An orchestra with a difference

An original orchestra called Transparences is about to present its latest work at a concert in Vendenheim near Strasbourg on Thursday.

Jean-Claude Chapuis, a French jazz musician and science historian, created this glass orchestra in 1988. It is the fruit of historical and musical research. Some of the orchestra's objectives are to rediscover and let others know about the repertoire of glass instruments and exploring new sound horizons while also creating new instruments based on the acoustic richness of the glassmaker's materials.

Besides adapting classical music pieces, the orchestra plays an original repertoire written for these instruments which include glass bells, crystalphone, violin, chimes and seraphs (sets of drinking glasses).

The musical use of glass bells and struck glass is thought to have originated in the 15th century.

www.glassmusic.org