Listen To This Aeolian Harp Sculpture That Sounds As Weird As It Looks

The wind harp contains strings similar to a conventional harp, but requires no finger plucking. These instruments, also called aeolian harps, use air currents for sound production. Like wind chimes, people place wind harps on windowsills or outdoors. When breeze flows across the strings, they vibrate. This creates sounds unlike typical harp music! Wind harps generate an uncanny, chilling tone. While listening, you might feel goosebumps forming on your neck. Their distinct sound and often attractive appearance make them ideal for artistic displays.

A notable example stands in the form of a tree. Named the singing ringing tree, it overlooks Burnley in Lancashire. This creation both looks attractive and produces ghostly melodies. Its unique qualities earned it multiple accolades.

Another remarkable wind harp exists in San Francisco. Doug Hollis designed this large instrument on a pier near the bay. Bay winds activate its haunting sounds! However, "enjoy" might not describe the listening experience accurately. As one YouTube viewer noted, "Sounds like the harp of the sirens luring sailors to their doom." The music indeed feels somewhat frightening, yet remains impressive. You should hear it at least once—perhaps while watching for spirits!

In our age of non-stop television, music services and online videos, we might think we know many musical instruments. If you weren't familiar before, you now understand what a wind harp is.

Despite our ability to listen to Mozart, Mendelssohn or Motörhead anytime, watch orchestras perform, or view street musicians worldwide through screens, we still discover unfamiliar instruments like this one—played continuously by natural air currents!