| The harp that once through Tara's halls the | | | | jubilant it would make everyone smile, or |
| soul of music shed, | | | | bring forth a sound so tranquil, it would |
| | | | lull all who listened to sleep. So thus did |
| now hangs as mute on Tara's walls, as if | | | | the harp became the dispenser of Sorrow, |
| that soul were fled. | | | | Gladness and Rest.Harps are played throughout |
| | | | much of the world. From ancient artworks, |
| So sleeps the pride of former days, so | | | | epic tales and poetry, we learn of harps in |
| glory's thrill is o'er, | | | | Babylonia and Mesopotamia. We see them in the |
| | | | tomb of Pharaoh Ramses III , votive carvings |
| and hearts that once beat high for praise, | | | | from Iraq and sculptures of ancient Greece. |
| | | | From Africa, which has more than 100 harp |
| now feel that pulse no moreTo tell the | | | | traditions, the instrument travelled north to |
| history of the Irish harp is to tell the | | | | Spain and soon spread throughout Europe. |
| history of the Irish people. This ancient | | | | Strung with sinew, silk or wire, harps vary |
| folk instrument with its beautiful, delicate | | | | in size, structure and decoration according |
| sound is played today despite being ignored, | | | | to the physical and technological |
| derided and proscribed for centuries. | | | | environments of their origins. African harps |
| Harpers, who in earlier days would have been | | | | have been made from wood and gourd covered |
| hanged for their art, now flourish throughout | | | | with cowhide, the Burmese sang auk has an |
| the world, as do the Irish themselvesLegend | | | | arched soundbox similar to the Turkish ceng |
| tell us the first harp was owned by Dagda, a | | | | while European harps feature a triangular |
| chief among the Tuatha De Danaan. At one time | | | | frame, There is one feature that all harps |
| during a war with the Fomorians, the gods of | | | | share: the strings run vertical (rather than |
| cold and darkness, his harp was stolen but | | | | parallel) to the sound box.Griffith of Wales |
| later recovered by Lugh and Ogma. When it was | | | | employed harpists in his court at the end of |
| returned it had aquired two secret names and | | | | the 11th century and the monk-historian |
| the ability to call forth summer and winter. | | | | Geraldus Cambrensis admired the great skill |
| From then on, when Dagda played, he could | | | | of the Irish harpers and remarked that some |
| produce a melody so poignant, it would make | | | | even considered the Scots to be better |
| his audience weep, he could play an air so | | | | players. |