Harp, Celtic or Irish Harp
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Like All Orchestral Harps, the Irish, or Celtic harp has a triangular frame with strings of different lengths that are plucked to form the notes. It has no pedals. You change the pitch of the strings by pressing the finger-operated levers, or ditals, on the pillar. This 1820 example, known as a portable Irish harp, is the work of the Irish harp-builder, John Egan, who led a revival of the old tradition of harp playing in Ireland.
| Family |
| Strings |
| Pitch range |
| Over four octaves. |
| Material |
| Wood, with strings traditionally of metal, but also of gut. |
| Size |
| About 3 ft (90 cm) tall, and 22 in (55cm) wide. |
| Origins |
| The Irish harp evolved from the minstrels' harp of medieval Europe. The traditional harp gave way to the type seen here in the 1800s. |
| Classification |
| Chordophone: an instrument that produces its sound by the vibration of strings. |
| And also... |
| The Irish har p is traditionally plucked with the fingernails. If a player annoyed listeners with his songs, they would break his nails. |
