Harps
Celtic harp
by David Kortier

Kortier Harps
Lyon and Healy Style 23
Pedal Harp

Lyon and Healy Harps
The Celtic Harp

While the earliest images of harps come from
Mesopotamia and Egypt as far back as 2800 BC,
images of the harp in Ireland and Scotland have been
found dating to the 9-11th centuries. A few 15th
century Gaelic harps are still in existence and are
about 31-38 inches in height with 29-32 strings each.
Harp strings were made from metal, bronze and
eventually, from animal gut. The size of the harps
gradually became larger with the orchestral (or pedal
harp) developed much later.

Professional harpers in Ireland initially held a position
of respect. Poets and harpers performed together in
the courts of Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Eventually,
Traditional harpers lost their status and became
itinerant musicians traveling the countryside. One of
the most famous harpers in Irish history, Turlough Ó
Carolan, lived from1670-1738. Ó Carolan composed
much of the repertoire currently used by harpers and
hammered dulcimer players. The songs he wrote
were often named after wealthy patrons. (Planytx or In
Memory of…)

Edward Bunting published his writings to preserve
much of the music, technique and lore associated
with the harp. After a period of lost interest in the
instrument, musicians began to study the ancient
harps and research their music in the 1970’s.
Instrument builders began reproducing both the wire
strung and gut strung harps and continued with
modern improvements.

Today, the Celtic harp is used for traditional music
along with modern compositions for soloists and
ensembles. In our region, Scottish artist in residence,
Billy Jackson performs Scottish traditionals along with
his own compositions. National performers like Kim
Robertson, Sue Richards and Laurie Riley add their
own modern interpretation of traditional music and
teach techniques and arranging. The Celtic harp is
currently in a period of both preservation and
development with many recordings currently
available.
The Pedal Harp

The pedal harp uses pedals to change the pitch
of the strings.  There are 7 pedals, one for each
note of the scale.  From left to right, they are

D C B   E F G A

There are 3 pedals on the left side of the harp
and 4 pedals on the right side of the harp.  Most
of the time, the left foot works the pedals on the
left, and the right foot works the pedals on the
right. Each pedal has 3 positions : up, middle,
and down.  When the pedal is in the up position,
the note is flat.  When the pedal is in the middle
position, the note is natural.  When the pedal is
in the down position, the note is sharp.  

Each pedal is connected to a rod that runs up
through the harp column.  The rod is connected
to a series of links that are connected to a
mechanism of metal discs mechanisms at the top
of each string.  Moving the pedal cause the
discs to move, which stop  the string in intervals
of 1/2 steps to changes the pitch.  When the
pedal is in the flat position, the string is in an
open, non-stopped.  When the pedal is in the
natural position, one of the mechanisms stops
the strings and shortens it slightly by 1/2 step.  
When the pedal is in the sharp position, two
discs turn and stop   the string, shortening it
even more, to what would be the sharp position.
Harp Resources
Online listing: Harpists, harps, recordings,
equipment and moreInternational Folk Harp Society

Thormahlen Celtic Harps

Wlliam Rees Intruments:  Celtic harpsHarp Mall:  
Harpists, harps, recordings, equipment and more
Photo by Sophia Jekic Photography
photo by Yasmin Berkson