They were made of out hair in the past and now out of nylon. The Latin American harps are known for their powerful bass sounds. Another ancestor of the modern harp that had its central role in the cultural life of its time. The lyre is one of the most famous instruments in the period of ancient Greece and Rome. It was even thought of as the instrument of the gods.
As time progressed so did the lyre harp. The instrument started out in the Mycenaean culture with 4 strings. Eventually, that number increased to 8.
The final version of the greek and roman lyre had 10 strings. The evolution of the instrument is hard to follow. One such was Plutarch who claimed that the number of strings in his day was 3, even when archaeological findings, like pictures on vases, show that lyres had 8 or more stings at that time. By the end of the 9th and the beginning of the 10th century, the shape of the hard started to look similar to what we have today. But those harps were not the size of or the space of the harps of today.
Most of them was a rectangle or triangle. They were primary wooden and portable. In most cases, they were as big as an average forearm. Musicians, in most cases, were travelers in those times, apart from those who gained the favor of wealthy and influential lords or kings. That is why their instruments had to be light enough but also sturdy enough to travel throughout the lands.
The lucky harp players in those days were quite popular. They were almost as famous as lords or knights. Their harps were carved in extravagant shapes, some even decorated with noble stones or metals.
In most cases, the medieval harp had 10 strings, made out of wire or hair. You may be wondering what are these strings made out of right? Harps also vary in the style of construction in terms of the materials used to make their different parts. Different harps use different materials for their harp strings. Harp strings can be made using gut, nylon, carbon, wire, or metal.
This article will give an in-depth discussion of the different materials used to make the harp strings. Concert gut is mostly used on pedal harps. It is firm and produces a warm tone. Their firm tension necessitates those harp players using gut-stringed harps to have strong hands. This type of gut is lighter and softer in tension compared to the concert gut. Gut harp strings usually produce a very warm sound.
Also, the lower resonance helps. Remember, string numbers on harps vary by type and model. We hope that you enjoyed learning these fascinating details about the harp. If you have further questions, please let us know! Your email address will not be published. Contents hide. Pedal Harp. The Celtic Harp. Multi-course Harp. Electric Harp. Lyre Harp. The Central Register. The High Register. Conclusion Related Posts:. Related Posts:. Different Types of Harps. The Central Register: The central register resonates beautifully and arpeggios and short running notes as well as chords fit perfectly in this register.
Keep up to date about online concerts, behind the scenes content and much more. Follow us. Sign up for email updates and be the first to receive stories, films and concert announcements. Sign up. Enjoyed this content? We need your help to keep these resources free. Donate now. We use cookies to ensure we give you the best experience of our website. Learn more. Resources Instruments Harp The modern concert harp is very different in appearance from the instruments used centuries ago to accompany songs and those used today in folk music across the world such as the Irish harp.
Find out more here: Find out more. Introduction The concert harp sound is very similar to that of its relatives only more powerful and richer in tone.
Notation Because of the unique characteristics of the harp there are elements of the notation which are different, but essentially the harp is notated on two staves like the piano.
Did you know? This harp got its name due to the levers on each string. With this feature, harpists can play two different notes on the same string of their harps. Normally, there are 22 to 36 strings on most lever harps, but sometimes you can find tostring lever harps on the market. While playing, you have to play the notes and adjust at the same time. With only your hands, there will be mistakes during your performance.
Therefore, the lever harp is the first choice of many beginners. However, since the levers control the strings, harpists need to use both hands to reach the levers to play the harp properly. This type of harp has another name — modern-day harp. Unlike the lever harp with levers on top, the pedal from this harp stays on the instrument's bottom. Some models come with 47 strings on their frames, while some have 46 strings. Apart from that, there are seven pedals on every pedal harp model.
Each pedal has three different positions to adjust and increase the notes' ranges while playing. There are no limits when you choose the pedal harp.
With a creative mind, you can perform any music piece. This harp enables you to focus on playing by hands entirely and use your feet to adjust the pedals. Hence, many potential and serious students advance to the pedal model from the lever one.
Next on our list, we present you the Celtic harp. Many experts assume that the name is from the region where this harp's revival started. The average number for these harp strings is Among Celtic harp models, there are differences in the string number and variants in the construction. Some models offer only 22 strings, while some have 38 strings.
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