Harp

Classification String instrument (plucked) Playing range (modern pedal harp) Related instruments Çeng Konghou Lyre

The harp is a stringed instrument which has the plane of its strings positioned perpendicular to the soundboard. A musical instrument is a device constructed or modified for the purpose of making Music. A string instrument (or stringed instrument) is a Musical instrument that produces Sound by means of Vibrating strings In the Hornbostel-Sachs Pizzicato (ˌpɪtsɪˈkɑːtoʊ is a playing technique that involves plucking the strings of a String instrument. In Music, the range of a Musical instrument is the distance from the lowest to the highest pitch it can play A musical instrument is a device constructed or modified for the purpose of making Music. Not to be confused with CEng (the post-nominal for Chartered Engineer) The konghou ( is an ancient Chinese Harp. The konghou, also known as kanhou The lyre is a stringed musical instrument well known for its use in Classical Antiquity and later A string instrument (or stringed instrument) is a Musical instrument that produces Sound by means of Vibrating strings In the Hornbostel-Sachs The sounding board or soundboard is the part of a String instrument that transmits the vibrations of the strings to the air greatly increasing the Loudness All harps have a neck, resonator and strings. A resonator is a device or system that exhibits Resonance or resonant behavior that is it naturally oscillates at some frequencies, called its resonance A string is the vibrating element that is the source of vibration in String instruments such as the Guitar, Harp, Piano, and members Some, known as frame harps, also have a forepillar; those lacking the forepillar are referred to as open harps. Depending on its size (which varies considerably), a harp may be played while held in the lap or while stood on the floor. Harp strings can be made of nylon (sometimes wound around copper), gut (more commonly used than nylon), wire, or silk. Overview Nylon is a Thermoplastic silky material first used commercially in a nylon- Bristled Toothbrush (1938 followed more famously by Copper (ˈkɒpɚ is a Chemical element with the symbol Cu (cuprum and Atomic number 29 Catgut is the name applied to cord of great toughness and tenacity prepared from the Intestines of the Sheep or Goat, or occasionally from those of the A wire is a single usually cylindrical, elongated string of drawn Metal. Silk is a natural Protein Fiber, some forms of which can be woven into Textiles The best-known type of silk is obtained from cocoons A person who plays the harp is called a harpist or a harper. Folk and Celtic musicians often use the term "harper," whereas classical/pedal musicians use "harpist. "

Various types of harps are found in Africa, Europe, North, and South America, and a few parts of Asia. South America is a Continent of the Americas, situated entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a In antiquity harps and the closely related lyres were very prominent in nearly all musical cultures, but they lost popularity in the early 19^th century with Western music composers, being thought of primarily as a woman's instrument after Marie Antoinette popularised it as an activity for women. The lyre is a stringed musical instrument well known for its use in Classical Antiquity and later Maria Antonia Josepha Johanna von Habsburg-Lothringen (November 2 1755 &ndash October 16 1793 known to history as Marie Antoinette ( pronounced /maʀi ɑ̃ntwanɛt/

The aeolian harp (wind harp), the autoharp, and all forms of the lyre and Kithara are not harps because their strings are not perpendicular to the soundboard; they are part of the zither family of instruments along with the piano and harpsichord. An aeolian harp (or æolian harp or wind harp) is a Musical instrument that is "played" by the wind The Autoharp is a musical String instrument having a series of chord bars attached to dampers which when depressed mute all the strings other than those that form the The lyre is a stringed musical instrument well known for its use in Classical Antiquity and later The kithara was an Ancient Greek Musical instrument in the Lyre family The zither is a musical String instrument, most commonly found in Slovenia, Austria, Hungary, the southern regions of Germany, alpine The piano is a Musical instrument played by means of a keyboard that produces sound by striking steel strings with Felt covered hammers A harpsichord is a Musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. In blues music, the Harmonica is called a "Blues harp" or "harp", but it is a free reed wind instrument, not a stringed instrument. A harmonica is a free reed Wind instrument which is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes (reed chambers or A free reed aerophone is a Musical instrument where Sound is produced as air flows past a Vibrating reed in a frame

Origins

An ancient Egyptian harp on display in the British Museum. The History of Ancient Egypt spans the period from the early predynastic settlements of the northern Nile Valley to the Roman conquest in 30 The British Museum is a Museum of human history and culture in London.

Harps were most likely independently invented in many parts of the world in remote prehistory. It is often said that the harp's origins may lie in the sound of a plucked hunter's bow string; the converse is equally possible. A bow is a Weapon that projects arrows powered by the elasticity of the bow A type of harp called a 'bow harp' is nothing more than a bow like a hunter's, with a resonating vessel such as a gourd fixed somewhere along its length. To allow a greater number of strings, harps were later made from two pieces of wood attached at the ends: this type is known as the 'angle harp'.

The oldest depictions of harps without a forepillar are from 4000 BCE in Egypt(see Music of Egypt) and 3000 BCE in Persia (see Music of Iran). This article is about the country of Egypt For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Egypt topics. Egyptian music has been an integral part of Egyptian culture since ancient times The Persian Empire was a series of Iranian empires that ruled over the Iranian plateau, the original Persian homeland and beyond in Western Asia The music of Iran or Persian music has thousands of years of history dating back to the Neolithic age as seen in the archeological While most English translations of the Bible feature the word 'harp', especially in connection with King David, the Hebrew word is actually kinnor, a type of lyre with 10 strings and not a harp at all. Etymology According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, the word bible is from Latin biblia, traced from the same word through Medieval Latin and Late Latin David, Arabic: داوود or داود dawud, "beloved" was the second king of the united Kingdom of Israel according to the Hebrew Bible Kinnor is the Hebrew name for an ancient Lyre, the first mentioned in the Bible (Gen The lyre is a stringed musical instrument well known for its use in Classical Antiquity and later

Development and history in Europe

A medieval European harp (the Wartburg harp) with buzzing bray pins.

Angle harps and bow harps continue to be used up to the present day. In Europe however a further development took place: adding a third structural member, the pillar, to support the far ends of the arch and sound box. The 'Triangular Frame harp' is depicted in manuscripts and sculpture from about the 8th century CE, especially in North-West Europe, though specific nationalistic claims to the invention of the triangular frame harp cannot be substantiated.

European harps in medieval and Renaissance times usually had bray pinsfitted to make a buzzing sound when a string was plucked. The Renaissance (from French Renaissance, meaning "rebirth" Italian: Rinascimento, from re- "again" and nascere By the baroque period in Italy and Spain more strings were added to allow for chromatic notes; these were usually in a second line of strings. Baroque art redirects here Please disambiguate such links to Baroque painting, Baroque sculpture, etc At the same time single-row diatonic harps continued to be played.

In Germany in the second half of the 17^th century, diatonic single-row harps were fitted with manually-turned hooks which fretted individual strings to raise their pitch by a half step. In the 1700s, a link mechanism was developed connecting these hooks with pedals, leading to the invention of the single-action pedal harp. Later, a second row of hooks was installed along the neck to allow for the double-action pedal harp, capable of raising the pitch of a string by either one or two half steps. The idea was even extended to triple-action harps but these were never common. The double-action pedal harp remains the normal form of the instrument in the Western classical orchestra.

South America

In South America, there are Mexican, Andean, Venezuelan, and Paraguayan harps. South America is a Continent of the Americas, situated entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a The United Mexican States ( or commonly Mexico (ˈmɛksɪkoʊ () is a federal constitutional Republic in North America. The Andes form the world's longest exposed Mountain range. They lie as a continuous chain of highland along the western coast of South America. Venezuela (ˌvɛnəˈzweɪlə) officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (Spanish República Bolivariana de Venezuela) is a country on the The Paraguayan harp is the National instrument of Paraguay, and similar instruments are used elsewhere in South America particularly Venezuela They are derived from the Baroque harps that were brought from Spain during the colonial period. Baroque art redirects here Please disambiguate such links to Baroque painting, Baroque sculpture, etc Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. They have a wide and deep soundbox which tapers to the top. Like Baroque harps but unlike modern Western harps they do not stand upright when unattended. The Paraguayan harp, Paraguay's national instrument, is the most popular in South America. It has about 36 strings. Its spacing is narrower and tension lighter than that of modern Western harps. It is played mostly with the fingernails.

Africa

There are many different kinds of harp in Africa. They do not have forepillars and so are either bow harps or angle harps. As well as true harps such as Mauritania's ardin, there are a number of instruments that are difficult to classify, often being labelled harp-lutes. Mauritania (موريتانيا Mūrītāniyā officially the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, is a country Ardin is a commune in the Deux-Sèvres department in the Poitou-Charentes region in western France. Another term for them is spike harps. The West African kora is the best known. The kora is a 21- string Harp - Lute used extensively by peoples in West Africa. The strings run from a string arm to a 'spike' and the resonating chamber is attached to the base of the spike.

Asia

Sassanid mosaic excavated at Bishapur depicting player and a harp. The Sassanid Empire or Sassanian Dynasty or Sassanian Dynasty (ساسانیان) is the name used for the third Iranian dynasty and the second Persian empire Bishapur (or Bishâpûr) is an ancient city situated south of modern Faliyan, Iran on the ancient road between Persis and Elam. Artifact is kept at The Louvre. The Louvre Museum (Musée du Louvre located in Paris is the world's most visited art museum a historic monument and a national museum of France

In Asia, there are very few harps today, though the instrument was popular in ancient times; in that continent, zithers such as China's guqin and Japan's koto predominate. The zither is a musical String instrument, most commonly found in Slovenia, Austria, Hungary, the southern regions of Germany, alpine China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National The (simplified/traditional 古琴; Pinyin: gǔqín For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. The koto ( 琴 or 箏) is a traditional Japanese stringed Musical instrument derived from the Chinese Zither ( Guzheng However, a few harps exist, the most notable being Myanmar's saung-gauk, which is considered the national instrument in that country. Burma, officially the Union of Myanmar ( pjìdàunzṵ mjàmmà nàinŋàndɔ̀ is the largest country by geographical area in mainland Southeast Asia. The saung ( Burmese:; sáʊngaʊʔ also known as the saung-gauk, Burmese harp, or Burma harp) is a traditional musical instrument There was an ancient Chinese harp called konghou; the name is used for a modern Chinese instrument which is being revived. The konghou ( is an ancient Chinese Harp. The konghou, also known as kanhou Turkey had a harp called the çeng that has also fallen out of use. Turkey (Türkiye known officially as the Republic of Turkey ( is a Eurasian Country that stretches Not to be confused with CEng (the post-nominal for Chartered Engineer) They have 9 strings

Modern European and American instruments

Playing style of the European-derived instrument

Most European-derived harps have a single row of strings with strings for each note of the C Major scale (over several octaves). In Music, a scale is a group of musical notes collected in ascending and descending order that provides material for or is used to conveniently represent part or all In Music, an octave ( is the the use of which is "common in most musical systems Harpists can tell which strings they are playing because all F strings are black or blue and all C strings are red or orange. The instrument rests between the knees of the harpist and along their right shoulder. The Welsh triple harp and early Irish and Scottish harps, however, are traditionally placed on the left shoulder (in order to have it over the heart). The Welsh triple harp ( telyn deires) is a type of Harp using three rows of strings instead of the common single row

The first four fingers of each hand are used to pluck the strings; the little fingers are too short and cannot reach the correct position without distorting the position of the other fingers, although on some folk harps with light tension, closely spaced strings, they may occasionally be used. Also, the little finger is not strong enough to pluck a string. Plucking with varying degrees of force creates dynamics. In Music, dynamics normally refers to the volume of a Sound or note, but can also refer to every aspect of the execution of a given piece either stylistic Depending on finger position, different tones can be produced: a fleshy pluck (near the middle of the first finger joint) will make a warm tone, while a pluck near the end of the finger will make a loud, bright sound.

Concert harp

Main article: Pedal harp

The concert harp is large and technically modern, designed for classical music and played solo, as part of chamber ensembles, and in symphony orchestras. The pedal harp (also known as the concert harp) is a large and technically modern Harp, designed for Classical music and played either solo as part of It typically has six and a half octaves (46 or 47 strings), weighs about 80lb (36 kg), is approximately 6 ft (1. 8 m) high, has a depth of 4 ft (1. 2 m), and is 21. 5 in (55 cm) wide at the bass end of the soundboard. The notes range from three octaves below middle C (or the D above) to three and a half octaves above, usually ending on G. Using octave designations, the range is C1 or D1 to G7.

The tension of the strings on the sound board is roughly equal to a ton (10 kilonewtons). The newton (symbol N) is the SI derived unit of Force, named after Isaac Newton in recognition of his work on Classical The lowest strings are made of copper or steel-wound nylon, the middle strings of gut, and the highest of nylon. This is not to say that strings in the higher register are not produced in gut or that middle strings are not produced in nylon. The middle gut string and high nylon string setting is mainly because gut strings usually carry a higher price than nylon strings; they also fray and break more frequently than nylon strings. However, gut strings produce fuller sounds than nylon strings do. The strings in the higher register are thinner and break more frequently. In the case of a broken string, replacing it with the same type (gut or nylon) is recommended, for a change in the type can be noticeable. For example, in a sequence of strings such as gut-gut-nylon-gut-gut, the nylon string's sound may stand out from the gut strings' sounds.

The concert harp is a pedal harp. Pedal harps use the mechanical action of pedals to change the pitches of the strings. Pitch represents the perceived Fundamental frequency of a sound There are seven pedals, each affecting the tuning of all strings of one letter-name, and each pedal is attached to a rod or cable within the column of the harp, which then connects with a mechanism within the neck. When a pedal is moved with the foot, small discs at the top of the harp rotate. The discs are studded with two pegs that pinch the string as they turn, shortening the vibrating length of the string. The pedal has three positions. In the top position no pegs are in contact with the string and all notes are flat; thus the harp's native tuning is to the scale of C-flat major. In Music, flat means "lower in pitch" More specifically in Music notation, flat means "lower in pitch by a Semitone C major is a Major scale based on C consisting of the pitches C{{music|flat}}, D{{music|flat}}, E{{music|flat}}, F{{music|flat}}

In the middle position the top wheel pinches the string, resulting in a natural, giving the scale of C major if all pedals are set in the middle position. In music theory a note is natural when it is neither flat nor sharp (nor double-flat or double-sharp either See also C minor, C-sharp minor C major (often just C or key of C) is a musical Major scale based on C In the bottom position another wheel is turned, shortening the string again to create a sharp, giving the scale of C-sharp major if all pedals are set in the bottom position. In Music, sharp means higher in pitch More specifically in Musical notation, sharp means "higher in pitch by a Semitone (half step" Also see C-sharp minor, or C major. C major (or C-sharp major) is a Major scale based on Many other scales, both diatonic and synthetic, can be obtained by adjusting the pedals differently from each other; also, many chords in traditional harmony can be obtained by adjusting pedals so that some notes are enharmonic equivalents of others, and this is central to harp technique. In modern Music and notation, an enharmonic equivalent is a Note ( enharmonic tone) interval ( enharmonic interval) or In each position the pedal can be secured in a notch so that the foot does not have to keep holding it in the correct position.

This mechanism is called the double-action pedal system, invented by Sébastien Érard in 1810. Sébastien Érard (born Sébastien Erhard 5 April 1752 - 5 August 1831) was a French instrument maker of German origin who specialised Earlier pedal harps had a single-action mechanism that allowed strings to play sharpened notes. Lyon and Healy, Camac Harps, and other manufacturers also make electric pedal harps. Lyon & Healy (founded in 1864 built its first harp in 1889 and is one of the few major Harp Manufacturers in the world along with Salvi of Italy and Camac Harps ( Les Harpes Camac) is a French company that manufactures pedal (concert harps, lever (folk harps, and electric The electric harp is a concert harp, with piezoelectric pickups at the base of each string and an amplifier. Like Electric guitars electric harps are based on their acoustic originals, and there are both solid body and electro-acoustic models Electric harps can be a blend of electric and acoustic, with the option of using an amplifier or playing the harp just like a normal pedal harp, or can be entirely electric, lacking a soundbox and being mute without an amplifier.

Technique

Harp playing uses all of the fingers except for the little finger, which is generally too short and weak to effectively pluck a string. Most types of harp only require use of the hands, with the exception of the pedal (concert) harp, in which the feet are also used to operate foot pedals.

The Salzedo method, developed by Carlos Salzedo, uses expressive gestures, and the performer keeps his or her elbows parallel to the ground. Carlos Salzedo (1885-1961 was a Harpist, Composer and conductor, born in Arcachon, France, after whom the Salzedo Harp Colony in The French method advocated by Marcel Grandjany does not use expressive gestures; the elbows are held at an angle, and the wrists may occasionally rest upon the soundboard. Marcel Grandjany ( September 3, 1891 &ndash February 24, 1975) was a French -born American Harpist and Composer In both methods, the shoulders, neck, and back are relaxed. On the wire-strung clarsach, a "thumb under" technique is also used.

Baroque harp, as in other Baroque instrumental techniques, uses strong and weak articulation. The player only uses three fingers of each hand, and the thumb moves under the other fingers, rather than being held very high as in modern harp technique. The thumb and third fingers are "strong" fingers and the second finger is a "weak" finger. Scales are fingered with alternating strong and weak fingers - that is, a scale fingering could be either 1 2 1 2 1 2 or 3 2 3 2 3 2. In contrast, classical harp technique uses a fingering of 4 3 2 1 4 3 2 1 going up, and 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 going down.

Another approach to "thumb under" technique as described above is to place the thumb so that it passes over the second finger, rather than under it. There is equal evidence for both thumb over and thumb under playing techniques on historical harps.

In this second approach it is important to note that the fingers are placed on the strings halfway up the string from the soundboard. This may be as little as 5-8 inches on very lightly strung harps. If you begin by making a circle with your thumb and second finger, placing both the thumb and the second finger on the same string, open your thumb and place your thumb on the string above, also placing the third (and fourth – if you choose to use it) on the neighboring strings below the second finger. The fingertips placed on the strings should loosely form a straight line parallel to the soundboard of the harp.

Use in music

The harp is used sparingly in ballad (music), and most classical music, usually for special effects such as the glissando, arpeggios, and bisbigliando. In Jazz and Popular music, the term ballad denotes a short Song in a slow Tempo, usually with a romantic or sentimental text though the term " Glissando " (plural glissandi abbreviated gliss is a glide from one pitch to another In Music, an arpeggio is a broken chord where the Notes are played or sung in Sequence, one after the other rather than Ringing out simultaneously It was commonly used on American pop music hits of the 1970s. Italian and German opera uses harp for romantic arias and dances, an example of which is Musetta's Waltz from La bohème. Opera is an art form in which Singers and Musicians perform a Dramatic work (called an opera which combines a text (called a Libretto French composers such as Claude Debussy and Maurice Ravel composed harp concertos and chamber music widely played today. Achille-Claude Debussy (aʃil klod dəbysi (August 22 1862 &ndash March 25 1918 was a French Composer. In the 19^th century, the French composer and harpist Nicolas-Charles Bochsa composed hundreds of pieces of all kinds (opera transcriptions, chamber music, concertos, operas, harp methods). Robert Nicolas-Charles Bochsa (born August 9, 1789 in Montmédy, Meuse, France, died January 6, 1856 in Henriette Renié and Marcel Grandjany have composed many lesser-known solo pieces and chamber music. Henriette Renié (1875-1956 was a harpist and composer a deeply religious woman who lived in poverty for much of her life but who was independent and successful in a time when fame Marcel Grandjany ( September 3, 1891 &ndash February 24, 1975) was a French -born American Harpist and Composer Modern composers utilize the harp frequently, but while the pedals on a concert harp allow many sorts of non-diatonic scales and strange accidentals to be played, some modern pieces call for impractical pedal manipulations.

Many passages for solo harp can be found in 19th century ballet music, which utilized the harp to a great extent in order to embellish the dancing of the ballerina. See also,,, A ballerina ( Italian for female dancer) is a Female Ballet Dancer; the male equivalent to this title Elaborate cadenzas for harp were composed by Tchaikovsky for his ballets Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, and The Sleeping Beauty; as well as Alexander Glazunov for his score for the ballet Raymonda, which contains the variation titled Une fantaisie (a. Swan Lake ( Лебединое Озеро, Lebedinoye Ozero) is a Ballet, op The Nutcracker (Щелкунчик Shchelkunchik) Op 71 is a Fairy tale - Ballet in two acts three scenes by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky The Sleeping Beauty ( Спящая Красавица, Spyashchaya Krasavitsa) is a Ballet in a prologue and three acts Opus 66 by Pyotr Aleksandr Konstantinovich Glazunov (Александр Константинович Глазунов Aleksandr Konstantinovič Glazunov; Glazounov Glasunow &ndash 21 March Raymonda ( Раймонда, the name of a main character is a Ballet in three acts four scenes with an Apotheosis, choreographed by Marius Petipa Variation or Classical Variation (sometimes referred to as a Pas Seul, meaning to Dance Alone) in Ballet is a solo dance k. a. Prélude et variations) which many modern conservatories utilize for the application and audition process.

In particular, the scores of Riccardo Drigo contained many compositions for harp which were renowned in their day (found in such works as Le Talisman and Les Millions d'Arlequin), as well as Cesare Pugni, whose ballets Éoline, ou La Dryade and Ondine, ou la Naïad included music written for harp to accompany the ballerina's numerous variations and enhance the atmosphere of the ballet's many fantastical scenes. Riccardo Eugenio Drigo ( ru Риккардо Эудженьо Дриго a The Talisman (AKA Le Talisman or Il Talismino) - Fantastic Ballet in 4 Acts-7 Scenes with choreography by Marius Petipa See also Commedia dell'arte Harlequinade is a type of theatrical performance piece usually a slapstick adaptation of the Commedia dell'arte Cesare Pugni (Цезарь Пуни (31 May 1802&ndash was an Italian composer of Ballet music a pianist and a virtuoso Violinist.

See List of compositions for harp for the names of some notable pieces from the classical repertoire. The following is a non-exhaustive list of notable compositions for the Harp.

Alan Stivell is a well-known crossover and Celtic harpist. Alan Stivell (born Alan Cochevelou January 6, 1944) is a French musician whose father came from the small town of Gourin, Brittany He first recorded an EP record, "Musique Gaélique," in 1959, then an LP in 1964 called "Telenn Geltiek " (available in CD). Following these, he has released 21 other albums including his harps, from 1970 until now (the last one is "Explore" - 2006- ). He recorded also some albums specially dedicated to the harp: the famous "Renaissance of the Celtic Harp" (1972), "Harpes du Nouvel Age" (1985), and "Beyond Words" (2002). He helped to promote developments in Electro-acoustic and Electric harps. Electroacoustic music includes several different sonic and Musical genres or musical techniques Like Electric guitars electric harps are based on their acoustic originals, and there are both solid body and electro-acoustic models

In Hong Kong pop music, a recent work incorporating harp is the song Tian Shui Walled City(Chinese: 天水．圍城) performed by Hacken Lee with harp played by Korean jazz harpist Jung Kwak, aka Harpist K. Hong Kong ( officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, is a territory located on China 's south coast on the Pearl River Delta, and borders Hacken Lee (born 6 December 1967 is a award winning Hong Kong based Cantopop Singer, and Actor, Master of Ceremonies, Association Harpists active in jazz, free improvisation, folk music, world music, and "Celtic dream" music, include:

• Edmar Castañeda
• Cindy Horstman
• Ray Poole
• Oona McOuat
• Dorothy Ashby
• Moya Brennan
• Pearl Chertok
• Alice Coltrane
• Toumani Diabate
• Deborah Henson-Conant
• Georga Kelly
• Anne LeBaron
• Joanna Newsom
• Zeena Parkins
• Floraleda Sacchi
• Park Stickney
• Alan Stivell
• Andreas Vollenweider

In the 1970s, a harp was common in popular music, and can be heard in such hits as Cher's Dark Lady and the intro of Gypsies, Tramps, and Thieves. Jazz is an American Musical art form which originated in the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States Free improvisation or free music is improvised music without any rules beyond the taste or inclination of the musician(s involved in many cases the musicians make Folk music can have a number of different meanings including Traditional music: The original meaning of the term "folk music" was synonymous The term world music includes Traditional music (sometimes called Folk music or roots music of any culture that are created and played by indigenous musicians Edmar Castañeda (born 1978 in Bogotá, Colombia) is a Colombian harpist Dorothy Ashby ( August 6, 1932 - April 13, 1996) was an American Jazz Harpist and composer Máire Ní Bhraonáin, mˠaːrʲə nʲiː vɾˠiːn̪ˠaːn better known as Máire Brennan or Moya Brennan (born August 4, 1952, Gweedore Pearl Chertok ( June 18, 1918, in Laconia New Hampshire - August 1, 1981 in White Plains New York) was an internationally Alice Coltrane (neé McLeod) ( August 27 1937 &ndash January 12 2007) was an American Jazz Pianist Toumani Diabaté (born August 10 1965) is a Malian kora player who has gained international acclaim for his music Deborah Henson-Conant (b Stockton California, November 11, 1953) is an American Harpist known for her flamboyant stage presence Alice Anne LeBaron (b Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States, May 30 1953) is an United States composer and Harpist Joanna Newsom (born January 18 1982 is an American Harpist, Pianist, Harpsichordist, and Singer-songwriter from Nevada Zeena Parkins is a Harpist active in Rock music, Free improvisation and Jazz. Floraleda Sacchi ( June 14, 1978) is an Italian Harpist Composer and musicologist born in Como. Alan Stivell (born Alan Cochevelou January 6, 1944) is a French musician whose father came from the small town of Gourin, Brittany Andreas Vollenweider (born October 4 1953) is a Swiss Musician. Cher ( IPA: /ʃɛr/ born Cherilyn Sarkisian, May 20 1946 Most often this was played by Los Angeles studio harpist Gayle Levant, who has played on hundreds of recordings. In current pop music, the harp appears relatively rarely. Joanna Newsom, Dee Carstensen and Habiba Doorenbos have separately established images as harp-playing singer-songwriters with signature harp and vocal sounds. Joanna Newsom (born January 18 1982 is an American Harpist, Pianist, Harpsichordist, and Singer-songwriter from Nevada Dee Carstensen (born February 18, 1956 in Maryland) is a New York City -based Pop/alternative Harpist, Singer and Songwriter Canadian singer-songwriter Sarah McLachlan plays the harp in her 2006 holiday album, Wintersong. Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page Singer-songwriter is a term that refers to Performers who write, compose and sing their own material including Lyrics Sarah Ann McLachlan, OC, OBC (born January 28, 1968) is a Grammy -winning Canadian Musician, singer and Wintersong is a Grammy -nominated holiday Album by Canadian Singer-songwriter Sarah McLachlan, released in

A pedal harpist, Ricky Rasura, is a member of the "symphonic pop" band The Polyphonic Spree, and Björk sometimes features acoustic and electric harp in her work, often played by Zeena Parkins. The Polyphonic Spree is a self-described " choral symphonic rock " group from the Dallas Texas area Björk Guðmundsdóttir (born 21 November 1965 is an Icelandic Singer-songwriter, Composer, actress and music producer. Zeena Parkins is a Harpist active in Rock music, Free improvisation and Jazz. Art in America was the first known rock band featuring a pedal harp to appear on a major record label, and released only one record, in 1983. The pedal harp was also present in the Michael Kamen and Metallica concert and album S&M as part of the San Francisco Symphony orchestra. Michael Kamen ( April 15, 1948 – November 18, 2003) was an American Composer (especially of Film scores Metallica is an American heavy metal band that formed in 1981 in. S&M is a live album by the American heavy metal band Metallica, recorded live with the San Francisco Symphony on April 21-22 The San Francisco Symphony ( SFS) is a leading Orchestra based in San Francisco California. Some Celtic-pop crossover bands and artists such as Clannad and Loreena McKennitt include folk harps, following Alan Stivell's work. Clannad are a Grammy Award -winning Irish musical group, from Gweedore ( Gaoth Dobhair) County Donegal. Loreena Isabel Irene McKennitt CM (born February 17, 1957) is a Canadian singer composer harpist and pianist most famous for writing recording Alan Stivell (born Alan Cochevelou January 6, 1944) is a French musician whose father came from the small town of Gourin, Brittany

Folk, lever, and Celtic instruments

Singersongwriter / Harpist / Storyteller Oona McOuat plays her Dusty Strings Celtic Harp at the Apple Festival on Salt Spring Island, BC

New Salem Village re-enactors playing Celtic harps

The folk harp or Celtic harp is small to medium-sized and usually designed for traditional music; it can be played solo or with small groups. Singer-songwriter is a term that refers to Performers who write, compose and sing their own material including Lyrics The harp is a Stringed instrument which has the plane of its strings positioned perpendicular to the soundboard. New Salem is the name of a former village in Menard County, Illinois in the United States (previously Sangamon County "Reenactment" redirects here For the 1968 Romanian film see The Reenactment. It is prominent in Welsh, Breton, Irish, Scottish and other Celtic cultures within traditional or folk music and as a social and political symbol. Often the folk harp is played by beginners who wish to move on to the pedal harp at a later stage, or by musicians who simply prefer the smaller size or different sounds.

The folk or lever harp ranges in size from two octaves to six octaves, and uses levers or blades to change pitch. The most common size has 34 strings: Two octaves below middle C and two and a half above (ending on A), although folk or lever harps can usually be found with anywhere from 19 to 40 strings. The strings are generally made of nylon, gut, carbon fiber or flourocarbon, or wrapped metal, and are plucked with the fingers using a similar technique to the pedal harp.

Folk harps with levers installed have a lever close to the top of each string; when it is engaged, it shortens the string so its pitch is raised a semitone, resulting in a sharped note if the string was a natural, or a natural note if the string was a flat. Lever harps are often tuned to the key of E-flat. Using this scheme, the major keys of E-flat, B-flat, F, C, G, D, A, and E can be reached by changing lever positions, rather than re-tuning any strings. Many smaller folk harps are tuned in C or F, and may have no levers, or levers on the F and C strings only, allowing a narrower range of keys. Blades and hooks perform almost the same function as levers, but use a different mechanism. The most common type of lever is either the Camac or Truitt lever although Loveland levers are still used by some makers.

One of the attendant problems with lever harps is the potential loss of quality when the levers are used. The Teifi semi tone developed by Allan Shiers is a development from traditional mechanisms and nips up the string with two forks similarly to a concert harp. The semi tone is double locking for a full clear sound and does not wear the string. It is machined from solid brass and hardened steel and is adjustable by an eccentric roller to suit any gauge of string. In addition, the whole unit can be moved up or down to affect perfect pitch and string alignment. The leaver arms are coloured for ease of note recognition and two sizes are made to suit treble, mid and bass. Alan Stivell, with his father Jord Cochevelou (who recreate the Breton Celtic harp), were at the origin of the revival of the Celtic harp (in the 50s). Alan Stivell (born Alan Cochevelou January 6, 1944) is a French musician whose father came from the small town of Gourin, Brittany

Electric instruments

Main article: Electric harp

Amplified (electro-acoustic) and solid body electric lever harps are produced by some harpmakers such as Camac Harps

The Laser harp is also not a stringed instrument, it is a harp-shaped electronic instrument with laser beams where harps have strings. Like Electric guitars electric harps are based on their acoustic originals, and there are both solid body and electro-acoustic models Like Electric guitars electric harps are based on their acoustic originals, and there are both solid body and electro-acoustic models Camac Harps ( Les Harpes Camac) is a French company that manufactures pedal (concert harps, lever (folk harps, and electric A laser harp is an Electronic musical instrument consisting of several Laser beams to be blocked in analogy with the plucking of the strings of a Harp,

Wire-strung instruments (cláirseach or clàrsach)

Main article: Clàrsach

The harper on the Monifeith Pictish stone, Scotland, 700 - 900 AD

Maedoc book-cover, Ireland, circa 1000 CE

The Scottish medieval clàrsach 'Queen Mary harp' 'Clàrsach Màiri Na Banrighe, (c. Clàrsach ( Scots Gaelic) Cláirseach ( Middle Irish) are the Gaelic words for 'a Harp ' 1400) ^[1] now in the Museum of Scotland, is a one of only three surviving medieval Gaelic harps. The Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh, Scotland, is a building which together with the adjacent Royal Museum, comprises the National Museum of Scotland

The Gaelic word for a harp (Gaelic or otherwise) is cláirseach or cruit. Clàrsach ( Scots Gaelic) Cláirseach ( Middle Irish) are the Gaelic words for 'a Harp ' The variant Scottish spelling clàrsach represents the same sounds as the standard Gaelic spelling and is commonly used in Scotland. Clàrsach ( Scots Gaelic) Cláirseach ( Middle Irish) are the Gaelic words for 'a Harp '

The origins of the instrument go back at least to the first millennium. There are several stone carvings of harps from the 10^th century, many of which have simple triangular shapes, generally with straight pillars, straight string arms or necks, and soundboxes. There is stone carving evidence that supports the theory that the harp was present in Gaelic/Pictish Scotland well before the 9^th century. The Picts were a Confederation of tribes in what was later to become eastern and northern Scotland from Roman times until the 10th century ^[2]

The harp was the most popular musical instrument in later medieval Scotland and Ireland and Gaelic poets portrayed their Pictish counterparts as very much like themselves. ^[3]

The harp played by the Gaels of Scotland and Ireland between the 11^th and 19^th centuries was certainly wire-strung. Gerald of Wales (c 1146 &ndash c 1223 also known as Gerallt Gymro in Welsh or Giraldus Cambrensis in Latin, The Irish Maedoc Book Shrine dates from the 11^th century, and clearly shows a harper with a triangular framed harp including a "T-Section" in the pillar and the word Lamhchrann in Scottish Gaelic and Irish comes into use to indicate the bracing that would have been required to withstand the tension of a wire-strung harp. Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɾlənd/ Éire) is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world Scottish Gaelic ( Gàidhlig) is a member of the Goidelic branch of Celtic languages. Irish (ga ''Gaeilge'' is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish.

The Irish and Highland Harps by Robert Bruce Armstrong is an excellent book describing these ancient harps. There is historical evidence that the types of wire used in these harps are iron, brass, silver, and gold. Iron (ˈаɪɚn is a Chemical element with the symbol Fe (ferrum and Atomic number 26 Brass is any Alloy of Copper and Zinc; the proportions of zinc and copper can be varied to create a range of brasses with varying properties Silver (ˈsɪlvɚ is a Chemical element with the symbol " Ag " (argentum from the Ancient Greek: ἀργήντος - argēntos gen Gold (ˈɡoʊld is a Chemical element with the symbol Au (from its Latin name aurum) and Atomic number 79 Three pre-16^th century examples survive today; the Trinity College harp in Ireland, and the Queen Mary and Lamont harps, both in Scotland. Trinity College Dublin ( TCD; Irish Coláiste na Tríonóide Baile Átha Cliath; Latin: Collegium Sacrosanctae et Individuae Trinitatis Reginae The Trinity College harp is a medieval Musical instrument currently displayed in the long room at Trinity College Dublin. Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɾlənd/ Éire) is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain.

One of the largest and most complete collections of 17^th century harp music is the work of Turlough O'Carolan, a blind, itinerant Irish harper and composer. Turlough Carolan ( Irish name Toirdhealbhach Ó Cearbhalláin, 1670 - March 25, 1738) was a blind Itinerant Early At least 220 of his compositions survive to this day.

Since the 1970s, the tradition has been revived. Alan Stivell's "Renaissance de la harpe celtique" (perhaps the best-seller harp album in the world), using mainly the bronze strung harp, and his tours, has brought the instrument into the ears and the love of many people. Alan Stivell (born Alan Cochevelou January 6, 1944) is a French musician whose father came from the small town of Gourin, Brittany Ann Heymann has revived the ancient tradition and technique by playing the instrument as well as studying Bunting's original manuscripts in the library of Queens University, Belfast. Katie Targett-Adams ( KT-A) is currently leading the modern day crossover movement for the clarsach, performing to mainstream audiences across the globe, notably China. Other high profile players include Patrick Ball, Cynthia Cathcart, Alison Kinnaird, Bill Taylor, Siobhán Armstrong and others.

As performers have become interested in the instrument, harp makers ("luthiers") such as Jay Witcher, David Kortier, Ardival Harps, Joël Herrou and others have begun building wire-strung harps. The traditional wire materials are used, however iron has been replaced by steel and the modern phosphor bronze has been added to the list. Steel is an Alloy consisting mostly of Iron, with a Carbon content between 0 The phosphor bronze and brass are most commonly used. Steel tends to be very abrasive to the nails. Silver and gold are used to get high density materials into the bass courses of high quality clàrsachs to greatly improve their tone quality. In the period, no sharping devices were used. Harpers had to re-tune strings to change keys. This practice is reflected by most of the modern luthiers, yet some allow provisions for either levers or blades.

Multi-course

A multi-course harp is a harp with more than one row of strings. A harp with only one row of strings is called a single-course harp.

Double harp

A double-strung harp consists of two rows of diatonic strings one on either side of the neck. These strings may run parallel to each other or may converge so the bottom ends of the strings are very close together. Either way, the strings that are next to each other are tuned to the same note. Double-strung harps often have levers either on every string or on the most commonly sharped strings, for example C and F. Having two sets of strings allows the harpist's left and right hands to occupy the same range of notes without having both hands attempt to play the same string at the same time. It also allows for special effects such as repeating a note very quickly without stopping the sound from the previous note.

A triple harp features three rows of parallel strings, two outer rows of diatonic strings, and a center row of chromatic strings. The Welsh triple harp ( telyn deires) is a type of Harp using three rows of strings instead of the common single row In Music theory, a diatonic scale (from the Greek διατονικος, meaning " through tones" also known as the heptatonia prima and The chromatic scale is a Musical scale with twelve pitches each a Semitone or Half step apart To play a sharp, the harpist reaches in between the strings in either outer row and plucks the center row string. Like the double-strung harp, the two outer rows of strings are tuned the same, but the triple-strung harp has no levers. This harp originated in Italy in the 16^th century as a low headed instrument, and towards the end of 1600s it arrived in Wales where it developed a high head and larger size. Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest It established itself as part of Welsh tradition and became known as the Welsh harp (telyn deires, "three-row harp"). The traditional design has all of the strings strung from the left side of the neck, but modern neck designs have the two outer rows of strings strung from opposite sides of the neck to greatly reduce the tendency for the neck to roll over to the left.

Cross-strung harp

The cross-strung harp consists of one row of diatonically tuned strings and another row of chromatic notes. The cross-strung harp is a multi-course Harp that has two rows of strings which cross each other without touching These strings cross approximately in the middle of the string without touching. Traditionally the diatonic row runs from the right (as seen by someone sitting at the harp) side of the neck to the left side of the sound board. The chromatic row runs from the left of the neck to the right of the sound board. The diatonic row has the normal string coloration for a harp, but the chromatic row may be black. The chromatic row is not a full set of strings. It is missing the strings between the Es and Fs in the diatonic row and between the Bs and Cs in the diatonic row. In this respect it is much like a piano. The piano is a Musical instrument played by means of a keyboard that produces sound by striking steel strings with Felt covered hammers The diatonic row corresponds to the white keys and the chromatic row to the black keys. Playing each string in succession results in a complete chromatic scale.

As a symbol

Political

The Coat of arms of Ireland

The Irish € 1.00 coin

See also: Coat of Arms of the Republic of Ireland, Coat of arms of Montserrat, and Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom

The harp has been used as a political symbol of Ireland for centuries. The Coat of arms of Ireland is Blazoned as azure a harp or stringed argent - a gold Harp with silver strings on a St Irish euro coins all share the same design by Jarlath Hayes that of the Harp, a traditional symbol for Ireland since the Middle Ages, based on that of the Brian The Coat of arms of Ireland is Blazoned as azure a harp or stringed argent - a gold Harp with silver strings on a St The Coat of Arms of Montserrat was first adopted in 1909 The Arms consist of a shield featuring a lady in green representing Erin, the female personification The Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom is the official Coat of arms of the British monarch, currently Queen Elizabeth II. Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɾlənd/ Éire) is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world Its origin is from the time of Brian Boru, a famous 'High King' of the whole island of Ireland who played the harp. Brian mac Cennétig, called Brian Bóruma, ( c 941&ndash23 April 1014 (Brian Boru Brian Bóraimhe was an Irish king who ended the centuries-long domination In Celtic society every clan would have a resident harp player who would write songs in honour of the leader. A clan is a group of People united by Kinship and descent, which is defined by perceived descent from a common ancestor These were called Planxties. This evolved and would eventually be adapted as a symbol and representation of the Irish people, and under English occupation. It was used to symbolize Ireland in the Royal Standard of King James VI/I of Scotland, England and Ireland in 1603 and had continued to feature on all English, British and United Kingdom Royal Standards ever since, though the style of harp used differed on some Royal Standards. James VI and I (19 June 1566 – 27 March 1625 was King of Scotland as James VI, and King of England and King of Ireland as James England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland The Kingdom of Great Britain, also known as the United Kingdom of Great Britain, was a State in northwest Europe, in existence from 1707 to 1800 The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located It was also used on the Commonwealth Jack of Oliver Cromwell, issued in 1649 and on the Protectorate Jack issued in 1658 as well as on the Lord Protector's Standard issued on the succession of Richard Cromwell in 1658. The Commonwealth Flag (also known as the Commonwealth Jack) was the flag of the Commonwealth of England which replaced the Kingdom of England in 1649 Oliver Cromwell (25 April 1599 Old Style &ndash 3 September 1658 Old Style) was an English military and political leader best known The Protectorate Jack was the flag of the Protectorate from 1658 to 1660. Richard Cromwell ( 4 October 1626 &ndash 12 July 1712) was the third son of Oliver Cromwell, and the second Lord Protector The harp is also traditionally used on the flag of Leinster. Leinster (ˈlɛnstər Irish: Laighin, lainʲ one of the Provinces of Ireland, lies in the east of Ireland and comprises the counties of

From 1922 the Irish Free State continued to use a similar harp, facing left, as its state symbol on the Great Seal of the Irish Free State, featuring it both on the coat of arms and on the Presidential Standard and Presidential Seal - as well as on various other official seals and documents. The Irish Free State (Saorstát Éireann (1922&ndash1937 was the state established as a Dominion on 6 December 1922 under the Anglo-Irish Treaty, signed by See also Anthem Flag Harp Shamrock A coat of arms or armorial bearings (often just arms for short in European tradition is a design belonging to a particular person (or group of people The President of Ireland (Uachtarán na hÉireann n̪ˠə ˈheːɾʲən̪ˠ is the Head of state of Ireland. A flag is a piece of Cloth, often flown from a pole or mast, generally used Symbolically for signaling or identification See also Coat of arms of the Republic of Ireland This was based on the harp in the Library of Trinity College Dublin, which was badly restored in the 1840s. The Trinity College Library, the centrally-administered Library of Trinity College, Dublin, is the largest library in Ireland. Trinity College Dublin ( TCD; Irish Coláiste na Tríonóide Baile Átha Cliath; Latin: Collegium Sacrosanctae et Individuae Trinitatis Reginae Since it was fully rebuilt in 1961, it is seen to be wider at the base of the soundbox but this has gone unnoticed by Irish officials. ^[5] The harp also appears on Irish coinage from the Middle Ages to the current Irish euro coins. The state now called Ireland (and sometimes described as the Republic of Ireland) decided in the mid-1920s to design its own Coins and Banknotes at this Irish euro coins all share the same design by Jarlath Hayes that of the Harp, a traditional symbol for Ireland since the Middle Ages, based on that of the Brian

A South Asian version of harp known in Tamil as 'yaal', is the symbol of City of Jaffna, Sri Lanka, whose legendary root originates from a harp player. Tamil (ta தமிழ்; t̪əmɨɻ is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. Jaffna or Yazhpanam (யாழ்ப்பாணம் in Tamil meaning யாழ்= Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka ( Sinhalese:, இலங்கை known as Ceylon before 1972 is an Island

Corporate

The harp is also used extensively as a corporate logo — both private and government organisations. A logo ( Greek el λογότυπος = el-Latn logotypos is a graphical element ( Ideogram, Symbol, Emblem, Icon, Sign) The term privately held company refers to ownership of a business company in two different ways first referring to ownership by non-governmental organizations and second For the government of parliamentary systems see Executive (government. For instance; Ireland's most famous drink, Guinness, also uses a harp, facing right and also less detailed than the state arms. Guinness (ˈɡɪnɪs is a popular Dry stout that originated in Arthur Guinness ' brewery at St This was the second London-registered trademark in the 1860s, but was not actually used until the 1870s, when it was placed on bottles of stout exported to Britain, in the hope that British consumers would associate the drink with wholesome Irish agricultural produce. A trademark or trade mark, represented by the symbols ™ and ®, or mark is a distinctive sign or indicator used by an individual It was adopted on Guinness products in Ireland from the 1890s, for a different reason; to remind supporters of the growing nationalist movement that Guinness was Irish. ^[6] A simplified harp was adopted in the 1990s.

Relatively new organizations also use the harp, but often modified to reflect a theme relevant to their organization, for instance; Irish airline Ryanair uses a modified harp, somewhat in the form of an angel taking flight, and the Irish State Examinations Commission uses it with an educational theme. In art a motif is a repeated idea pattern image or theme Paisley designs are referred to as motifs Ryanair (,) is an Irish Airline with headquarters in Dublin and its biggest operational base at London Stansted Airport in the UK An angel is a Spiritual Supernatural being found in many Religions Although the nature of angels and the tasks given to them vary from tradition to tradition The State Examinations Commission ( Irish: Coimisiúin na Scrúduithe Stáit) is the organisation that replaced the Department of Education and Science Examinations Education encompasses both the Teaching and Learning of Knowledge, proper conduct, and technical competency

Other organizations in Ireland use the harp, but not always prominently; these include the National University of Ireland and the associated University College Dublin, and the Gaelic Athletic Association. The National University of Ireland ( NUI) (Ollscoil na hÉireann is a federal University system of constituent universities, previously called University College Dublin (UCD (An Coláiste Ollscoile Baile Átha Cliath - formally known as University College Dublin - National University of Ireland Dublin (An The Gaelic Athletic Association ( GAA) ( Irish: Cumann Lúthchleas Gael /'kʊmˠən̪ˠ 'l̪ˠuh In Northern Ireland the Police Service of Northern Ireland and Queen's University of Belfast use the harp as part of their identity. Northern Ireland (Tuaisceart Éireann Ulster Scots: Norlin Airlann) is a Country within the United Kingdom, lying in the northeast of The Police Service of Northern Ireland is the Police service that covers Northern Ireland. Queen's University Belfast is a university in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

External links

Mollie. "Auntie, don't cats go to heaven?"
Auntie. "No, my dear. Didn't you hear the Vicar say at the Children's Service that animals hadn't souls and therefore could not go to heaven?"
Mollie. "Where do they get the strings for the harps, then?"

---

Cartoon in Punch magazine 4 August 1920. Punch was a British weekly Magazine of Humour and Satire published from 1841 to 1992 and from 1996 to 2002

• Harp Spectrum - general information about the harp
• Clarsach.net - about the Gaelic harp of Ireland and the Scottish Highlands
• earlygaelicharp.info - information about early Irish and Scottish harps
• Asni: harp lore - descriptions of several types of historical European harps (with sound samples)
• The Celtic Harp Page - information on Celtic and other types of harps
• Video - short video showing the parts of the lever harp
• My Harp's Delight - learning to play the Celtic harp, tips and techniques, buying a harp
• Your harpist - Information on harps full with diagram and parts labeled.
• "Tears, Laughter, Magic" - An Interview with Master Celtic Harp Builder Timothy Habinski on AdventuresInMusic.biz, 2007

References

1. ^ Caldwell, D. H. (ed). Angels Nobles and Unicorns: Art and Patronage in Medieval Scotland. Edinburgh: NMS, 1982
2. ^ The Origins of the Clairsach or Irish Harp. Musical Times, Vol. 53, No 828 (Feb 1912), pp 89-92.
3. ^ Forsyth, "Evidence of a lost Pictish Source", pp. 27–28.
4. ^ Gerald of Wales, Topographia Hibernica, 94; tr. John O’ Meary, The History and Topography of Ireland, (London, 1982).
5. ^ Comerford R. V. Ireland (Arnold, London 2003) p265.
6. ^ Dennison & McDonagh Guinness 1886-1939 (London 1992) passim.

Additional sources

• The Anglo Saxon Harp, Spectrum, Vol. 71, No. 2 (Apr. , 1996), pp 290-320.
• The Origins of the Clairsach or Irish Harp. Musical times, Vol. 53, No 828 (Feb 1912), pp 89-92.
• Alasdair Ross discusses that all the Scottish harp figures were copied from foreign drawings and not from life, in 'Harps of Their Owne Sorte'? A Reassessment of Pictish Chordophone Depictions "Cambrian Medieval Celtic Studies" 36, Winter 1998
• Snyder's Medieval Art, 2nd ed, p32. Luttikhuizen and Verkerk
• http://www.stams.strath.ac.uk/research/pictish/database.php?details=186.
  The Nigg stone is dated before the Utrecht Psalter and cannot have influenced the Pictish carvers to copy harp figures from the Ross study; date cited from Strathclyde University STAMS Pictish Stones Search Facility
• Courteau, Mona-Lynn. "Harp". In J. Shepherd, D. Horn, D. Laing, P. Oliver and P. Wicke (Eds. ), The Continuum Encyclopedia of Popular Music of the World, Vol. 2, 2003, pp. 427-437.
• Faul, Michel. "Nicolas Bochsa: harpiste, compositeur, escroc"; first biography (in French) of one of the most celebrated harpists in the XIXth century. Robert Nicolas-Charles Bochsa (born August 9, 1789 in Montmédy, Meuse, France, died January 6, 1856 in Presented on http://bochsa.site.voila.fr
• Latham, Alison (2002), The Oxford Companion to music, (Harpa) Oxford University Press p564.
• Sacchi, Floraleda. Floraleda Sacchi ( June 14, 1978) is an Italian Harpist Composer and musicologist born in Como. "Elias Parish Alvars, Life, Music, Documents: annotated catalogue of his works for harp, piano, orchestra and voice", Odilia Publishing, 1999 - ISBN 3-9521367-1-9. Eli Parish ( February 28, 1808, Teignmouth, Devonshire England - January 25, 1849
• Ó Brógáin, Séamas, The Irish Harp Emblem, Dublin: Wolfhound Press, 1998; ISBN 0-86327-635-0