Come to the Newton Free Library for a performance by Vera Meyer, who is known for playing her glass harmonica in Harvard Square, dressed in period costume.
Invented by Benjamin Franklin in 1761, the glass harmonica was based on the idea of simply rubbing a wet finger around the rim of a wine glass. Franklin took separate wine glasses, removed the stems, and placed the glasses on a spindle for easier playing making the glass harmonica. This instrument's haunting tones were the inspiration for nearly 300 compositions originally written for the instrument, including works by Mozart and Beethoven.
