Verrophone / Glass Harp / Glass Pipes

Verrophone / Glass Harp - 'Hira-Jōshi' - A B C E F A B C E

This glass xylophone is rubbed by hand. First briefly wet your (washed!!) hands. By gently rubbing (well, actually "caressing" is the right word) the centre of the glass bars transversely with your wet palm, a soft, magical sound emerges. You actually produce the sound with your own hands directly in touch with the instrument. You can feel the vibrations of the sound bars through your hands. If you rub a glass bar with just one finger close to the suspension, you get an overtone. You can also produce fundamental and overtones simultaneously on the same sound bar. The rich interplay of fundamental and overtones (= harmonics) results in a wide variety of sounds.

This glass xylophone is tuned according to the Japanese Hira-jōshi 平調子 tuning ( a', h', c", e", f", a", h", c"' & e"'). This tuning was developed in the 17th century by the blind Koto Master Yatsuhashi Kengyō 八橋検校. Its "minor" sound character invites you to a deep inner journey.

Optional accessories:

• mallets
• carry bag

Other tunings are possible on request.
This instrument has a version in crystal ... click here