The Harpist

‘The harpist’ - second in my musician series. The harp is one of the oldest stringed instruments, with early versions of a curved wooden bow with a string attached found in ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt around 3000 BC. Around 1000 BC, The lyre (a type of harp) became an important instrument in Greek storytelling, poetry, and performances. During the early Middle Ages, harps were primarily used in Celtic areas of Ireland, Scotland, and Wales (now the logo of Guinness). In the Baroque period around 1750 AD, harps became more complex with the introduction of pedals that allowed for more precise tuning. The harp reached its peak in the Classical and Romantic periods (1750-1900 AD) when Mozart, Beethoven, and later Tchaikovsky incorporated the harp into their orchestral works.

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