Janet's Rant

On the debate on string spacing and tension: classical or traditional?

 In the early 1800s, the instruments of the symphony orchestra were ‘standardised’ with instrument makers agreeing to the central pitch of A = 440 (frequency).  Many instruments were developed to accommodate all the semitones:  the ‘Bohm system’ was developed for the flute and pedals evolved for harps.  Harps also got bigger and heavier so that they could be heard against the other instruments – and the men of the orchestras (no women were accepted to play in orchestras until relatively recently) needed to be strong and able to manage the weight of the instrument and the heavier string tension. 

The greatest number of all kinds of harp players today are women – but they are playing instruments following the design of the orchestral harp developed for men from 200 years ago – with the widely spaced strings (allowing for a typical man’s hand) and a thick and tight gauge (to make a big orchestral sound).  Most international makers of of the small / lever / folk / Celtic / Irish harp have adopted the string spacing and tension of the big orchestral harps – because they and many teachers and players view the small harp as the beginners’ starter instrument from which they will progress to “the real thing” (the big orchestral concert harp) in a year or two.  However, the big instruments have caused enormous pain and distress in many many players – who are also under the impression that the problems lie in their errant technique - BUT THIS IS ABSOLUTLY NOT SO IN MOST CASES. 

In Ireland we have been playing the small harp for centuries with no aspiration to shift to the orchestral instrument  - and we have nothing close to the kinds of problems endured by our American colleagues. 

I am constantly horrified at the common instance of back, arm or hand strain - of carpel tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, ganglionitis and repetitive stress injury. 

THESE SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING and it is not that your technique is at fault – your harp makers need to be asked to provide you with healthy instruments that follow the old values of string spacing and tension.   Irish harp makers have been careful to give the buyer what is appropriate to their interest – traditional or classical – but if you don’t know what to ask for, you may not get what you need. 

My advice to you is to BE DISCERNING on this issue and demand TRADITIONAL STRING SPACING AND TENSION from your harp makers so you can safely and confidently continue to enjoy your harping for many many years to come!

 Posted October 5th, 2010