Rollig served as the director of the Ackermann theatrical company in Hamburg from 1764 to 1769 and from 1771 until 1772. The instrument of his choice was the glass harmonica with which he toured in Germany appearing at least in Hamburg and Berlin. Rollig was concerned with improving the glass harmonica for which he is best known. The best glass needed for the instrument is what Rollig sought and a mechanism by which the glass would not need to be touched directly by the performer. He helped to develop a keyboard but in doing so forfeit the delicate tones of the instrument. As an instrument inventor Rollig is responsible for the orphica and the xanorphica. He wrote treatises on instrument building and his compositions were not well suited for the glass harmonica and his displeased audiences. ~ Keith Johnson