Harp
The harp in five languages — harp, arpa, Harfe, harpe
Related
Five languages
| Language | Name |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 竖琴 |
| English | harp |
| Italian | arpa |
| German | Harfe |
| French | harpe |
The harp is the plucked string instrument of the orchestra; the modern concert harp uses seven pedals to raise or lower whole pitch classes, so it can play glissandi in every key. Its strings run across a triangular frame and are plucked by both hands; Italian arpa, German Harfe and French harpe share one root.
Watch out: colloquial English calls the harmonica a "harp" (blues harp), which is not a harp; the Chinese 竖琴 is also easily confused with the ancient konghou, a different angular or horizontal string instrument.
Read deeper → Harp
Sources
- 各语种乐器名与踏板竖琴的构造，参 The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, "Harp"；本文为原创表述
Used for fact-checking only; all prose is original.