The Harp ...continued

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'Anciently, it was said that it was strung with hair, which continued to be used until the commencement of the 15th [?] century, up to which period it had only a single row of strings, but the performer was able to produce the flats and sharps by a peculiar arrangement of the finger and thumb.  But the harp at present in use has undergone very essential improvement.  It extends in compass to five octaves and one note.  The two outside rows of strings are diatonics, and are both tuned in unison and in any key that the performer cares to play in. Contrary to the pedal harp, which is played from the right shoulder, the Welsh harp rests on the player's left shoulder'.
From The Flintshire Observer, Thursday, Sept. 2nd, 1886.

Triple Harp

'... I identify the harp, the guitar, the bagpipes, and ... the tom-tom, inseparably with the music played upon or sung to them respectively, and believe that these instruments, to a great extent, can alone account for the different styles of national melody.'
Brinley Richards. Preface to The Songs of Wales, 1873.
Click HERE to read an essay on the harp by Brinley Richards.

'In order to encourage the use of the Welsh Harp as the domestic instrument of the Principality, Lady Llanover (Gwenynen Gwent), gave very handsome prizes for competition, besides sending over at her own expense, Gruffydd (harper by special appointment to the Prince of Wales and the Llanofer family), and his pupils.'
A report on the Eisteddfod at Caerwys in 1886, in The Flintshire Observer of September 2nd.

At the 1886 Caerwys Eisteddfod, the rules for the harp competitions were laid down by Lady Llanofer. No-one could compete who had played the pedal harp, '... the object being to restore to its proper position the national instrument of the principality, and to encourage the cultivation of the pure and simple style in which ancient Welsh music ought to be played.'

In the drawing room of Newton House, Dinefwr Park, West Wales, there is a triple harp said to be from the 18th century. Accompanying notes read,
'Presented to VIth Baron Dynevor by J. Roberts, Harpist North Wales, about 1885.'
'J. Roberts is believed to be John Roberts (1816 - 1894) - Telynor Cymru.'
'From at least the second quarter of the 18th century a room in the courtyard of Newton House was known as the 'harpers' room' and was used to accommodate travelling musicians.'

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