By the Baroque period in Italy and Spain, more strings were added to allow for chromatic notes in more complex harps. East Asia Ī medieval European harp (the Wartburg harp) with buzzing bray pinsĪs European harps evolved to play more complex music, a key consideration was some way to facilitate the quick changing of a string's pitch to be able to play more chromatic notes.

The ancient veena survives today in Burma, in the form of the saung harp still played there. Some Samudragupta gold coins show of the mid-4th century CE show (presumably) the king Samudragupta himself playing the instrument. Īnother early South Asian harp was the ancient veena, not to be confused with the modern Indian veena which is a type of lute. One of the Sangam works, the Kallaadam recounts how the first yaaḻ harp was inspired by an archer's bow, when he heard the musical sound of its twang. Iconographic evidence of the yaal appears in temple statues dated as early as 600 BCE. Variants were described ranging from 14 to 17 strings, and the instrument used by wandering minstrels for accompaniment. The works of the Tamil Sangam literature describe the harp and its variants, as early as 200 BCE. An arched harp made of wooden brackets and metal strings is depicted on an Indus seal. Mesolithic era paintings from Bhimbetka show harp playing. Harps have symbolic political traditions and are often used in logos, including in Ireland. Distinct designs also emerged from the African continent. Harps were found across the Americas where it was a popular folk tradition in some areas. By medieval times harps had spread across Europe. Some have multiple rows of strings and pedal attachments.Īncient depictions of harps were recorded in Mesopotamia, Persia (now Iraq and Iran) and Egypt, and later in India and China. Its most common form is triangular in shape and made of wood. Harps can be made and played in various ways, standing or sitting, and in orchestras or concerts.

The harp is a stringed musical instrument that has individual strings running at an angle to its soundboard the strings are plucked with the fingers.

Small handheld harp