MUSIC FOR THE GLASSES COMPOSER PERFORMS ON FRANKLIN'S INVENTION.Byline: Amy Raisin raisin, in botany and cooking raisin, dried fruit of certain varieties of grapevines bearing grapes with a high content of sugar and solid flesh. Although the fruit is sometimes artificially dehydrated, it is usually sun-dried. Darvish Staff Writer VALENCIA - The soothing, lilting melodies were what initially grabbed people's attention Saturday outside Whole Foods, but the instrument that made the music was the reason many stood and stared. William Wilde Sir William Robert Wills Wilde (1815–April 19, 1876) was an Irish eye and ear surgeon, as well as an author of significant works on medicine, archaeology and folklore, particularly concerning his native Ireland. He is now best known as the father of Oscar Wilde. Zeitler, a 1975 graduate of California Institute of the Arts California Institute of the Arts known as CalArts U.S. private institution of higher learning in Valencia. Created in 1961 through the merger of two other art institutes, it was the first in the U.S. , brought his glass armonica, invented by Benjamin Franklin, and played it for fascinated onlookers during the market's Heart of the Holidays event. ``I never get tired of people's fascination with hearing me play this,'' said Zeitler, 50, of Newhall. ``I came across a CD of music Mozart wrote (specifically) for this instrument and that's how it all started.'' The composer and musician had the glass armonica - a horizontal assembly of specially made glasses (without stems) that rotate and emit pitch- perfect notes when played with wet fingers - made about 10 years ago at a cost of $15,000. According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. Zeitler, about 80 historical glass armonicas still exist, with only a dozen or so that are playable. ``Only six people in the world are playing this,'' he said. ``Three in the U.S. and one in France, Germany and Japan. I'm still learning how to play it.'' As a collection of Zeitler's CDs - from Christmas carols A Christmas carol is a carol whose lyrics center on the theme of Christmas or that has become associated with the Christmas season even though its lyrics may not specifically refer to Christmas. Both types of Christmas carols are included in this list. to hymns - steadily disappeared from a table nearby, those who listened to the mesmerizing mes·mer·ize tr.v. mes·mer·ized, mes·mer·iz·ing, mes·mer·iz·es 1. To spellbind; enthrall: "He could mesmerize an audience by the sheer force of his presence" , almost haunting sounds agreed that they were listening to a master of the unusual instrument. ``I heard one of my favorite My Favorite is an independent synthpop band from Long Island, New York. They released two CDs: Love at Absolute Zero and Happiest Days of Our Lives. My Favorite broke up on September 14, 2005, when singer Andrea Vaughn left the band. Christmas songs and I had to find out what was making the sounds,'' said Pamela Walton, a Stevenson Ranch Stevenson Ranch, California (in the 91381 ZIP Code) is a Los Angeles County, USA, unincorporated community west of Santa Clarita a few miles south of Six Flags Magic Mountain amusement park. The Stevenson Ranch fountain was redone in 2007. mother who was out shopping. ``Then I had to figure out how you play it. It's just beautiful. I'm a musician. I play the flute. I had heard of this, but I've never seen it before.'' Walton purchased Zeitler's CD titled ``Crystal Christmas,'' and planned to play it on the drive home. Zeitler composes original works for the armonica and was recently featured in The History Channel's biography of Benjamin Franklin. ``You only see my arms and hands playing the armonica,'' Zeitler said. ``But that's me playing. Hey, I was on The History Channel. That's pretty cool, right?'' Amy Raisin Darvish, (661) 257-5254 amy.raisin(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): photo Photo: William Wilde Zeitler plays the glass armonica for a crowd at Whole Foods' Heart of the Holidays event on Saturday. Joel P. Lugavere/Special to the Daily News |
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