MI: LIBRARY: INSTRUMENTS: STRINGS: HARP

History
Harps are among the oldest instruments. Bow harps (harps with only one side) date back to 3000 B.C.! Angle harps (bow harps with a bend in the middle) came around 2000 B.C.. Frame harps (complete triangles with the strings inside) came about in Europe during the Middle Ages. The exact dating for the original frame harps is probably between the 8th and 10th centurys A.D..

The frame harp was widely used by minstrels through Europe, right up the the 15th century. The modern double-action, or concert harp, with seven pedals was invented in 1810. Since then the harp has undegone few changes, and is now a regular member of the symphony and opera orchestras. 

Description
Harps, string instruments, have the largest range of all orchestral instruments. As an orchestral instrument, it is probably best known for its rippling chords. However, it is also a wonderful soloist. Despite it’s quiet tone, it can generally be well heard over an orchestra. 

The reason that the modern concert harp is called “the double-action” harp is simple. Concert harps have seven pedals, each pedal is for one note of the octave. Double-action means that the pedal can be pushed halfway, raising the tone part-way, or pushed all the way, which raises the note a full tone.  

Aside from being beautiful in sound and appearance, the harp is also a very strong instrument. Concert harps need incredibly strong frames. This is because the amount of tension from the strings can be as much as 1,500lbs. on the frame! Proving that not only are harps good-looking, they’re pretty darn functional too! 

Harp Variations
Veracruz harp: This pretty sounding (and looking) harp came to Latin American from Spain around the 1500’s. The wooden instrument can play from seven octaves! Its distinct, clear sound can be accounted for by the fact that the musician plucks the strings with his/her fingernails.

Irish harp: The Irish harp is like all orchestral harps except it has no pedals. Instead, it has finger-operated levers called ditals. Like the veracruz harp, the Irish harp is played with your fingernails. If the listener didn’t like the musician, they would break his/her fingernails!

Saung-gauk: This classical arched harp of Burma is similar to those of the ancient Egyptians. It is not a complete triangle and has a smaller range than concert harps, but is still a very pretty instrument. 

Krar: The krar is an instrument from Ethiopia and the strings are strummed. It is a very ornate instrument and considered a lyre. 

Kora: Koras are crosses between harps and lutes. They are found in Senegal and take a lot of technique not just to play, but to tune as well! 

Barimbau: The barimbau is actually a bow, like that of a violin, which you play on! It only has one string which the musician taps with a stick while a rattle makes the sound. 

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Soulfly rocks!!!!

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do you have any more info on the Veracruz Harp

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You need some pictures of harps and other instruments

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harp are interesting insrumaents thank for the help in my projcet christ

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I am doing a project on the harp and need some more info. So if anyone has any ideas feel free to contact me! Thank -you

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I am doing a project on the harp and need some more info. So if anyone has any ideas feel free to contact me! Thank -you

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I was just wondering if anyone had any information on the double action harp, and any pictures of the tuning mechanism that i would be able to use for my final year project at university. Cheers

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I was just wondering if anyone had any information on the double action harp, and any pictures of the tuning mechanism that i would be able to use for my final year project at university. Cheers

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thankz for the info on the harp!it was really helpful for my Harp report. Though it needs a little more detail.

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This Site is Really Great! i Say this Because when i need information on the Harp for a School project I came to this site and found Most of the things I needed!But...If Anyone has Any info on how to change the Pitch and Volume of the Harp...Please Contact me! Thanks heaps! :OP !

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NEED INFO ON HOW TO CHANGE THE PITCH AND VOLUME OF THE HARP ! HELP NEEDED ! THANKS !

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you should gave more information about sound and deatil of different kind of harp

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u really need some pictures