Harp

Aiton's Encyclopedia (1910)

a musical stringed instrument played by plucking with the fingers. The invention of the harp is ascribed to the Egyptians from whom the Hebrews, no doubt, derived it. David, the sweet psalmist of Israel, played the harp to drive away the evil spirits that plagued King Saul. The harp was long the instrument of minstrelsy and was given the place of honor at court and at feasts. Scott's Lay of the Last Minstrel is a spirited portrayal of the manners prevailing at the close of the Border Minstrelsy. The old minstrel, forgetful of toil and want, tuned his harp Till every spring's according glee Was blended into harmony . . . And lighted up his fading eye With all a poet's ecstacy. In varying cadence soft or strong He swept the sounding chords along . . . Each blank in faithless memory void The poet's glowing thought supplied. And while his harp responsive rung, 'Twas thus the Latest Minstrel sung. The harp of Erin divides with the shamrock the honor of being the national emblem of Ireland. The early harp had from four to eleven strings. The Hebrews gave it its graceful shape. The modern harp, used with fine effect in orchestras, has forty-six strings. By an invention, brought to perfection about 1808 through the efforts of a musician named Erard, the heel is furnished with seven pedals, each of which may be depressed two notches. Depressing the first pedal, for instance, one notch shortens all the F strings by so much as is necessary to raise their notes a semitone. Depressing the F pedal again shortens the F strings and raises their notes another semitone. The pedals are depressed or released by the toe of the player. See Aeolian Harp