Glass Harpist Amazes Tourists With His Music
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.
