument quite new to me - wonderful sound.
springbok2006 5 years ago
wonderful!
larkhallrules 5 years ago
Absolutely sweet. Thanks for sharing.
bestpi 5 years ago
WOW
peterox 5 years ago
This is really amazing.
Archbrain 5 years ago
I love Glass Armonicas.. Such a beautiful sound..
Shikyoiro 5 years ago
So, I'm just curious. What type of harp is being played in this song?
DJReiko 5 years ago
Grate sound. Grate musician. Grate instrument. Thanks!
youclaudiotube 5 years ago
That was gorgeous. I'm a harpist myself, and I must say that the harp and the armonica together is the most divine sound on earth. Exquisitely gorgeous. Thank you so much for posting this.
Tsukaira 5 years ago
No words can say how beautifull is the sound of this instrument...the music says for itself.
Congratulations!
NGC1950 5 years ago
That was great, I have played a lot of instruments and now I know there is one more I must play.
Lamenthatic 5 years ago
Thank you William. Very special. I am the guy who heard your enchanting music at the outdoor fair in the
mountains. I play your cd's throughout the day while doing my healing work. My clients all love your sound.
kidlogan 5 years ago
Wonderful video. Enjoyed the sites & sounds. Especially the flowers. Congratulations on spreading the word (the music). Saw you in La Conner yrs ago. Cant wait for the book! NW, (WA)
BKDRGN 5 years ago
I'm glad you made the video on "Venus". This is one of my more favorite songs. "Music of the Spheres" is awesome! I have most of your albums that I use for my massage clients and they feel heavenly with your music. I first bought your music album at the Beverly Hills park festival and watching you grow your success.
ferdysingson 5 years ago
Excellent William :-) Good to see you in *action* at last! Thank you for posting the video for everyone to see. Elaine in Brisbane, Australia
coolowl2006 5 years ago
I'm from Hong Kong
I saw your performance in Shatin
You've done a great job! (and also this music video!)
Hope to see your success in popularizing the magical instrument soon!
bap411 5 years ago
Hey william, big fan, hope you get the regognition you truly deserve
Drbeck711 5 years ago
William -- a stunning piece of video production and BEATUTIFUL music! Thanks for posting this!
Peter (the Glassharper) Bennett
glassharper 5 years ago