Harps

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A harp is a chordophone. The vibration of strings echoes in the sound box and makes the sound. There are three basic forms of harp: bowed, angle, and frame. On all three forms the strings run, at an angle, between the neck and the resonator (or body). The strings, neck and resonator roughly describe a triangle. The bowed harp has a neck that is a curved extension of the resonator. This is the oldest form and is believed to have developed from a musical bow. Ornate and simple bow harps were depicted in wall paintings of ancient Egypt and Sumeria from 3000 BC. The angle harp has a neck that is a separate piece attached to the resonator. This form is most likely derived form Persia and was known in Egypt ca. 2000 BC. In Babylonian carvings these angle harps are shown being played with the neck pointing down. The frame harp has the resonator, neck, and an arm connecting the end of the neck to the opposite end of the resonator. Our Celtic rosewood harps are frame harps. This form originated in the Medieval Period. With only slight modification in style, the Celtic harp has not changed significantly in over a thousand years.

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