Harp strung with nylon: A 1 to D 26 in nylon, then C 27 to C 34 in metal.The strings of the Celtic harp (for a 34-string harp): The standard model has 34 strings.Įach string has a number and a gauge that you count from the highest to the lowest. We can find models ranging from 22 to 38 strings. The Celtic harp can have a varying number of strings depending on the size. Two lever positions per string are possible. The levers are used to make semitones, that is, to raise or lower each string by a semitone or half-step. The instrument has crossed into the 20th century, made a foray into jazz and continues to evolve through the creativity of rising generations. But I invite you to search for works with harp on the internet. I am only citing here the most outstanding of our French harp school, cradle of the pedal harp. Marcel Tournier, Marcel Grandjany, Alphonse Hasselmans, Carlos Salzedo, were not only brilliant harpists but also wonderful composers who highlighted the instrument and performer.
The delicate repertoire of the harp evolved at the same time as the Impressionistic movement of painters, thanks in particular to its subtle bisbigliandi and glissandi effects, and other colors that Debussy and Ravel revealed in their concert pieces, respectively “Sacred Dance and Profane Dance ” and “Introduction and Allegro”. The harp definitely took its place in the orchestra, opera and ballet after 1830, notably with Berlioz and his famous Symphonie Fantastique with six harps in the orchestra!
The harp experienced its “rebirth” in the Romantic era.Ĭomposers like John Thomas and Parish-Alvars, a great Welsh harpist and composer, raised the harp to the rank of virtuoso instrument. It was in France, around the middle of the 18th century, at the time of Naderman, Bochsa, Boieldieu, that the repertoire was enriched, reaching its true development from the creation of the double-action pedal harp in 1810 by Sébastien Erard. He actually wrote a great many pieces for the Irish harp, but most of the time only the melody was written. The true harp repertoire began in Ireland with O ’Carolan in the 17th and 18th centuries. However, there are many arrangements for the harp. The Baroque era with its double and triple harps left us little written music, because the instrument had more of an accompaniment, a role with basso continuo.
Some harpists have adapted melodies ranging from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance. If you own an Ogden, Prelude, Troubadour, or Folk Harp, don’t send that order back! You’ve got exactly what you need.Vast subject… there is no trace of the music at its origins. The problem arises, according to my friend who handles orders and shipping, is that many customers are confused when their order arrives and they find they’ve received a set of pedal harp strings for their lever harp. The site includes a form where you can select your model of harp and get a list of the appropriate strings. You don’t need to keep all of this information in your head if you generally order through.
The electric Silhouette is also strung with lever harp strings. Both of these are strung with Bow Brand lever strings. Other models of Lyon & Healy lever harp were designed for the player who intends to stay with the lever harp. In esssence, these models of lever harp function as “starter” pedal harps as far as tension, sound, and feel are concerned. This eases the transition for a student who begins on lever harp and then progresses to a pedal harp once she has decided she’s crazy enough to stay with the harp. Since Lyon & Healy is a pedal harp maker, they have long designed most models of lever harp they produce to have the same spacing, tension, and feel as their pedal harps. The same is true of the Folk Harp, which is no longer produced, but there are still lots of them being played. Lyon & Healy’s three current models of lever harp, the Troubadour, Prelude, and Ogden, are all string with pedal harp strings. The confusing thing is that many models of Lyon & Healy lever harp are designed to take pedal harp strings. Bow Brand, which produces strings for Lyon & Healy and, produces both pedal and lever harp strings. I was talking with a colleague over at, Lyon & Healy’s partner website for strings, accessories, and all things harp, and he told me that his customers frequently experience confusion over what type of strings to buy for their Lyon & Healy lever harp.