MUSEUM OF OBSOLETE INSTRUMENTS: THE GLASS HARMONICA

No, not that kind of harmonica. The glass harmonica aka armonica, invented by Ben Franklin in the 1700s (yes, that Ben Franklin), and played by dipping ones fingers into a water trough and touching rotating glass cylinders, was said to drive men mad, has an eerie, squeaky sound, and is championed by Linda Ronstadt. The weirdest instrument ever made?!?

In the late 1700 and early 1800s it was part of the classical instrument lineup with heavyweight cats like Mozart and Beethoven composing for it. And this 2002 album by Dennis James features Rondstadt briefly, but don't worry, there's no '70s hippie rock on here. Actually the album has that powdered-wig classy classical feel to it, even on the modern compositions. A weird, outer-spacey classical feel, that is.

Here's one song off it for solo glass harmonica that sports quite a haunting melody:

Dennis James: Adagio for glass harmonica in C major, K. 356 (K. 617a), written by that Wolfgang Amadeus fellow

James is a pretty interesting guy. He accompanies silent films on theater organs (which he also restores), Clara Rockmore herself taught him theremin (which he used for a '20s Russian sci-fi film), and plays a variety of obscure glass instruments that I'd never heard of before.

Got the whole album for you here. But beware! A German musicologist wrote: "The armonica excessively stimulates the nerves, plunges the player into a nagging depression and hence into a dark and melancholy mood that is apt method for slow self-annihilation. If you are suffering from any nervous disorder, you should not play it; if you are not yet ill you should not play it; if you are feeling melancholy you should not play it."

Dennis James: "Cristal: Glass Music Through The Ages"

1. Irish Lullaby, arranged for seraphim & chamber ensemble
   Composed by Dennis James, Amy Crocker
   with John Ellis, Marcia Dickstein, Simon Oswell, Sebastian Toettcher, Julie Gigante, David Shostac
   
   
2. Quintet for Glass & Strings
   Composed by Garry Eister
   with Dennis James
   
   
3. Non temere alma immortale, for armonica, soprano, alto, tenor & harp
   Composed by David August von Apell
   with Marcia Dickstein, Michael Horton, Dennis James, Linda Ronstadt
   
   
4. Allegro for armonica (glass harmonica)
   Composed by Joseph Aloys Schmittbauer
   with Dennis James
   
   
5. Caprice for Glass harp
   Composed by Fred Schnaubelt
   with John Ellis, Simon Oswell, Sebastian Toettcher, David Shostac, Dennis James
   
   
6. Pavane, for orchestra & chorus ad lib in F sharp minor, Op. 50
   Composed by Gabriel Faure
   with Simon Oswell, Sebastian Toettcher, Geri Rotella, Virenia Lind, Gary Bovyer, Dennis James, Linda Ronstadt, Roland Kato, Julie Gigante, Sarah Parkins, Leslie Reed, Terri Koide, Ruth Ann Swenson
   
   
7. Largo in G minor for armonica (glass harmonica)
   Composed by Johann Schultz
   with Dennis James
   
   
8. Il Pompeo, opera O cessate di piagarmi
   Composed by Alessandro Scarlatti
   with Dennis James, Linda Ronstadt
   
   
9. Adagio for glass harmonica in C major, K. 356 (K. 617a)
   Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
   with Dennis James
   
   
10. Adagio and Rondo for glass harmonica, flute, oboe, viola & cello in C minor, K. 617
    Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
    with Dennis James
    
    
11. L'Armonica, cantata for soprano, glass harmonic & orchestra Récit Accompagné - Adagio
    Composed by Johann Adolf Hasse
    with Stradivaria Ensemble, Dennis James, Veronique Dietschy
    Conducted by Daniel Cuiller
    
    
12. L'Armonica, cantata for soprano, glass harmonic & orchestra Air - Andantino
    Composed by Johann Adolf Hasse
    with Stradivaria Ensemble, Dennis James, Veronique Dietschy
    Conducted by Daniel Cuiller
    
    
13. Petite Impression for Glass harp
    Composed by Fred Schnaubelt
    with Dennis James