Water glass music or more popularly known as glass harp, is a made up instrument of upright wine glasses filled with water. Sometimes the goblet are grinded to create a certain pitch. The player runs moistened or chalked fingers around the rim of the wine glasses for them to create sounds or pitch. On our way back to the main Venice station, hubby and I found a wine glass musician. We stayed to listen, of course.
Those playing glass harps are often seen in different cities. In Venice, rightfully called the city of waters, it is but fitting to see a musician with this instrument.
Miss Congeniality Water Glasses
If you’ve watched Sandra Bullock in Miss Congeniality, you will recall that she played the glass harp during the talent portion of the contest in the movie. Doing the Water Glass Music for a talent in a contest was truly unique.
I couldn’t find a video of her playing. Schade.
Famous Musicians and Water Glass Music
There are many other musicians known to use the glass harp, one of the most notable is the band Pink Floyd during the recording of “Shine On You Crazy Diamond” on their Wish You Were Here album, recorded and released in 1975.
We stopped by to listen to a musician playing water harp while walking in Venice. If you’ve been on my other blogs, you would know how I always stop and listen to buskers whenever and wherever I find one. Vienna, the city of music has a lot of them, that’s why I got used to free music being played around.
And like always, we give a few coins or more for a beautiful performance.
Would have stayed longer to listen but we’re still supposed to find souvenirs.
Here’s an interesting article on water glasses, wine glass music. You can try doing this at home.
—
I’d like to try this. I don’t see any musicians like that here in Manila.
we have watched something like this, i really clapped a lot, it is truly a gift to play on an instrument like the water glass music, for i tried it also yet i can’t even create a good key ahaha
This is an interesting talent and musical instrument. It would be fun to see one live.
There’s one on youtube – Harry Potter’s ‘Something Wicked This Way Comes’ It’s wickedly delightful. The guy looks keen on his art. I love glass harp music.
This man got some serious talents 😀 I wonder how did he do that 😀
This is super nice. This is the first time I see this kind of talent. Not sure if we have someone here in the Philippines know have that talent too.