Monthly Music Tip: Bruno Kliegl And The Glass Harmonica

Playing music on glass dates back a couple centuries. No lesser souls than Benjamin Franklin and Marie Antoinette played on glass.

Tomorrow at Kulturzentrum, 50 Danzigerstrasse in Prenzlauer Berg, music maestro Bruno Kliegl will be performing on his glass harmonica.

The glass harmonica's popularity did not last far beyond the 18th century due to strange rumors that using the instrument caused both musicians and their listeners to go mad.

Glass Harmonica

Peter Lennihan/AP hide caption

toggle caption

Peter Lennihan/AP

According to musicologist Friedrich Rochlitz in the Allgemeine Musikalische Zeitung, "The harmonica excessively stimulates the nerves, plunges the player into a nagging depression and, hence, into a dark and melancholy mood. 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."

I'm curious to see what all the brouhaha is about! If you're curious too, and willing to risk your sanity, tomorrow's the night.