             
Copyright
Helen Forder
2004 |
| The
Harp ...continued |
page
3 |
'Anciently,
it was said that it was strung with hair, which
continued to be used until the commencement of
the 15th [?] century, up to which period it had
only a single row of strings, but the performer
was able to produce the flats and sharps by a
peculiar arrangement of the finger and thumb.
But the harp at present in use has
undergone very essential improvement. It
extends in compass to five octaves and one note.
The two outside rows of strings are
diatonics, and are both tuned in unison and in
any key that the performer cares to play in.
Contrary to the pedal harp, which is played from
the right shoulder, the Welsh harp rests on the
player's left shoulder'.
From The
Flintshire Observer, Thursday, Sept. 2nd,
1886. |
Triple
Harp |
'... I
identify the harp, the guitar, the bagpipes, and
... the tom-tom, inseparably with the music
played upon or sung to them respectively, and
believe that these instruments, to a great
extent, can alone account for the different
styles of national melody.'
Brinley Richards.
Preface to The Songs of Wales, 1873.
Click HERE to read an essay on the
harp by Brinley Richards. |
'In order
to encourage the use of the Welsh Harp as the
domestic instrument of the Principality, Lady
Llanover (Gwenynen Gwent), gave very handsome
prizes for competition, besides sending over at
her own expense, Gruffydd (harper by special
appointment to the Prince of Wales and the
Llanofer family), and his pupils.'
A
report on the Eisteddfod at Caerwys in 1886, in The
Flintshire Observer of September 2nd. |
| At the 1886
Caerwys Eisteddfod, the rules for the harp
competitions were laid down by Lady Llanofer.
No-one could compete who had played the pedal
harp, '... the
object being to restore to its proper position
the national instrument of the principality, and
to encourage the cultivation of the pure and
simple style in which ancient Welsh music ought
to be played.' |
In the drawing room of Newton
House, Dinefwr Park, West Wales, there is a
triple harp said to be from the 18th century.
Accompanying notes read,
'Presented to VIth
Baron Dynevor by J. Roberts, Harpist North Wales,
about 1885.'
'J. Roberts is believed to be John Roberts (1816
- 1894) - Telynor Cymru.'
'From at least the second quarter of the 18th
century a room in the courtyard of Newton House
was known as the 'harpers' room' and was used to
accommodate travelling musicians.' |
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