About

The story starts with the Triple harp, which was developed in Italy during the Baroque period and was played at the Royal Court in London at the time of Handel. With three rows of strings, the triple harp was difficult to play, expensive to string, and was forgotten by harpists in other countries. Paradoxically, it was adopted by the old Welsh harpists, and became the instrument of ordinary people in Wales. The harp played in this programme was made by the famous Triple harp-maker, John Richard of Llanrwst, circa 1755.

The old triple harp was replaced in most European countries during the late 18th century by new, beautifully decorated mechanical pedal harps from France and Germany, enabling harpists to transpose to many keys by changing the pitch of strings with their feet. The new harps became popular among fashionable and wealthy ladies of the upper classes in Europe. The most renowned maker was Sebastian Erard, who worked in the Court of doomed Queen of France, Marie Antoinette, before fleeing to London during the French Revolution and opening a workshop in Great Marlborough Street, where my harp was made in 1807.

Programme includes music by Handel, Blind John Parry, Edward Jones (The King’s Bard), Rosetti, Spohr and contemporaries.