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BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — There was an unusual sound coming from a rare instrument in the North End on Saturday.
Vera Meyer of Malden, Mass. played mysterious sounds from her glass harmonica at Paul Revere Park. Meyer created her own version of the harmonica in 1983, after seeing someone playing music with 70 wine glasses in Harvard Square. She said the instrument was created by one of the Founding Fathers.
“This was a very famous instrument invented by Benjamin Franklin in 1761 when he saw somebody in Hay Market in London playing wine glasses,” said Meyer.
Soon after Franklin invented the instrument, Meyer said it was made illegal.
“It was thought to cause insanity, nervous disorders, convulsions in dogs and cats, marital disputes and wake people from the dead, but I feel fine,” said Meyer.
When asked why she liked the instrument so much, she said she loved the haunting tone it creates.
“I go crazy with loud hip hop, rap, grunge music. I can’t handle that stuff,” said Meyer.
WBZ's Carl Stevens (@CarlWBZ) reports.
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