HARPS AND LYRES.
                                       

                    

Beganna.

The beganna, an African instrument, is a descendant of the ancient Greek lyre. It is made of wood, with a leather-covered sound box. The beganna is only played by the aristocracy and priests of Ethiopia and nearby countries. Like harps, lyre is a plucked instrument, but its shape is distinct and different.

Irish Harp.

  

This example of an Irish Harp was made by John Egan in Dublin, Ireland (1820). It is a frame harp (the other two types are the bow, or arched harp, and the angle harp). Basically the same in all harps, consists of strings of unequal length that run from the neck of the instrument to the sound box.  This instrument features a curved pillar and seven ditals (levers) that are depressed by the finger in order to change the pitch of the notes.

Saung-Gauk.

This is an example of a saung-gauk, a bow-style harp from Myanmar (formerly known as Burma.) The harp is made of wood, decorated with glass and gilt, and is similar to the ancient Egyptian arched harp. The body contain four sound holes; the thirteen strings, which are plucked, are tied to the neck. The saung-guak is held in the harpist's lap while being played.