In addition to being one of very few professional glass harpists in the world, Brien Engel has made notable strides in bringing unusual and challenging styles of playing to the instrument, particularly as a jazz musician. Please enjoy this site, which will be added to in the coming months!
Some history
Glassmaking dates back some 3500 years to early Mesopotamia, the tradition growing and improving with techniques and tools of ancient Egyptian and Phoenician artisans. Blowpipes were used later in Rome, and by the 16th century, fine, clear blown glass vessels were being manufactured all over Europe. Glass instruments developed during this time, although in Asia the practice of water-tuning porcelain or glass bowls and striking them with sticks had already been established. In the 1700's the German composer Glück, and an Irishman named Richard Pockritch popularized the use of wet fingers and friction to coax music out of an array of tuned glasses. Skilled glassmakers could also vary the sizes and thickness of cups to sound exact pitches, eliminating the need for tuning water. As it grew in renown, the instrument now referred to as glass harp or 'musical glasses' had a host of names: "Seraphim" (perhaps a reference to the ethereal sound), "Grand Harmonicon," Verillon," even "Angelic Organ."
And A little Science
Glass is a superheated and cooled mixture of sand, soda, and lime. It's an extraordinary substance-technically a liquid in suspension. Like the action of a bow to a violin string, the rim of a glass will alternately 'catch and release' from a rubbing finger. As a glass is played it changes its shape, just like a violin string or any other vibrating musical material. A glass does this by expanding and contracting at points along its circumference. The pitch of a glass will go lower with the addition of water because this 'spring' action is slowed.
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