Americas first musical instrument july 6, 2017 by jimrada benjamin franklin is well known as a publisher, statesman, scientist, and inventor, but he was also a musician who created the first american musical instrument. He was one of seventeen children born to josiah franklin, and one of ten born by josiahs second wife, abiah folger. The glass armonica was born of franklins love of music, and the armonica was the first musical instrument invented by an american. Sep 24, 20 benjamin franklin and his musical invention the glass armonica david mauldin reenactor. Oct 28, 2015 either way, the armonica had basically disappeared from general use in public performance by 1820. An instrument of desire now nearly forgotten, the glass harmonica is a real instrument that once swept europe and america. The franklin institute is temporarily closed to the public. In honour of your musical language, i have borrowed from it the name of this instrument, calling it the armonica. The enchanting history of ben franklins glass armonica the first musical.
He that is of the opinion money will do everything may well be suspected of doing everything for money. Oct 18, 2016 angelic music by corey mean is the story of ben franklin s glass armonica, the invention that gave him the greatest personal satisfaction. Without freedom of thought, there can be no such thing as wisdom and no such thing as public liberty without. The story of benjamin franklins glass armonica and war play. In fact, music was his passion and joy, and meads new book. Benjamin franklin inventions from the philadelphia scientist. And although most americans know about his daredevil electrical experiment where he attached a metal key to a kite and flew it in a thunderstorm, there are many other reasons that benjamin franklin is known as one of the countrys most influential figures. Benjamin franklin was perhaps the greatest renaissance man of the eighteenth century. Keeping the ethereal sounds of the glass armonica alive. Either way, the armonica had basically disappeared from general use in public performance by 1820. Benjamin franklin may have helped give birth to a new nation, but the glass armonica was the founding fathers most cherished creation, according to english professor corey mead.
But in 2006, the 300th anniversay of franklins birth, an exhibit of franklin artifactsincluding his armonicais touring the united states and paris. In may, franklin started printing americas first germanlanguage newspaper, philadelphische zeitung, which soon failed. Just watch the video above to see a franklin reenactor play a beauteous rendition of tchaikovskys dance of the sugar plum fairy on a glass armonica. Keeping the ethereal sounds of the glass armonica alive ben franklins invention is still singing otherworldly songs to the few who know how to play it. Later, composers such as beethoven, mozart, and donizetti would write music for the armonica. The glass armonica, benjamin franklins 1761 invention the kid. He worked with glassblower charles james to build his instrument. Franklin debuted his glass armonica, a collection of differentsized glass bowls arranged on a rotating shaft. The story of benjamin franklins invention of the glass armonica with bits about the history of glassmaking, the development of musical therapy, and the changing fortunes of the instrument thrown in for good measure. When we lived in philadelphia in the mid1970s to late 1980s we saw the glass armonica at the franklin institute. His innovations range from the lightning rod to the glass armonica to swimming fins and many others, besides.
Mozart wrote two pieces for the armonica, including adagio and rondo 617, and in 1815, beethoven wrote a short melodrama where a narrator told a story while. It was invented by benjamin franklin and was derived from the verillon musical glasses, a set of glasses, holding different amounts of water and thus. Benjamin franklins glass armonica the franklin institute. Here are some fun facts about the man that helped shape our nations history.
Benjamin franklin the society of the descendants of the. The glass armonica is truly one of the strangest musical instruments in the world. Like mesmer, they play eerie music on a glass armonica. History has largely lost the details of franklins musical instrument and called it a glass harmonica, thus hopelessly confusing readers. The enchanting history of ben franklins glass armonica the first musical instrument ever invented by an american. Franklin did not discover electricity but he discovered positive and negative charges to describe electricity by flying a kite during a storm among his inventions are. Surely we wouldnt expect children to pull this off in the school play, but they could mime along to a recording. His parents were puritans and in his biography, he referred to himself as a deist. Invented by founding father benjamin franklin, the concept is the same. The usual home of franklins armonica is the franklin institute in philadelphia, pa, usa. Some armonicas are around today, played by enthusiasts as novelties or on special occasions. The enchanting history of ben franklins glass armonica. This rare glass instrument was a sensation in america and europe from 1760 to 1830, yet it has not been heard for almost 200 years. Benjamin franklin is well known as a publisher, statesman, scientist, and inventor, but he was also a musician who created the first american musical instrument.
A wonderfully engaging and interesting book about a little known area of musical history the glass armonica. Three years earlier he had seen edmund delaval play waterfilled wine glasses. It is played on the same principle of rubbing a wet finger around the rim of a wineglass. The first music genuinely written for the armonica was a cantata by johann adolf hasse, which was performed at the wedding of the austrian duchess maria amalia. The history of the glass armonica of all my inventions, the glass armonica has given me the greatest personal satisfaction benjamin franklin. During this period, it was quite popular and entertaining for amateur musicians to perform on sets of singing or musical glasses. The story of benjamin franklins glass armonica by corey mead and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Among franklins more unusual inventions is his glass armonica, an instrument designed to replicate the otherworldly sound that a wet finger. Benjamin franklin 17061790 was a statesman, author, publisher, scientist, inventor, diplomat, a founding father and a leading figure of early american history. Oct 10, 2016 the enchanting history of ben franklins glass armonica the first musical instrument ever invented by an american.
A young ladys level of accomplishment, during jane austens day, was in part dependant upon her musical abilities. By spinning the shaft with a foot pedal and running wetted fingers over the rotating bowls, franklin found he could coax out chords and melodies that delaval could only dream of. I love the focus on such an obscure detail from franklin s life. Her health and nerves were said to have been ruined by her armonica playing. Silence dogood in order to send letters to the newspaper writer, political theorist and artist, postmaster, scientist and an inventor inventions. Among benjamins siblings were his older brother james and his younger sister jane. Dennis james does a great introduction at the beginning of the video explaining the history of the instrument far better than i ever could. Invented by benjamin franklin, written for by mozart and beethoven amongst others, used by mesmer in his experiments, and creating delight and occasionally fear over the centuries, its is now apparently enjoying a revival.
Invented in 1761 by benjamin franklin, the glass armonica was one of his favorite inventions. Corey mead is an associate professor of english at baruch college, city university of new york. She then describes how the armonica was built and its popularity in europe. Think of running your finger around the rim of a crystal glass and youll get the idea behind franklins armonica. Benjamin franklin and his musical invention the glass armonica david mauldin reenactor. Franklins new invention premiered in early 1762, played by marianne daviesa well known musician in london who learned to play franklins new invention. Runs away from apprenticeship, goes to new york and then to philadelphia, where he gains employment as a printer takes lodging with john read whose. Franklin began to take his beloved armonica with him when he traveled and played popular scottish tunes or original compositions for his audiences. I read the entire book, but i never felt drawn to the story, wondering what. History of the armonica, ben franklin and glass armonica. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1, 2, or 3 months new customers receive 15% off your.
Author dorothee kocks, phd, american studies, brown. Discover the top 25 most famous benjamin franklin quotes from sources such as his life, poor richards almanack, compiled by the franklin institute. The glass armonica was one of the most celebrated instruments of the 18th century. Here is more about the extraordinary figure of benjamin franklin, his many innovations, inventions, and improvements, and his legacy for visitors to philadelphia. Stevens explains why franklin developed the armonica. The glass harmonica, originally named the armonica was invented by benjamin franklin in 1761 after hearing a concert of 50 tuned water glasses during a trip to europe. In hon our of your musical language, i have borrowed from it the name of this instrument, calling it the armonica.
The glass armonica benjamin franklins magical musical. He owned a particularly fine glass armonica, played it well, and it was an integral part of his mesmerizing practice. Takes over the publishing of the courant after brother james is jailed due to contempt charges. Franz mesmer 17341815 was german physician who developed a theory and clinical practice of animal magnetism or mesmerism. A precocious reader from earliest childhood, franklin was an accomplished writer, a creative media communicator, a satirist with a keen sense of humor, a successful printer and competitive businessman, an enterprising publisher, a widely read and frequently quoted philosopher, a developer of civic.
The full spectrum of benjamin franklin inventions is far greater, than what we can cover on this site. Benjamin franklin is best known as one of the founding fathers who never served as president but was a respected inventor, publisher, scientist and diplomat. Share the best quotes by benjamin franklin with your friends and family. Benjamin franklins famous quotes the franklin institute. His work has appeared in time, salon, the daily beast, and numerous literary journals.
Feb 07, 2009 franklins new invention premiered in early 1762, played by marianne daviesa well known musician in london who learned to play franklins new invention. The instrument benjamin franklin invented, the glass armonica. Benjamin franklin did so much cool shit that things that would get someone else an entire wikipedia page just kind of fall by the wayside. Like franklin, her audiences were charmed by its sound, as were the composers of the werther era. Benjamin franklin s glass armonica in the mid1700s, benjamin franklin served as a delegate for colonial america and spent a great deal of time traveling to london and paris. Like franklin and his instrument, this book has a spirit of fun. Jun 20, 2011 the history of the glass armonica of all my inventions, the glass armonica has given me the greatest personal satisfaction benjamin franklin. Angelic music by corey mean is the story of ben franklin s glass armonica, the invention that gave him the greatest personal satisfaction.
Enjoyed the book, but i found the authors writing style less scholarly and more repetitive in places than i might have preferred. Dont start yelling about revisionist history just yet. The glass armonicathe music and the madness 20 a history of glass music from the kama sutra to modern times, including the glass harmonica also known as the glass harmonica, the musical glasses and the glass harp. Franz mesmer used a glass armonica to induce animal magnetism.
Facts benjamin franklin history historical society. When her music attracts the attention of benjamin franklin, he offers her a new life. Enjoy the best benjamin franklin quotes at brainyquote. With spirited charm, mead weaves history, music, science, and medici. The instrument benjamin franklin invented, the glass. Jul 26, 2007 glass armonica an invention by great benjamin franklin discussed. Two years of experimentation later, franklin debuted his glass armonica, a collection of differentsized glass bowls arranged on a rotating shaft. Glass armonica an invention by great benjamin franklin discussed. Deeply touched and inspired ben franklin did away with water tuning, broke off the stems, connected the glasses together, put them on a rotating spit with foot pedals. Second time around invented by ben franklin but lost to history, the glass harmonica has been resurrected by modern musicians.
The enchanting history of ben franklins glass armonica the first. Think of running your finger around the rim of a crystal glass and youll get the idea behind franklin s armonica. Jan 23, 2018 keeping the ethereal sounds of the glass armonica alive ben franklins invention is still singing otherworldly songs to the few who know how to play it. Glass armonica, glass harmonica, musical glasses, musical. The story of benjamin franklin s glass armonica by corey mead and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Francis folger franklin is baptized at the anglican christ church. Angelic music by corey mean is the story of ben franklins glass armonica, the invention that gave him the greatest personal satisfaction.
Fun facts about benjamin franklin boston tea party. Glass harmonica, musical instrument consisting of a set of graduated, tuned glass bowls sounded by the friction of wetted fingers on their rims. It was then that sixteenyearold christian friedrich buschmann registered the first european patents for his new musical invention. The glass harmonica, ironically enough, was something that franklin had developed. For more on franklins armonica, see the results of this search on. Benjamin franklins glass armonica colonial williamsburg. Biography january 17th 1706 april 17th 1790 milk street, boston, massachusetts attended boston latin school, finished school at 10 years old worked for brother james at new england courant developed the persona mrs.
Touring glass armonica performer marianne davies, who brought the franklin armonica to the concert publics attention in the years following its invention, and who also taught such luminaries as marie antoinette and mesmer to play it, eventually became quite ill. Benjamin franklins most beloved invention was the glass armonica, and this book shows how its combination of art and science is a key to understanding the many aspects of his creativity. Initially franklin named it the glassychord, but soon settled on armonica as the name for his new inventionafter the italian word for harmony armonia. The glass harmonica, also known as the glass armonica, glass harmonium, bowl organ, hydrocrystalophone, or simply the armonica or harmonica derived from greek, ancient to 1453. Its based off of the fact that glasses filled with varying amounts of fluid usually water. Publishes the first edition of poor richards almanack on december 28. Franklin worked with london glassblower charles james to build his armonica, and it had its world premiere in early 1762, played by marianne davies. When we lived in philadelphia in the mid 1970s to late 1980s we saw the glass armonica at the franklin institute. By spinning the shaft with a foot pedal and running wetted fingers over the rotating bowls, franklin found he could coax out chords and melodies that delaval could only. Young benjamin made up for his lack of schooling by spending what little money he earned on books, often going without food to afford new volumes. Finkenbeiner, a rosycheeked glassmaker from konstanz, germany, has taken the mysterious musical armonica not to be confused with the mouth organ invented by benjamin franklin in the late.
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