People who stop by a street corner in Alexandria, Virginia, are amazed by the very unusual instrument Jamey Turner has been playing there for over 25 years: the glass harp.
“I think it’s fantastic,” said Nicole Schwarss, a visitor from Germany. “I’ve never heard something like this before.”
78-year-old Turner started playing the glass harp 50 years ago. Although he plays other instruments, he enjoys the glass harp the most. He got the idea at a young age from his father.
Turner's instrument is made up of 60 glasses. They are all different sizes, and each one is filled with a slightly different amount of water so that they produce a different note. Turner plays the instrument by wetting his fingertips and rubbing them around the rims of the glasses.
Turner loves having an audience and teaching people about his instrument. He gave some visitors the opportunity to play music with him by having them rub the rims of the biggest glasses.
Turner explains the glass harp was popular in the 1700s when classical composers like Mozart wrote music for the instrument.
Turner said he has been able to make a living playing the glass harp and has even performed with top U.S. orchestras. But with so few people playing the instrument, Turner is hoping the next generation will keep it alive.
“I think it is gaining in popularity,” he said. “A lot of people have seen me on YouTube, and I’ve seen a lot of people experimenting with it on YouTube.”
“People can’t help but smile when they hear the glass harp,” says Turner.
「素晴らしいと思います」と語るのは、ドイツからの訪問客であるNicole Schwarssさんだ。 「このようなものは、今まで聞いたことがありません。」
ターナー氏の楽器は60個のグラスから成っている。 違う音程を出せるよう、すべて大きさが異なっており、わずかに異なる量の水がそれぞれに入っている。 ターナー氏は指先を水で濡らし、グラスの縁にこすりつけてこの楽器を演奏する。
ターナー氏は観客の前で演奏することと、人々に彼の楽器について語ることが大好きだ。 彼は訪問客が一番大きなグラスの縁をこすって、自分と一緒に演奏する機会を与えたこともある。
[my composition]
Would you be interested in seeing Jamey Turner play his glass harp?
Yes, I would be interested in seeing him playing the glass harp.
Because I am so interested in what kind of sounds he makes through glasses.
According to the article, he makes up this instrument with over 60 parts of glasses.
The piano consists of 88 keys.
It means this instrument shoud have a quite wide range almost as same as the piano.
I can easily understand he always struggles to tune up 60 glasses with perfect piches.
Your brother should be very helpful and convinient for him as his assistant.
