The harp is a stringed musical instrument of ancient lineage that has a number of individual strings running at an angle to its soundboard. The strings are plucked with the fingers. Harps vary globally in many ways. In terms of size, many smaller harps can be played on the lap.
Whereas larger harps are quite heavy and rest
on the floor, different harps may use strings of catgut, nylon, metal, or some
combination. Over the years, the harp has morphed
from its primitive hunting bow shape to its modern day use in corporate
branding. Across the globe, each culture has its own variation of this
whimsical soft-sounding instrument.
While all harps have a neck, resonator, and strings, frame harps have a pillar at their
long end to support the strings. Open
harps as arch and bow harps do not. Modern harps also
vary in techniques used to extend the range and adjusting a string's note
mid-performance with levers or pedals which modify the pitch. Below are interesting facts that may be
unknown to you about the harp:
1. A modern harpist plays using only
the first four fingers on each hand. They pluck the strings near the middle of
the harp using the pads of their fingers. Irish
harpists use their
fingernails to pluck the wire strings.
2. Harp
music looks like piano music.
3. Harp
strings are different colors.
4. Harps
are hollow.
5. Harps
have 47 strings.
6. Harps
have 7 pedals.
7. Harps
have to be tuned every time that they are moved.
8. Nowhere is there a larger variety of
harps than in Africa. The harp has a place in the
traditions of nearly 150 African peoples.
9. Once an
aristocratic instrument
played for royalty, harpists were challenged with being able to evoke three
distinct emotions from their audience: tears, laughter, and sleep.
10.
The
harp has been Ireland’s
national symbol
since the thirteenth century.
11.
The
harp is one of the oldest
instruments in the world.
It dates back to around 3000 B.C. and was first depicted on the sides of
ancient Egyptian tombs and in Mesopotamian culture.
12.
The
popular Irish beer, Guinness, features a harp as its symbol.
13.
The
rapid succession of musical notes played on a harp is called arpeggio and the sweeping motion of the hands across the strings is
termed glissando.
14.
The
word harpa was first used
around the year 600 and is a generic term for stringed instruments. The verb harp
means to talk incessantly about one subject similar to a harpist plucking the
same string over and over.
Play joyous melodies of praise upon
the lyre and on the harp. Compose new songs of praise to him, accompanied
skillfully on the harp; sing joyfully. (Psalm
33:2-3,
TLB)[i]
[i] Sources used:
·
“10
fun facts about the harp” By Miki Onwudinjo
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