The double-strung Welsh Harp was apparently developed in the 14th Century, with an extra row of strings to give the sharps and flats. Three things necessary for happiness:Ī faithful Wife, a well-padded Chair, and a Harp well-tuned. 920 CE): Three things that are essential to a Lord:Ī Harp, A Cloak and A Chessboard. The Irish Triads tell us more information about how the Harp was regarded in the Early Medieval period (ca. There are carvings on stone crosses in Ireland, also, that date from the same period, and we can infer from this that the Celtic Harp, in its' present form, must date from at least 800 CE, and probably earlier. The earliest written mention of the Harp per se is found in the Utrecht Psalter, a Carolingian Ms. The concept of "harp" goes all the way back into pre- history, being an obvious development from the primitive mouth-bow, but when it came to Ireland, there developed a unique musical instrument that was accorded the kind of reverence usually reservedįor swords, in pre-medieval and medieval times. Most of the texts I have seen on "Irish" Harp don't approach it from the angle of pre-medieval and medieval period styles and techniques.Ī SHORT HISTORY OF THE CELTIC HARP Where, or when, the Celtic harp had its' origins we are not really sure. The Irish Harp is most emphatically NOT the same instrument as the Concert Harp, and is approached, and played, quite differently. If you already play the Concert Harp, then most of this information will be old stuff. The more information you can get, the better off you are. I strongly suggest that you buy every other book on playing Celtic/Irish harp that you can find, and use this in conjunction with them. It is not meant to teach everything there is to know about harps, harpers and harping, but simply to get you started in the right direction with a minimum of fuss and bother. GENERAL: This text is meant as an INTRODUCTION to Celtic Harp. 9 Playing where you're not supposed to.Pg. 6 The Modes, and I don't mean ice cream.Pg.
3 Chords, tuning and other exotic stuff .Pg.Pg. General Introduction A short history of the Celtic Harp.Pg. REVISED EDITION 1996 CE All Rights Reserved to the Author: Post No Bills This Means You! White Tree Productions PO Productions PO Box 35190 Phoenix-AZ-85069 © copyright 1976, 1989, 1990, 1996, 1997 W.J.Bethancourt III First published in 1976 by White Tree Publications Dedicated to Ted Myrick, and to Diana Paxton and my sweet Lady Wife, Cherie Ruadh, Ruadh, With thanks to Richard Felix, Alexander Platt, and Ed (the W onder Horse) Hirt. LOCKSLEY'S E - Z HARP METHOD or: Eire and Back Again by Joe Bethancourt A Means of Familiarization with the Medieval Celtic Harp Designed For the Musically Illiterate.