The History of Harps
Even before guitars or violins or pianos, the harp was already in the music world. It is known as the oldest stringed instrument and has been in existence for thousands of years. According to Alisonvardy.com/harp-info, the word "harp" actually comes from Anglo-Saxon, Old German, and Old Norse words meaning "to pluck." Dating back to the years of the pharaohs in Egypt to the Greeks in Western Europe, there have been multiple types and names for the harp.
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In the Beginning
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No one is exactly sure when the harp came into existence but historians say that the earliest harp was found in Ancient Egypt around 2500 B.C. They were not shaped like harps today. They were rather a bow shaped instrument with only a few strings that stretched from end to end. The earliest harps were bow shaped because they were based on the sound made by the hunter's bow.
Historical Harps Among the Nations
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Early historical images of bow harps in Egypt are said to be found from the pharaohs' tombs dating back to 1198-1166 B.C. The images featured hieroglyphs of harps being used during this time. While some of the earliest harps were evident in Egypt, they were also found throughout the Middle East and Western Europe. Lyre harps (vertical harps with two arms) appeared in the Middle East, while the Triangular harp (as we see it today) appeared in Western Europe. The triangular harp was primary used in the Christian church when monks would use it to accompany their voices in the Gregorian chant for worship services.
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The Frame harp
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The frame harp first existed in medieval Western Europe during the 8th to 10th centuries and consisted of a straight forepillar (column similar to a modern harp) and exposed 10 to 11 strings. Later in the 14th century, a similar harp featured a hollowed soundbox that amplified the harp's sound. This harp was found in Ireland and it had a curved forepillar with a stronger neck that used 30 to 36 strings.
Single-Action and Double-Action Pedal Harps
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After double-strung harps were introduced in the 17th century (harps that had two rows of strings that were tuned for the use of two-handed playing), single-action pedals emerged. It was about 1720 when the single-action pedal harp was used by musicians. There were five pedals (eventually seven pedals) that were housed in the bottom of the soundbox. When each pedal was depressed, they would sustain and sharpen the note of certain strings. However, with the single-action pedal harp, not every note could be effected by the harp while playing. In the early 1800s, the double-action pedal emerged with seven pedals and could effect every string on the instrument. The double-action pedal harp (and some single-action pedal harps) are still used today.
Historical Names of the Harp World
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Sebastien Erard (1752-1831) was as a German harpist who developed the single-action and double-action pedal harp. Marcel Grandjany was a successful harp virtuoso, harp teacher and founder of the American Harp Society during the early 1900s. Carlos Salzedo was a French harpist who established the harp as a significant instrument in the 20th century while composing a number of harp musical pieces and designing the Lyon & Healy Salzedo model harp.
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