Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy on the Glass Armonica

The mechanical version of a glass harp, called a glass armonica, was invented by none other than Benjamin Franklin in 1761. Also, a new word for us: hydrodaktulopsychicharmonica — harmonica to produce music for the soul by fingers dipped in water,” — hydro- for “water,” daktul (daktyl) for “finger,” psych- for “soul”. One can be found at the Musée de la Musique in Paris.

There are more glass harps playing in the archives, including another version of Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy.