The glass armonica is one of Benjamin Franklin’s many contributions to the world.
The armonica’s short-lived popularity (1760-1820s) is perhaps partly due to a series of unfortunate events and suspicion.
The vibrations were described as ethereal and captured the imagination of many composers, most notably Beethoven and Mozart. However, several unexplained reports of musicians becoming ill with nausea and dizziness while playing the device combined with the death of a child during a concert led to the banning of the instrument in some areas.
Reference
The Franklin Institute. Benjamin Franklin’s Glass Armonica. Accessed January 2021.
Recent Posts
ASLP-IC Readies for Rollout: Here’s What You Need to Know
The Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact (ASLP-IC) continues to move toward full implementation, expanding opportunities for audiologists and speech-language pathologists to practice across state…
How Do Animals Perceive Music?
Music can be defined as vocal, instrumental, or mechanical sounds, with rhythm, melody or harmony, and often, an expression of human emotion. Music can transcend…
‘Eye’ on Health: AI Detects Dizziness and Balance Disorders Remotely
Interesting research led by audiologist Ali Danesh, PhD, at Florida Atlantic University (FAU) helped develop a novel, proof-of-concept tool to help identify nystagmus using a…