The Harp

The harp already had a very long history with many different incarnations from all over the world when the concert instrument, typically with 47 strings, emerged at the end of the 18th century. It continued to be refined over the next 100 years. Alongside its incorporation into the Romantic symphony orchestra, where it helped create magical textures and “heavenly” sonorities, the harp became a popular salon instrument, with operatic fantasies a staple of its new diet. The harp also has a rich and distinguished history of transcriptions, with players embracing everything from Bach’s Goldberg Variations to popular ballet scores and (often French) piano scores.