Watch a Musician Create Lush Melodies on 33 Wine Glasses Filled With Water

Petr Spatina Playing Glass Harp

Photo: Screenshot from YouTube

Musician Petr Spatina makes melodies with drinking glasses. What might be seen as an elaborate party trick is actually a musical discipline. The practice comprises upright wine glasses filled with water at varying levels. These “instruments” are altogether referred to as a glass harp. To make a sound, Spatina runs his fingers around the rim of the glasses in different combinations and the vibrations create a variety of notes. The result is a delicate and lush sound reminiscent of the string harp.

Spatina is from the Czech Republic and has been playing music for most of his life. When he was younger, he learned the accordion and the piano before eventually mastering the glass harp. This ultimately became his instrument of choice, and Spatina has been writing and playing his own music for it for two decades.

The dedicated musician takes his glass harp to the streets, where he wows passersby with the combination of beautiful music and the unusual sight of 33 drinking vessels on a table on the sidewalk. Spatina always draws a crowd, and he’s gained worldwide attention thanks to spectators watching him work his magic and sharing it online.

Watch the videos below to enjoy some of Spatina’s glass harp music.

Musician Petr Spatina makes melodies with a series of drinking glasses, which is an instrument known as a glass harp.

He uses upright wine glasses filled with water at varying levels.

To make a sound, Spatina runs his fingers around the rim of the glasses in different combinations and the vibrations create a variety of notes.

Spatina plays his music on the streets of Prague for all to enjoy.

h/t: [Reddit]

Related Articles:

Listen to an Epic Cover of AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck” Played on a Guzheng, a Traditional Chinese Instrument

Lizzo Played a 200-Year-Old Crystal Flute During a Concert, Revealing the Sounds of History

Watch a Musician Use a Saw To Play a Stunning Rendition of “The Star Spangled Banner”

Sara Barnes

Sara Barnes is a Staff Editor at My Modern Met and Manager of My Modern Met Store. She is a graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art where she earned her BFA in Illustration and MFA in Illustration Practice. Sara is also an embroidery illustrator and writer living in Seattle, Washington. She runs Bear&Bean, a studio where she stitches pet portraits and other beloved creatures. She chronicles the creativity of others through her website Brown Paper Bag and newsletter, Orts. Her latest book is Threads of Treasure: How to Make, Mend, and Find Meaning Through Thread, published in 2014. Sara’s work has been recognized in Be Creative With Workbox, Embroidery Magazine, American Illustration, on Iron and Wine’s album Beast Epic, among others. When she’s not stitching or writing, Sara enjoys planning things that bring together the craft community. She is the co-founder of Camp Craftaway, a day camp for crafty adults with hands-on workshops in the Seattle area.
Become a
My Modern Met Member
As a member, you'll join us in our effort to support the arts.
Become a Member
Explore member benefits