![]() |
![]() |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
What is a Harp? by Joyce Rice and Deb Seymour What is a harp? Is it the instrument played by angels floating on clouds? Or is it that tall, golden, half-hidden thing in the symphony orchestra? Maybe it's that squat and broad instrument in an Irish band or the stringed instrument accompanying an African storyteller.
In simplest terms, the harp is any plucked string instrument, usually triangular in shape, in which the plane of the strings is perpendicular to the soundboard. Zithers, auto harps, guitars and violins all have their strings running parallel to the sound board (or sound hole), which is their major difference from harps. Although harps come in a huge variety of shapes, sizes, and weights, they all consist of three main parts: the sound board (or box), the neck, and the strings. The modern Western harp is triangular in shape. Most harps are between two feet (60 cm) to six feet (1m.80) tall and have 22 to 47 strings. Smaller harps may sit on your lap, but larger ones usually rest on the floor. Their strings may be of gut, wire, or nylon, in one, two, three, or crossed ranks.
We invite you to learn much more about the harp through this Harp Spectrum website. Click here for another history of the harp, from the Lyon & Healy West website, or browse through our own page of Harp History links..
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Home |
What is a harp?
Historical Harp | Folk and World Harp | Pedal Harp | Harp Building | Harp Works | Non-Harps | Camps & Concerts | Links | Glossary | Donate! | Get Involved! | Contact Us | About Harp Spectrum Copyright 2002 - 2017, Harp Spectrum All Rights Reserved |