History of the Harp - from Ancient Egypt to Modern Society

The harp is the oldest of all string musical instruments played with the hand. Yet, harps continue to intrigue and inspire today! Here we will explore the history of the harp and how it has evolved to the beloved instrument it is today.

The wonderful instrument that we call the harp has had a long and fruitful The ancient Egyptians used harps in several sizes and shapes, as may be seen by the carvings and paintings on their monuments. The Assyrians, the Greeks, the Hebrews, and other Oriental peoples all used it, as well as the Celts, the Saxons, and the Arabs. Most of the ancient harps were comparatively small. Some were even small enough to be held in the left hand and played with the right, like a lyre.

The harp when played by both hands was called a double harp. The modern harp has been developed from the old double harp. A double harp nowadays is one strung with two sets of strings, one on each side of the frame. From the 14th century on, the harp began to increase in size, and now the regular size is 65 inches in height.

The ancient harps could only be played in one key. However, early in the 18th century, and especially in Germany, pedals were invented, which made it possible to make any or all notes a semitone higher when desired. About a century later Sebastian Erand invented the double-action pedal, which made two changes in the tone of the strings. The modern harp has seven double-action pedals, and from 43 to 48 strings. The four parts of the harp are called: the pedestal, the base on which it rests and in which the pedals work; the column; the soundboard; and the neck.

Up to the middle of the 19th century, harp playing was part of every lady's education. Later on, the popularity of the piano, which is only a mechanically played harp, made the harp almost obsolete.

Recently it has regained popularity because of the sweetness and mellowness of its tone and the opportunity the instrument offers for graceful personal display. It has always been included in the full orchestra, and now harp ensembles of as many as 50 instruments are sometimes heard.

Along with the robust sound and soul-inspiring melody of our modern-day, full-sized harps, harps of all sizes have been cropping up in novelty shops, unique corner markets, and music stores nationwide. The whimsical mouth harp, which is nothing more than a couple of pieces of metal bent in a specific fashion, is a favorite among bluegrass and country music artists.

Sources:

us.harp.com/history-of-the-harp.htm
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harp
web.singnet.com.sg/~harpist/history.htm
www.astronautix.com/articles/abroject.htm