DID YOU KNOW…
Benjamin Franklin's "Madness-Inducing" Musical Invention
Benjamin Franklin, the celebrated statesman, also invented a peculiar musical instrument called the glass armonica, which was so hauntingly beautiful that some believed its ethereal tones could induce madness or melancholy, leading to its ban in certain localities.
Franklin developed the armonica in 1761, inspired by watching wine glasses played with wet fingers. He engineered a set of rotating glass bowls of varying sizes, actuated by a foot pedal, allowing a single player to create chords and melodies previously impossible. Its otherworldly sound captivated audiences across Europe, but its deep, sustained vibrations were also thought to overstimulate the nerves or affect the brain, contributing to its controversial reputation and eventual decline in popularity among some circles, despite Mozart and Beethoven composing for it.
Love discovering things like this?
A new fact every day with photos, on the free app.
Run a business? This line is for you. Everyone else, read on.
I wrote this page once and it has been working on its own ever since, including tonight while I sleep.
I build the storefront for your business, under your own name, and you see it before you pay anything. If you don't like it, that's the end of it.
Show me my shopBlackstar Digital Studio · Las Palmas de Gran Canaria · Made in Italy 🇮🇹