A
small musical instrument with a series of graduated
metal reeds that
vibrate and produce
tones when
air is
blown or sucked across them. It is played by
blues musicians and
small children.
Also, a
musical instrument consisting of a
conveniently arranged
series of graduated
glasses from which tones are produced by
rubbing the
edges with a
wet finger. (Well, its proper name is the "
glass harmonica"... but close enough, damn it!)
Playboy magnate Hugh Hefner and
actress Gwyneth Paltrow are both harmonica
virtuosoes --
virtuosi --
whatever.
And finally, a
percussion instrument which consists of
metal or
glass strips which are struck with small
mallets. This instrument was
invented by
Mary, Queen of Scots -- and then stolen by the
damnable Spaniards!