About Harps
The harp instrument is a versatile stringed musical instrument, traditionally made from wood, that can be played either sitting or standing depending on its size and the preference of the musician.
Harps vary greatly in size, from small lap instruments to grand concert harps, also known as pedal harps, which often feature as the centrepiece in orchestral compositions and solo concerts. Harps are all different sizes and are equipped with pedals and sometimes multiple rows of strings, allowing for a broader range of notes and intricate harmonies.
Historically, the earliest known harps, dating back to 2500 BCE, were discovered in Sumer, and early variants of this enchanting instrument are still played in Myanmar and parts of Africa today. The repertoire of the harp is extensive, accommodating various types of harp including Celtic, folk, and lever harps. These midsize harps usually have levers that modify the pitch of the strings, allowing the instrument to be tuned to different scales and keys. Harps can have a range from two to six octaves and offer multi-course varieties featuring multiple parallel rows of strings for more complex music. In contrast to lever harps, chromatic strung harps achieve semi-tones not through the use of pedals but with additional strings. Furthermore, technological advancements have introduced electric harps, augmenting traditional sound with electronic amplification.
Typically triangular, harps create a resonance that is achieved by plucking the strings, which may be made of gut, wire, or synthetic materials, with the fingers. The pitch of each string is determined by several factors: the tension applied to it, its weight, and the length of the string, which is defined by the distance between the tuning peg and the soundboard. Traditional harps for sale are tuned by adjusting these pegs, allowing each note to resonate perfectly within a performance.
