How is a Clarsach different to a harp?

The Clarsach is a performance lever harp originally commissioned by the legendary Derek Bell MBE, celebrated harpist with The Chieftains. The Clarsach is also the ideal first harp for a young harpist who will one day want to play the classical harp, as the string tension and spacing on both are the same.

How old is the Clarsach?

The earliest depictions of the instrument can be found on Pictish stones, dating back to the 8th century. It came in two different forms: the earlier Pictish harp, strung with gut or horsehair; and the Gaelic clàrsach, strung with wire.

How is the Irish harp played?

Pedals change the pitch of all strings of the same name simultaneously, e.g. all ‘C’ strings. The early Irish harp was wire-strung, played on the left shoulder, with the left-hand on the treble strings and the right-hand on the bass strings. It had two unison G strings below middle C, and a short octave at the bottom.

Why are harps so expensive?

The price of used harps is closer to the actual cost of making them because there is a higher demand for the number available. Even then, most used harps go for less than it would cost to make them. Harps are largely hand made out of good materials.

What family is the harp in?

String Family
The String Family String family instruments are any instruments that use vibrating strings to create their sound. In an orchestra, the most common string family instruments are the violin, viola, cello, bass, and harp.

Is harp easier than guitar?

The harp is among the easiest to play than the guitar and not only guitar but in the range of stringed instruments. The musical tones patterns are much tricky to learn and also are the scales. Learning a harp is pretty more comfortable than learning the guitar and the violin too, against the common misapprehension.

Why are the Irish called harps?

Brian Boru, the last High King of Ireland himself, is rumored to have plucked a note or two in his day. In 1531 when Henry VIII assumed the position of King of Ireland, he declared the harp as the national symbol. With the decline of the Irish courts and kingdoms, music of the harp grew more silent.

What does the word Clarsach mean?

ancient small harp
: the ancient small harp of Ireland and Scotland.

Why was the harp banned in Ireland?

However during this period of Irish history Celtic traditions were losing ground to imposing British influence, and the harp became a symbol of the resistance to the Crown of England. Because of this, the harp was banned at the end of the medieval period and the Celtic musical tradition began to fade away.

What does a Celtic harp look like?

The Celtic harp is a triangular frame harp traditional to Ireland and Scotland. It is known as cláirseach in Irish and clàrsach in Scottish Gaelic. It appears on Irish and British coins, the coat of arms of the Republic of Ireland, Montserrat, the United Kingdom and Canada as well as the flag of Montserrat.

What kind of music does the clarsach play?

Very little original music for clarsach has survived in Scotland so players often use the instrument to play fiddle or pipe tunes such as reels, strathspeys and slow airs. The clarsach is often used to accompany singing.

When did the clarsach stop being played in Scotland?

There must have been many more clarsachs like the two in the National Museum, but no others survive in Scotland. The clarsach stopped being played in Scotland during the 18th century. Gaelic harpers in Ireland continued through into the 19th century and some of them toured in Scotland.

What kind of harp does clarsach play on?

Ever since then, there have been two strands of clarsach playing in Scotland – the mainstream of classical-influenced playing on chromatic gut-strung small harps, and the niche of historical recreation, using diatonic historical-style wire-strung reproductions to try and recreate historical style, technique and repertory.

What was the function of the Clarsach in medieval times?

The function of the clàrsach in a Hebridean lordship, both as entertainment and as literary metaphor, is illustrated in the songs of Màiri Nic Leòid (Mary MacLeod) (c.1615 – c.1705), a prominent Gaelic poet of her time. The chief is praised as one who is skilled in judging harp-playing, the theme of a story and the pith of sense:

What kind of music did the old clarsachs play?

The old clarsachs were played in a learned oral tradition, by harpers trained in the bardic schools in Ireland as well as in Scotland. Their music was formal, elaborate, and probably related to the piobaireach of the bagpipes. This is an example of re-imagined medieval Gaelic harp music played on the replica of the Queen Mary clarsach.

There must have been many more clarsachs like the two in the National Museum, but no others survive in Scotland. The clarsach stopped being played in Scotland during the 18th century. Gaelic harpers in Ireland continued through into the 19th century and some of them toured in Scotland.

Ever since then, there have been two strands of clarsach playing in Scotland – the mainstream of classical-influenced playing on chromatic gut-strung small harps, and the niche of historical recreation, using diatonic historical-style wire-strung reproductions to try and recreate historical style, technique and repertory.

The function of the clàrsach in a Hebridean lordship, both as entertainment and as literary metaphor, is illustrated in the songs of Màiri Nic Leòid (Mary MacLeod) (c.1615 – c.1705), a prominent Gaelic poet of her time. The chief is praised as one who is skilled in judging harp-playing, the theme of a story and the pith of sense:

Due to its subversive power, it was eventually outlawed by England. Small pockets of individuals tried to preserve the Old Gaelic traditions. The 1792 Belfast Harp Festival failed to preserve the remnants of the near endangered musical traditions, due mainly to lack of skilled players and transcription skills.

Are harps loud?

The harp is not a particularly loud instrument but the sound of its attack does penetrate, so composers often only use one with an orchestra or two with a larger orchestra. The harp relies on 7 foot pedals to change the pitches of its 47 strings.

How long does a harp last?

Well-made harps will last over 30 years without major component replacement. Depending on how frequently they are moved and the care they receive, many last much longer. Eventually the wooden structure that supports this load will deform and fail.

Who made the first harp?

Ancient Egypt
Ancient Egypt (2500 BC) The earliest evidence of the harp is found in Ancient Egypt circa 2500 BC. They were shaped liked bows or angular and had very few strings (because they lacked a column they could not support much string tension).