![]() The sound of the old harps would ring for a long time so, sometimes the strings were stopped to provide clarity of tone and to avoid muddying fast passages. The upper strings, often a thin steel wire, had a sweet tinkling sound. These harps had a loud, full, rich, bell-like sound. The old harps were strung with thick brass wire and plucked with long, crooked fingernails which resembled quills. Today, harps are held against the right shoulder and the hands' playing positions are reversed. They were traditionally held against the left shoulder, the left hand playing the upper strings and the right hand, the lower strings. Old Celtic harps were played with a different technique than used today for pedal harps. Chiefs and kings added fancy gold and silver ornamentation and jewels and often created priceless treasures. All Gaelic peoples liked to decorate their harps with intricate carving and crystals. His harp was often heavily decorated and highly revered. In Ireland, the harpers were consulted before going to war and often lead the troops to battle with harp and sword, singing of victory and slaying his share of the enemy. These benefits were not inherited by their children but went to the best harper. In ancient times, harpers were the counselors of kings and were given the chair of honor, titles and wealth for their services. Recently, however, the wire strung harp has been rediscovered. Today, some class it as a folk instrument because the original methods of building and playing it were lost during extended political turmoil in Ireland and there has been little general interest in it for years. In ancient times, the wire strung harp was an instrument of the aristocratic class as well as the most loved instrument of the Irish people. Modern coins depict the fourteenth century Trinity College harp. History often repeats itself and a resurgence of the Irish harp seems to be occurring right now.įor several hundred years, since Henry VIII, the Irish have used a harp as their emblem. Fascinated with all the varieties of small harp, I learned to play a Gaelic harp, eventually joined an Irish Ceili band and learned of the interesting history surrounding the old harps, their disappearance and recent revival. ![]() My first sight of the Irish harp occurred at Lark In The Morning. When I came to work for Lark In The Morning, my knowledge of music was superficial but included one semester of pedal harp. Today the harp has an aura of mystery because the average person has never seen a real pedal harp except at the symphony and has never heard of an Irish harp. It is said the music heard in heaven is the golden sound of harps.
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