Water and glass join to create a unique sound

IT sounds almost unbelievable but a little-known instrument whose key components are incredibly, glass and water was dusted off for a concert at the British Library last week, writes Jane Wild.
Not remotely like a glass mouth organ, the glass armonica is actually a series of glass bowls spun by a treadle and rubbed with wet hands to produce a sound.
Scientist, writer and inventor Benjamin Franklin created the instrument in the 1760s after becoming entranced by an earlier version consisting of 26 drinking glasses tuned with spring water.
The highlight of the performance was Mozart’s rarely-played Adagio and Rondo for glass armonica and string quartet.
There was absolute silence as Alasdair Malloy, one of only a handful of players of the instrument in the world, touched the revolving glass and magical, resonant, bell-like notes filled the air.
Popular during Mozart’s day, the glass armonica bizarrely became obsolete after rumours spread claiming that playing or even listening to it would trigger adverse nervous reactions.
Though perhaps the true reason why the instrument fell out of fashion soon became clear.
The London Soloists Quartet played at the softest volume to allow the armonica to be heard, but as the glass dried out, Malloy found it harder to coax notes from it.
But with an enchanting sound and fascinating history, this instrument is well worth keeping a look out for.