GLOSSARY
NON-PEDAL
HARPS
Angular harp: a harp composed of two main
members: a neck and a resonator.
Blades:
solid, flat pieces of metal
turned by hand to shorten the sounding length of the string.
Arched harp:
a harp which appears to have
as its main support a single, curved member.
Bray pins:
individual
pins inserted in the soundboard which allow the plucked string to buzz against
the surface of the pin (found on some Medieval and Renaissance harps).
Cross-strung harp: a harp where the
planes formed by the two rows of strings cross one another.
Discs:
small
metal discs (oval or round) with projecting prongs used in single or double
actions to shorten the sounding length of the string.
Two-rank harp: a harp with
two parallel rows of strings.
Eyelets:
the
linings of the holes in the soundboard through which the strings pass.
Frame harp:
a harp composed of three
main members: a neck, a resonator and a
pillar; together forming a triangle.
Hooks:
small
metal U's, Z's or staples turned by hand or mechanically to shorten the
sounding length of the string.
Single action: a mechanism
capable of shortening the sounding length of the string by only one semitone.
Single-rank harp: a harp with one row
of strings.
String pegs:
small
pegs inserted in the soundboard string holes to retain the string.
Three-rank harp: a harp with three
rows of strings.
Tuning pins:
movable
pegs, set in the neck of the harp, around which one end of the string is wound
in order to tune the harp.
Tuning wraps: cords or strips
of fabric which encircle the neck and secure one end of the string (non-western
harps) in order to tune the harp.