Ethnomusicology Commons^™

The Triple Harp: The Unsung Hero Of Harp History, Brittany L. Roberts

The Research and Scholarship Symposium (2013-2019)

Graced with thousands of years of history, the harp has evolved and adapted to many different musical eras. A prime example of this is the triple harp, a precursor of the modern pedal harp. Before the invention of the pedals, harpists found it difficult to adjust to the increasing chromaticism found in the ornamentation and chord progressions of the Baroque era. However, harp builders were not deterred by this challenge. First built by Italian luthiers in the early 1600's, the triple harp featured three layers of strings stretched parallel to one another. The two outer layers were tuned diatonically to …