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The Celtic Harp

 
The Celtic Harp is an ancient instrument. Images of harps appear on Pictish stone carvings from about 200 AD, and on ancient jewelry and ornaments. Also, harps are found in the rich heritage of myths and stories of the Celts. The size and shape of the harp may vary slightly, but all have a triangular shape with a soundbox and curved forepillar.

The oldest instruments had wire strings and were played with the fingernails, but the Celts were a clever lot and experimented widely with available materials for strings. The strings on Sue's harp are nylon, and she plays with her finger pads in a modified "classical" technique.

The modern "pedal" harp, in contrast, is only about 200 years old and is used mainly for orchestral music. It has seven foot pedals in the rear, one for each note of the scale, and they allow the musician to change key quickly without interrupting the music. The sound of the pedal harp is deep and the sound dies relatively quickly, whereas the Celtic harp is brighter, with a longer ring off.

The harper was held in great esteem in the life of the old clans. There are records of payments being made to the clan harper in the form of clothing, land, animals, and favors. The harper often told the history of the clan in his music, and would sing about the history by the fireside, noting important births and deaths, victories and defeats through songs and tunes. It has been said that the harper would lead the clan into battle, but it is more likely that they inspired them to bravery during the battle through the rallies the night before.

The Celtic harp is made of hardwoods such as cherry, walnut, and maple. Occasionally other woods are used, particularly if the wood has a supernatural significance. Oak was used for strength and power, willow for sweetness and light. Silver, gems, and elaborate carvings were used to decorate the harp and add to the magical power of the music that was to come through the harp. More than any other instrument, the harp is often given a formal name and is referred to as if it had a soul. When one hears the wind blow through the harp, the strings make it sound as if it were playing by itself and one can understand why people were in awe of harps.

The Celtic harp almost died out in the past 200 years as a result of political suppression of the native cultures of Ireland and Scotland. There has been a slow revival since the 1930s, which has exploded since 1970. Many builders are now making harps relatively inexpensively, and the harp is such an intimate instrument to play that many people are attracted to it. Recordings and music make it even more enticing, and the harp revival movement is thriving.