Harp - Revision history

Lucius Chiaraviglio: /* Through-strung harp */ -> Concert Konghou

2026-08-15T05:56:33Z

Through-strung harp: -> Concert Konghou

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:56, 15 August 2026
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	Another possible solution is to wear a metal cylinder on one finger and use it to stop pairs of adjacent strings. This enables any amount of pitch bend (potentially while plucking these and nearby strings with other fingers on the same hand), and can be used on any harp, although it only applies to one pair of strings at a time for each metal tube (conceivably, one could wear a metal tube on one finger on each hand to do this with two pairs of strings). See the music section below for examples of [[#Manual string stopping\|manual string stopping]].		Another possible solution is to wear a metal cylinder on one finger and use it to stop pairs of adjacent strings. This enables any amount of pitch bend (potentially while plucking these and nearby strings with other fingers on the same hand), and can be used on any harp, although it only applies to one pair of strings at a time for each metal tube (conceivably, one could wear a metal tube on one finger on each hand to do this with two pairs of strings). See the music section below for examples of [[#Manual string stopping\|manual string stopping]].

	== ~~Through-strung harp~~ ==		== Concert (Modern) Konghou ==
	~~At least one~~ pedal harp has ~~been made~~ which loops each string from one side to the other, dividing the string into segments of the same pitch on each side. (~~Technically, it is a harp-lyre hybrid, having additional sound boards parallel~~ to ~~the strings~~.) It is possible to play the segment on one side while pressing against the segment on the other side to increase the tension, shown in the following video being used for vibrato, but in ~~nprinciple~~ also usable for sustained upward pitch bending.		The Chinese {{W\|Konghou#Modern_konghou\|concert konghou}} is a pedal harp-lyre hybrid (since it has additional soundboards parallel to the strings) which loops each string from one side to the other, dividing the string into segments of the same pitch on each side. (Note that "{{W\|konghou}}" without specifying "concert konghou" or "modern konghou" can refer to any of several quite different instruments.) It is possible to play the segment on one side while pressing against the segment on the other side to increase the tension, shown in the following video being used for vibrato, but in principle also usable for sustained upward pitch bending.

	=== Demonstration ===		=== Demonstration ===

Lucius Chiaraviglio: Add through-strung harp

2026-08-14T19:14:14Z

Add through-strung harp

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:14, 14 August 2026
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	== Manual string stopping ==		== Manual string stopping ==
	Another possible solution is to wear a metal cylinder on one finger and use it to stop pairs of adjacent strings. This enables any amount of pitch bend (potentially while plucking these and nearby strings with other fingers on the same hand), and can be used on any harp, although it only applies to one pair of strings at a time for each metal tube (conceivably, one could wear a metal tube on one finger on each hand to do this with two pairs of strings). See the music section below for examples of [[#Manual string stopping\|manual string stopping]].		Another possible solution is to wear a metal cylinder on one finger and use it to stop pairs of adjacent strings. This enables any amount of pitch bend (potentially while plucking these and nearby strings with other fingers on the same hand), and can be used on any harp, although it only applies to one pair of strings at a time for each metal tube (conceivably, one could wear a metal tube on one finger on each hand to do this with two pairs of strings). See the music section below for examples of [[#Manual string stopping\|manual string stopping]].

			== Through-strung harp ==
			At least one pedal harp has been made which loops each string from one side to the other, dividing the string into segments of the same pitch on each side. (Technically, it is a harp-lyre hybrid, having additional sound boards parallel to the strings.) It is possible to play the segment on one side while pressing against the segment on the other side to increase the tension, shown in the following video being used for vibrato, but in nprinciple also usable for sustained upward pitch bending.

			=== Demonstration ===
			; [https://www.youtube.com/@HarpistKT Kristan Toczko]
			* [https://www.youtube.com/shorts/kMV_b4jKCjk ''What a unique harp!''] (2024)

	== More strings ==		== More strings ==

Lucius Chiaraviglio: Retuning individual strings --> Scordatura tuning

2026-08-03T18:24:34Z

Retuning individual strings --> Scordatura tuning

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:24, 3 August 2026
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	'''Harps''' are instruments that have multiple strings perpendicular to the sound board, plucked by the player's hands. Each string corresponds to one pitch, which in the case of lever and {{W\|pedal harp}}s, may be modified by the lever or pedal mechanism to get more than one pitch. In the case of the pedal harp, the strings are tuned to a diatonic scale, and depressing a pedal (of which one is available for each note of the diatonic scale), depressing a pedal rotates a set of discs with pins set to stop the corresponding strings (in all octaves) so as to raise their pitch by a chromatic semitone (including allowance for the resulting slight increase in string tension). The double-acting pedal harp extends this concept to have two sets of string-stopping discs, actuated by successive further depressions of the corresponding pedal, which can be locked at either of its depressed positions; the strings are tuned to all flats, and the first depressed position of a pedal raises the pitch of the strings to achieve the corresponding natural notes, while the second depressed position of the pedal raises the pitch further to achieve the corresponding sharp notes. The modern double-acting harp also has two lowest C and D strings and one highest G string to which this mechanism does not apply, so these strings are tuned to whichever pitches are required for the music being played.		'''Harps''' are instruments that have multiple strings perpendicular to the sound board, plucked by the player's hands. Each string corresponds to one pitch, which in the case of lever and {{W\|pedal harp}}s, may be modified by the lever or pedal mechanism to get more than one pitch. In the case of the pedal harp, the strings are tuned to a diatonic scale, and depressing a pedal (of which one is available for each note of the diatonic scale), depressing a pedal rotates a set of discs with pins set to stop the corresponding strings (in all octaves) so as to raise their pitch by a chromatic semitone (including allowance for the resulting slight increase in string tension). The double-acting pedal harp extends this concept to have two sets of string-stopping discs, actuated by successive further depressions of the corresponding pedal, which can be locked at either of its depressed positions; the strings are tuned to all flats, and the first depressed position of a pedal raises the pitch of the strings to achieve the corresponding natural notes, while the second depressed position of the pedal raises the pitch further to achieve the corresponding sharp notes. The modern double-acting harp also has two lowest C and D strings and one highest G string to which this mechanism does not apply, so these strings are tuned to whichever pitches are required for the music being played.

	Unfortunately, the above design in its standard implementation is wedded to [[12edo]] – the value of the chromatic semitone is fixed, and a standard pedal harp has no provision for adjusting the position of the string stops, nor for partial action of the string stops   attempting to move a pedal to an intermediate position does not produce an in-between note, but instead produces a buzz or a fearsome rattle (depending upon how hard the string was plucked) as the string hits the pins on the incompletely turned disc. The only microtonal tuning systems that can make efficient use of pedal harps to get in-between notes are multiples of 12edo, with multiple harps tuned to different rings of 12edo, as done by [[Ivan Wyschnegradsky]] with pianos. Although no recording is known of actual harp use in this way, [[Norokusi]] has written a composition in [[24edo]], rendered by soft synthesizers, that uses this technique (see below); in principle, it could be transcribed and then played on a full set of acoustic instruments, including two harps with the orchestra. Thus, microtonality on most harps (unless using multiple harps) is limited to whatever can be achieved by retuning the available 7 strings per octave. See the music section below for examples of obtaining microtones by [[#~~Retuned individual strings~~\|retuning individual strings]] and [[#Retuned multiple harps\|retuning two or more harps offset by one step within a multiple of 12edo]].		Unfortunately, the above design in its standard implementation is wedded to [[12edo]] – the value of the chromatic semitone is fixed, and a standard pedal harp has no provision for adjusting the position of the string stops, nor for partial action of the string stops   attempting to move a pedal to an intermediate position does not produce an in-between note, but instead produces a buzz or a fearsome rattle (depending upon how hard the string was plucked) as the string hits the pins on the incompletely turned disc. The only microtonal tuning systems that can make efficient use of pedal harps to get in-between notes are multiples of 12edo, with multiple harps tuned to different rings of 12edo, as done by [[Ivan Wyschnegradsky]] with pianos. Although no recording is known of actual harp use in this way, [[Norokusi]] has written a composition in [[24edo]], rendered by soft synthesizers, that uses this technique (see below); in principle, it could be transcribed and then played on a full set of acoustic instruments, including two harps with the orchestra. Thus, microtonality on most harps (unless using multiple harps) is limited to whatever can be achieved by retuning the available 7 strings per octave. See the music section below for examples of obtaining microtones by [[#Scordatura tuning\|scordatura tuning]] (retuning individual strings) and [[#Retuned multiple harps\|retuning two or more harps offset by one step within a multiple of 12edo]].

	Here is a demonstration of harp string buzz:		Here is a demonstration of harp string buzz:
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	* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHxUnzVWHdQ ''KHEÍRŌN opus 53, Nocturne pour harpe – Caroline Lizotte (Juliette Duguay, harpiste)''] (2026) (uses the metal tube on finger technique)		* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHxUnzVWHdQ ''KHEÍRŌN opus 53, Nocturne pour harpe – Caroline Lizotte (Juliette Duguay, harpiste)''] (2026) (uses the metal tube on finger technique)

	=== ~~Retuned individual strings~~ ===		=== Scordatura tuning ===
	; {{W\|Alain Bancquart}}		; {{W\|Alain Bancquart}}
	* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSDAz4qS3H0 ''Ma manière de chat''] (1979) (from video comments: some strings are tuned down by a quarter-tone)		* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSDAz4qS3H0 ''Ma manière de chat''] (1979) (from video comments: some strings are tuned down by a quarter-tone)

Lucius Chiaraviglio: /* A solution that does not yet exist */ Improve wording

2026-08-02T23:37:48Z

A solution that does not yet exist: Improve wording

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:37, 2 August 2026
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	== A solution that does not yet exist ==		== A solution that does not yet exist ==
	~~An instrument called~~ a "fluid harp" ~~exists that~~ has sliders to enable continuously-variable pitch variation on each string, as demonstrated in [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzhlYaevFR8 ''Fluid Harp – Adjustable Microtonal Harp''] (2017), ~~but~~ it is actually a zither and produces a very different tonal quality from a harp; as such, it belongs to a page about zithers, and is not further covered here. In principle, such a mechanism – or better yet, a pedal-actuated slider mechanism – could be applied to an actual harp, but so far, none have been built.		Although a "fluid harp" has been made with sliders to enable continuously-variable pitch variation on each string, as demonstrated in [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzhlYaevFR8 ''Fluid Harp – Adjustable Microtonal Harp''] (2017), it has strings parallel to the sound board. Therefore, it is actually a zither, and produces a very different tonal quality from a harp; as such, it belongs to a page about zithers, and is not further covered here. In principle, such a mechanism — or better yet, a pedal-actuated slider mechanism — could be applied to an actual harp, but so far, none have been built.

	== Lever harp ==		== Lever harp ==

FloraC: Improve sectioning. No need to start with an "introduction" section

2026-08-02T09:13:17Z

Improve sectioning. No need to start with an "introduction" section

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:13, 2 August 2026
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	{{Wikipedia}}		{{Wikipedia}}
	~~== Introduction ==~~
	Harps are instruments that have multiple strings perpendicular to the sound board, plucked by the player's hands. Each string corresponds to one pitch, which in the case of lever and {{W\|pedal harp}}s, may be modified by the lever or pedal mechanism to get more than one pitch. In the case of the pedal harp, the strings are tuned to a diatonic scale, and depressing a pedal (of which one is available for each note of the diatonic scale), depressing a pedal rotates a set of discs with pins set to stop the corresponding strings (in all octaves) so as to raise their pitch by a chromatic semitone (including allowance for the resulting slight increase in string tension). The double-acting pedal harp extends this concept to have two sets of string-stopping discs, actuated by successive further depressions of the corresponding pedal, which can be locked at either of its depressed positions; the strings are tuned to all flats, and the first depressed position of a pedal raises the pitch of the strings to achieve the corresponding natural notes, while the second depressed position of the pedal raises the pitch further to achieve the corresponding sharp notes. The modern double-acting harp also has two lowest C and D strings and one highest G string to which this mechanism does not apply, so these strings are tuned to whichever pitches are required for the music being played.

	== The ~~problem~~ for ~~microtonalists ==~~		'''Harps''' are instruments that have multiple strings perpendicular to the sound board, plucked by the player's hands. Each string corresponds to one pitch, which in the case of lever and {{W\|pedal harp}}s, may be modified by the lever or pedal mechanism to get more than one pitch. In the case of the pedal harp, the strings are tuned to a diatonic scale, and depressing a pedal (of which one is available for each note of the diatonic scale), depressing a pedal rotates a set of discs with pins set to stop the corresponding strings (in all octaves) so as to raise their pitch by a chromatic semitone (including allowance for the resulting slight increase in string tension). The double-acting pedal harp extends this concept to have two sets of string-stopping discs, actuated by successive further depressions of the corresponding pedal, which can be locked at either of its depressed positions; the strings are tuned to all flats, and the first depressed position of a pedal raises the pitch of the strings to achieve the corresponding natural notes, while the second depressed position of the pedal raises the pitch further to achieve the corresponding sharp notes. The modern double-acting harp also has two lowest C and D strings and one highest G string to which this mechanism does not apply, so these strings are tuned to whichever pitches are required for the music being played.
	Unfortunately, the above design in its standard implementation is wedded to [[12edo]] ~~—~~ the value of the chromatic semitone is fixed, and a standard pedal harp has no provision for adjusting the position of the string stops, nor for partial action of the string stops   attempting to move a pedal to an intermediate position does not produce an in-between note, but instead produces a buzz or a fearsome rattle (depending upon how hard the string was plucked) as the string hits the pins on the incompletely turned disc. The only microtonal tuning systems that can make efficient use of pedal harps to get in-between notes are multiples of 12edo, with multiple harps tuned to different rings of 12edo, as done by [[Ivan Wyschnegradsky]] with pianos. Although no recording is known of actual harp use in this way, [[Norokusi]] has written a composition in [[24edo]], rendered by soft synthesizers, that uses this technique (see below); in principle, it could be transcribed and then played on a full set of acoustic instruments, including two harps with the orchestra. Thus, microtonality on most harps (unless using multiple harps) is limited to whatever can be achieved by retuning the available 7 strings per octave. See the music section below for examples of obtaining microtones by [[#Retuned individual strings\|retuning individual strings]] and [[#Retuned multiple harps\|retuning two or more harps offset by one step within a multiple of 12edo]].
			Unfortunately, the above design in its standard implementation is wedded to [[12edo]] – the value of the chromatic semitone is fixed, and a standard pedal harp has no provision for adjusting the position of the string stops, nor for partial action of the string stops   attempting to move a pedal to an intermediate position does not produce an in-between note, but instead produces a buzz or a fearsome rattle (depending upon how hard the string was plucked) as the string hits the pins on the incompletely turned disc. The only microtonal tuning systems that can make efficient use of pedal harps to get in-between notes are multiples of 12edo, with multiple harps tuned to different rings of 12edo, as done by [[Ivan Wyschnegradsky]] with pianos. Although no recording is known of actual harp use in this way, [[Norokusi]] has written a composition in [[24edo]], rendered by soft synthesizers, that uses this technique (see below); in principle, it could be transcribed and then played on a full set of acoustic instruments, including two harps with the orchestra. Thus, microtonality on most harps (unless using multiple harps) is limited to whatever can be achieved by retuning the available 7 strings per octave. See the music section below for examples of obtaining microtones by [[#Retuned individual strings\|retuning individual strings]] and [[#Retuned multiple harps\|retuning two or more harps offset by one step within a multiple of 12edo]].

			Here is a demonstration of harp string buzz:

	~~=== Demonstration of harp string buzz ===~~
	; [https://www.youtube.com/@daniellekuntz/ Danielle Kuntz]		; [https://www.youtube.com/@daniellekuntz/ Danielle Kuntz]
	* [https://www.youtube.com/shorts/jjAOcndfwzM ''How to play pedal buzzes on the harp''] (2023)		* [https://www.youtube.com/shorts/jjAOcndfwzM ''How to play pedal buzzes on the harp''] (2023)

	== A solution that does not yet exist ==		== A solution that does not yet exist ==
	An instrument called a "fluid harp" exists that has sliders to enable continuously-variable pitch variation on each string, as demonstrated in [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzhlYaevFR8 ''Fluid Harp – Adjustable Microtonal Harp''] (2017), but it is actually a zither and produces a very different tonal quality from a harp; as such, it belongs to a page about zithers, and is not further covered here. In principle, such a mechanism ~~—~~ or better yet, a pedal-actuated slider mechanism ~~—~~ could be applied to an actual harp, but so far, none have been built.		An instrument called a "fluid harp" exists that has sliders to enable continuously-variable pitch variation on each string, as demonstrated in [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzhlYaevFR8 ''Fluid Harp – Adjustable Microtonal Harp''] (2017), but it is actually a zither and produces a very different tonal quality from a harp; as such, it belongs to a page about zithers, and is not further covered here. In principle, such a mechanism – or better yet, a pedal-actuated slider mechanism – could be applied to an actual harp, but so far, none have been built.

	== ~~One solution: (some) lever harps~~ ==		== Lever harp ==
	Lever harps have one lever for each string to tighten and/or stop the string to raise the pitch by a chromatic semitone (one disadvantage being that the levers do not have enough range to go all the way from a flat to a sharp). On a subset of lever harps, it is possible to achieve in-between notes as well as portamento and vibrato by moving levers to intermediate positions; on a subset of these harps (including the [https://www.harp-e.com/en-us Harp-E]), the levers have enough friction to stay in an intermediate position after being moved there. Since the levers operate independently, changing all of the notes in a pitch class requires changing the positions of all of the corresponding levers, and this will require too much time to achieve in a rapidly modulating passage.		Lever harps have one lever for each string to tighten and/or stop the string to raise the pitch by a chromatic semitone (one disadvantage being that the levers do not have enough range to go all the way from a flat to a sharp). On a subset of lever harps, it is possible to achieve in-between notes as well as portamento and vibrato by moving levers to intermediate positions; on a subset of these harps (including the [https://www.harp-e.com/en-us Harp-E]), the levers have enough friction to stay in an intermediate position after being moved there. Since the levers operate independently, changing all of the notes in a pitch class requires changing the positions of all of the corresponding levers, and this will require too much time to achieve in a rapidly modulating passage.

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	* [https://www.youtube.com/shorts/pelElN6Wr68 ''Levers AND bends!''] (2024)		* [https://www.youtube.com/shorts/pelElN6Wr68 ''Levers AND bends!''] (2024)

	== ~~Another solution: manual~~ string stopping ==		== Manual string stopping ==
	Another possible solution is to wear a metal cylinder on one finger and use it to stop pairs of adjacent strings. This enables any amount of pitch bend (potentially while plucking these and nearby strings with other fingers on the same hand), and can be used on any harp, although it only applies to one pair of strings at a time for each metal tube (conceivably, one could wear a metal tube on one finger on each hand to do this with two pairs of strings). See the music section below for examples of [[#Manual string stopping\|manual string stopping]].		Another possible solution is to wear a metal cylinder on one finger and use it to stop pairs of adjacent strings. This enables any amount of pitch bend (potentially while plucking these and nearby strings with other fingers on the same hand), and can be used on any harp, although it only applies to one pair of strings at a time for each metal tube (conceivably, one could wear a metal tube on one finger on each hand to do this with two pairs of strings). See the music section below for examples of [[#Manual string stopping\|manual string stopping]].

	== ~~Yet another solution: more~~ strings ==		== More strings ==
			The {{w\|cross-strung harp}} or chromatic double harp foregoes changing the pitch of strings to get accidentals and instead has more strings — usually one row of 7 strings per octave tuned to a diatonic scale of the natural notes and one row of 5 strings per octave tuned to a pentatonic scale of the sharp/flat notes. (A few have been made that instead have twin whole-tone scales.) Since the strings are only tuned using the normal tuning mechanism (unless one stops the strings with a metal tube as above), it is in principle possible to tune the strings to sound in a 12 notes per octave subset of tuning systems other than 12edo, including complete tuning systems having less than 12 notes per octave.
	The {{W\|cross-strung harp}} or chromatic double harp foregoes changing the pitch of strings to get accidentals and instead has more strings — usually one row of 7 strings per octave tuned to a diatonic scale of the natural notes and one row of 5 strings per octave tuned to a pentatonic scale of the sharp/flat notes. (A few have been made that instead have twin whole-tone scales.) Since the strings are only tuned using the normal tuning mechanism (unless one stops the strings with a metal tube as above), it is in principle possible to tune the strings to sound in a 12 notes per octave subset of tuning systems other than 12edo, including complete tuning systems having less than 12 notes per octave.

	The {{W\|triple harp}} (including the Welsh version) has even more strings, with 2 outer rows of 7 strings each normally tuned to the natural notes and a middle row normally tuned to the flat/sharp notes as indicated above. Again, since the strings are only tuned using the normal tuning mechanism (unless one stops the strings with a metal tube as above), it is in principle possible to tune the strings to sound in a 19 notes per octave subset of tuning systems other than 12edo, as well as complete tuning systems of up to 19 notes per octave, including [[19edo]].		The {{w\|triple harp}} (including the Welsh version) has even more strings, with 2 outer rows of 7 strings each normally tuned to the natural notes and a middle row normally tuned to the flat/sharp notes as indicated above. Again, since the strings are only tuned using the normal tuning mechanism (unless one stops the strings with a metal tube as above), it is in principle possible to tune the strings to sound in a 19 notes per octave subset of tuning systems other than 12edo, as well as complete tuning systems of up to 19 notes per octave, including [[19edo]].

	Unfortunately, no music or other demonstration appears to be available at this time for these types of harps.		Unfortunately, no music or other demonstration appears to be available at this time for these types of harps.

	== Music ==		== Music ==
	Despite the general unfriendliness of the predominant harp design towards microtonality, some microtonal music has been composed, played (or rendered as a proof of concept), and recorded. For some of this music, the method of obtaining microtones was not described; this music is in "[[#~~Unspecified method of obtaining microtones\|~~Unspecified method of obtaining microtones]]" at the end; if the method is discovered, it should be moved to one of the other sections (or a new section created, as appropriate).		Despite the general unfriendliness of the predominant harp design towards microtonality, some microtonal music has been composed, played (or rendered as a proof of concept), and recorded. For some of this music, the method of obtaining microtones was not described; this music is in [[#Unspecified method of obtaining microtones]] at the end; if the method is discovered, it should be moved to one of the other sections (or a new section created, as appropriate).

	=== Manual string stopping ===		=== Manual string stopping ===
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	=== Retuned multiple harps ===		=== Retuned multiple harps ===
	; [[Norokusi]] ~~(both examples using dual harps tuned apart by 1\24, rendered by soft synthesizer, but in principle playable on acoustic instruments)~~		; [[Norokusi]]
	* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJIKCXEah4Y ''Serenade for Harp and Strings''] (2021)		* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJIKCXEah4Y ''Serenade for Harp and Strings''] (2021) (both examples using dual harps tuned apart by 1\24, rendered by soft synthesizer, but in principle playable on acoustic instruments)
	** [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxLgv0HEG-0 ~~the above arranged~~ for harp and orchestra] (2026)		** [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxLgv0HEG-0 arrangement for harp and orchestra] (2026)

	=== Unspecified method of obtaining microtones ===		=== Unspecified method of obtaining microtones ===

Lucius Chiaraviglio: /* Music */ Alain Bancquart's ''Ma manière de chat'] (1979): got method of obtaining microtones from video poster

2026-08-02T02:20:45Z

Music: Alain Bancquart's ''Ma manière de chat'] (1979): got method of obtaining microtones from video poster

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:20, 2 August 2026
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	=== Retuned individual strings ===		=== Retuned individual strings ===
			; {{W\|Alain Bancquart}}
			* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSDAz4qS3H0 ''Ma manière de chat''] (1979) (from video comments: some strings are tuned down by a quarter-tone)

	; [[Nick, The NRG]]		; [[Nick, The NRG]]
	* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5itQAT_Ns2c ''Microtonal Semi-improvisation on Harpsicle/Folk Harp!''] (2019) (the harp is tuned to 1/1, 9/8, 5/4, 4/3, 3/2, 14/9, 7/4)		* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5itQAT_Ns2c ''Microtonal Semi-improvisation on Harpsicle/Folk Harp!''] (2019) (the harp is tuned to 1/1, 9/8, 5/4, 4/3, 3/2, 14/9, 7/4)
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	=== Unspecified method of obtaining microtones ===		=== Unspecified method of obtaining microtones ===
	; {{W\|Alain Bancquart}}		; {{W\|Alain Bancquart}}
	* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSDAz4qS3H0 ''Ma manière de chat''] (1979)		* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyJ-SuQ2SxY ''Étrennes''] (1992), from [https://www.discogs.com/release/21693193-Catherine-Michel-Catherine-Michel-En-Récital-Anthologie-De-La-Musique-Pour-Harpe Catherine Michel En Récital] (by analogy with ''Ma manière de chat'', may be using retuning of individual strings, but not confirmed)
	* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyJ-SuQ2SxY ''Étrennes''] (1992), from [https://www.discogs.com/release/21693193-Catherine-Michel-Catherine-Michel-En-Récital-Anthologie-De-La-Musique-Pour-Harpe Catherine Michel En Récital]

	[[Category:Harp\| ]] <!-- main article -->		[[Category:Harp\| ]] <!-- main article -->

Lucius Chiaraviglio: Reorganize Music

2026-08-01T22:58:48Z

Reorganize Music

@@ Line 4: / Line 4: @@
 == The problem for microtonalists ==
-Unfortunately, the above design in its standard implementation is wedded to [[12edo]] &mdash; the value of the chromatic semitone is fixed, and a standard pedal harp has no provision for adjusting the position of the string stops, nor for partial action of the string stops &nbsp; attempting to move a pedal to an intermediate position does not produce an in-between note, but instead produces a buzz or a fearsome rattle (depending upon how hard the string was plucked) as the string hits the pins on the incompletely turned disc. The only microtonal tuning systems that can make efficient use of pedal harps to get in-between notes are multiples of 12edo, with multiple harps tuned to different rings of 12edo, as done by [[Ivan Wyschnegradsky]] with pianos. Although no recording is known of actual harp use in this way, [[Norokusi]] has written a composition in [[24edo]], rendered by soft synthesizers, that uses this technique (see below); in principle, it could be transcribed and then played on a full set of acoustic instruments, including two harps with the orchestra. Thus, microtonality on most harps (unless using multiple harps) is limited to whatever can be achieved by retuning the available 7 strings per octave.
+Unfortunately, the above design in its standard implementation is wedded to [[12edo]] &mdash; the value of the chromatic semitone is fixed, and a standard pedal harp has no provision for adjusting the position of the string stops, nor for partial action of the string stops &nbsp; attempting to move a pedal to an intermediate position does not produce an in-between note, but instead produces a buzz or a fearsome rattle (depending upon how hard the string was plucked) as the string hits the pins on the incompletely turned disc. The only microtonal tuning systems that can make efficient use of pedal harps to get in-between notes are multiples of 12edo, with multiple harps tuned to different rings of 12edo, as done by [[Ivan Wyschnegradsky]] with pianos. Although no recording is known of actual harp use in this way, [[Norokusi]] has written a composition in [[24edo]], rendered by soft synthesizers, that uses this technique (see below); in principle, it could be transcribed and then played on a full set of acoustic instruments, including two harps with the orchestra. Thus, microtonality on most harps (unless using multiple harps) is limited to whatever can be achieved by retuning the available 7 strings per octave. See the music section below for examples of obtaining microtones by [[#Retuned individual strings|retuning individual strings]] and [[#Retuned multiple harps|retuning two or more harps offset by one step within a multiple of 12edo]].
 === Demonstration of harp string buzz ===
 ; [https://www.youtube.com/@daniellekuntz/ Danielle Kuntz]
 * [https://www.youtube.com/shorts/jjAOcndfwzM ''How to play pedal buzzes on the harp''] (2023)
 == A solution that does not yet exist ==
@@ Line 26: / Line 14: @@
 == One solution: (some) lever harps ==
-Lever harps have one lever for each string to tighten and/or stop the string to raise the pitch by a chromatic semitone (one disadvantage being that the levers do not have enough range to go all teh way from a flat to a sharp). On a subset of lever harps, it is possible to achieve in-between notes as well as portamento and vibrato by moving levers to intermediate positions; on a subset of these harps (including the [https://www.harp-e.com/en-us Harp-E]), the levers have enough friction to stay in an intermediate position after being moved there. Since the levers operate independently, changing all of the notes in a pitch class requires changing the positions of all of the corresponding levers, and this will require too much time to achieve in a rapidly modulating passage.
+Lever harps have one lever for each string to tighten and/or stop the string to raise the pitch by a chromatic semitone (one disadvantage being that the levers do not have enough range to go all the way from a flat to a sharp). On a subset of lever harps, it is possible to achieve in-between notes as well as portamento and vibrato by moving levers to intermediate positions; on a subset of these harps (including the [https://www.harp-e.com/en-us Harp-E]), the levers have enough friction to stay in an intermediate position after being moved there. Since the levers operate independently, changing all of the notes in a pitch class requires changing the positions of all of the corresponding levers, and this will require too much time to achieve in a rapidly modulating passage.
 === Demonstration ===
@@ Line 33: / Line 21: @@
 == Another solution:  manual string stopping ==
-Another possible solution is to wear a metal cylinder on one finger and use it to stop pairs of adjacent strings. This enables any amount of pitch bend (potentially while plucking these and nearby strings with other fingers on the same hand), and can be used on any harp, although it only applies to one pair of strings at a time for each metal tube (conceivably, one could wear a metal tube on one finger on each hand to do this with two pairs of strings).
+Another possible solution is to wear a metal cylinder on one finger and use it to stop pairs of adjacent strings. This enables any amount of pitch bend (potentially while plucking these and nearby strings with other fingers on the same hand), and can be used on any harp, although it only applies to one pair of strings at a time for each metal tube (conceivably, one could wear a metal tube on one finger on each hand to do this with two pairs of strings). See the music section below for examples of [[#Manual string stopping|manual string stopping]].
 == Yet another solution: more strings ==
@@ Line 46: / Line 30: @@
 Unfortunately, no music or other demonstration appears to be available at this time for these types of harps.
 [[Category:Harp| ]] <!-- main article -->

Naren: Add Bancquart, Ma manière de chat to music

2026-08-01T20:18:32Z

Add Bancquart, Ma manière de chat to music

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:18, 1 August 2026
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	; Alain Bancquart		; Alain Bancquart
	* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyJ-SuQ2SxY ''~~Etrennes~~''] (1992), from [https://www.discogs.com/release/21693193-Catherine-Michel-Catherine-Michel-En-Récital-Anthologie-De-La-Musique-Pour-Harpe Catherine Michel En Récital]		* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSDAz4qS3H0 ''Ma manière de chat''] (1979)
			* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyJ-SuQ2SxY ''Étrennes''] (1992), from [https://www.discogs.com/release/21693193-Catherine-Michel-Catherine-Michel-En-Récital-Anthologie-De-La-Musique-Pour-Harpe Catherine Michel En Récital]

	== A solution that does not yet exist ==		== A solution that does not yet exist ==

Naren: Add Alain Bancquart, Etrennes to music

2026-08-01T19:46:02Z

Add Alain Bancquart, Etrennes to music

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:46, 1 August 2026
Line 17:		Line 17:
	* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJIKCXEah4Y ''Serenade for Harp and Strings''] (2021)		* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJIKCXEah4Y ''Serenade for Harp and Strings''] (2021)
	** [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxLgv0HEG-0 the above arranged for harp and orchestra] (2026)		** [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxLgv0HEG-0 the above arranged for harp and orchestra] (2026)

			; Alain Bancquart
			* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyJ-SuQ2SxY ''Etrennes''] (1992), from [https://www.discogs.com/release/21693193-Catherine-Michel-Catherine-Michel-En-Récital-Anthologie-De-La-Musique-Pour-Harpe Catherine Michel En Récital]

	== A solution that does not yet exist ==		== A solution that does not yet exist ==

Lucius Chiaraviglio: Fill out some more, including adding more music; remove stub indicator (although further information is still welcome)

2026-07-29T15:27:27Z

Fill out some more, including adding more music; remove stub indicator (although further information is still welcome)

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:27, 29 July 2026
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	{{Wikipedia}}		{{Wikipedia}}
	~~{{stub}}~~
	== Introduction ==		== Introduction ==
	Harps are instruments that have multiple strings perpendicular to the sound board, plucked by the player's hands. Each string corresponds to one pitch, which in the case of lever and {{W\|pedal harp}}s, may be modified by the lever or pedal mechanism to get more than one pitch. In the case of the pedal harp, the strings are tuned to a diatonic scale, and depressing a pedal (of which one is available for each note of the diatonic scale), depressing a pedal rotates a set of discs with pins set to stop the corresponding strings (in all octaves) so as to raise their pitch by a chromatic semitone (including allowance for the resulting slight increase in string tension). The double-acting pedal harp extends this concept to have two sets of string-stopping discs, actuated by successive further depressions of the corresponding pedal, which can be locked at either of its depressed positions; the strings are tuned to all flats, and the first depressed position of a pedal raises the pitch of the strings to achieve the corresponding natural notes, while the second depressed position of the pedal raises the pitch further to achieve the corresponding sharp notes. The modern double-acting harp also has two lowest C and D strings and one highest G string to which this mechanism does not apply, so these strings are tuned to whichever pitches are required for the music being played.		Harps are instruments that have multiple strings perpendicular to the sound board, plucked by the player's hands. Each string corresponds to one pitch, which in the case of lever and {{W\|pedal harp}}s, may be modified by the lever or pedal mechanism to get more than one pitch. In the case of the pedal harp, the strings are tuned to a diatonic scale, and depressing a pedal (of which one is available for each note of the diatonic scale), depressing a pedal rotates a set of discs with pins set to stop the corresponding strings (in all octaves) so as to raise their pitch by a chromatic semitone (including allowance for the resulting slight increase in string tension). The double-acting pedal harp extends this concept to have two sets of string-stopping discs, actuated by successive further depressions of the corresponding pedal, which can be locked at either of its depressed positions; the strings are tuned to all flats, and the first depressed position of a pedal raises the pitch of the strings to achieve the corresponding natural notes, while the second depressed position of the pedal raises the pitch further to achieve the corresponding sharp notes. The modern double-acting harp also has two lowest C and D strings and one highest G string to which this mechanism does not apply, so these strings are tuned to whichever pitches are required for the music being played.

	== The problem for microtonalists ==		== The problem for microtonalists ==
	Unfortunately, the above design in its standard implementation is wedded to [[12edo]] &~~nbsp~~; the value of the chromatic semitone is fixed, and a standard pedal harp has no provision for adjusting the position of the string stops, nor for partial action of the string stops   attempting to move a pedal to an intermediate position does not produce an in-between note, but instead produces a buzz or a fearsome rattle (depending upon how hard the string was plucked) as the string hits the pins on the incompletely turned disc.		Unfortunately, the above design in its standard implementation is wedded to [[12edo]] — the value of the chromatic semitone is fixed, and a standard pedal harp has no provision for adjusting the position of the string stops, nor for partial action of the string stops   attempting to move a pedal to an intermediate position does not produce an in-between note, but instead produces a buzz or a fearsome rattle (depending upon how hard the string was plucked) as the string hits the pins on the incompletely turned disc. The only microtonal tuning systems that can make efficient use of pedal harps to get in-between notes are multiples of 12edo, with multiple harps tuned to different rings of 12edo, as done by [[Ivan Wyschnegradsky]] with pianos. Although no recording is known of actual harp use in this way, [[Norokusi]] has written a composition in [[24edo]], rendered by soft synthesizers, that uses this technique (see below); in principle, it could be transcribed and then played on a full set of acoustic instruments, including two harps with the orchestra. Thus, microtonality on most harps (unless using multiple harps) is limited to whatever can be achieved by retuning the available 7 strings per octave.

	=== Demonstration ===		=== Demonstration of harp string buzz ===
	; [https://www.youtube.com/@daniellekuntz/ Danielle Kuntz]		; [https://www.youtube.com/@daniellekuntz/ Danielle Kuntz]
	* [https://www.youtube.com/shorts/jjAOcndfwzM ''How to play pedal buzzes on the harp''] (2023)		* [https://www.youtube.com/shorts/jjAOcndfwzM ''How to play pedal buzzes on the harp''] (2023)

	=== ~~Limited microtonality~~ ===		=== Music ===
	~~Thus~~, ~~microtonality~~ on ~~most harps~~ is ~~limited~~ to ~~whatever can be achieved by retuning the~~ 7 ~~strings per octave.~~		; [[Nick, The NRG]] (using one acoustic harp tuned to [[7-limit]] [[just intonation]])
			* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5itQAT_Ns2c ''Microtonal Semi-improvisation on Harpsicle/Folk Harp!''] (2019) (the harp is tuned to 1/1, 9/8, 5/4, 4/3, 3/2, 14/9, 7/4)

	~~==== Music ====~~		; [[Norokusi]] (using dual harps tuned apart by 1\24, rendered by soft synthesizer, but in principle playable on acoustic instruments)
	; [[~~Nick, The NRG~~]]		* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJIKCXEah4Y ''Serenade for Harp and Strings''] (2021)
	* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=~~5itQAT_Ns2c~~ ''~~Microtonal Semi-improvisation on Harpsicle/Folk~~ Harp!''] (~~2019~~) ~~(the harp is tuned to 1~~/~~1, 9~~/~~8, 5~~/~~4, 4/3, 3/2, 14/9, 7/4~~)		** [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxLgv0HEG-0 the above arranged for harp and orchestra] (2026)

	== A solution that does not yet exist ==		== A solution that does not yet exist ==