HARP. The Harp is a musical Instrument almost of a triangular figure, and is held upright between the person’s legs who plays upon it. It has three parts; the main body of it, which consists of the right side, is made of eight flat fronts of wood, upon which is placed the table, which hath two holes made like trefoil. It has three rows of strings, which in all make seventy eight. The first row contains nine and twenty, which make four octaves; the second row makes the half-turn, and the third is the unison of the first row. There are two rows of pins, which are called buttons, on the right-side, which serve to keep the strings tight in their holes, and are fastned at the other end to three rows of pins placed on the upper side, which are called the Keys.
The Harp is played upon with both hands by pinching them in the same manner together. The musick of it is like that of the Spinnet; for all the strings go by semitones. It is certain that the ancients had no knowledge of the Harp; and Fortunatus shews sufficiently, that it comes from Barbarians.
Romanusque Lyrâ, plaudet tibi Barbarus Harpâ, Græcus Achilliaca, Crotta Bri-tanna canet. There are some disputes concerning the etymology of the word Harp: some derive it from the people called in Latin, Arpi, who made use of this instrument: others from the German, Herp or Herff; others from the Latin, Carpo. The Cimbri or English-Saxons, called it Harpa, or Hearpa; and it is very probable, that this word, and perhaps the instrument likewise, may be derived from them and their language: for hitherto we have not been informed who communicated it to us.
The figures of the Harp or Cinnor, which are to be seen upon the medals of Simon Maccabæus, have no relation to the Harp we are speaking of, and which our Painters represent King David holding in his hands: it is very like the Lute or Guittar invented by Mercury; but it has but three or four strings: and the most ancient figures of the Lyra, which we see on Basso-relievos, or on Medals, have no more. See MUSICK.
The word Cithara or Cinyra, is commonly translated Harp; and David is represented with an Harp: but we may affirm, that Cithara signifies the ancient Harp which we have described above, under the word Guittar. See our Dissertation upon the musical Instruments of the old Hebrews.
The Nebel or Nablium, or old Psaltirion, was something like our Harp; but the Hasur, or instrument with ten strings mentioned in the Psalms, was much more so. The difference between the Nebel and the Hasur, was this; the first had its hollow founding-belly at the top, and was plaid on below; the Hasur, on the contrary, had its hollow belly below, and was plaid on at the upper part.