At this point, Zimmermann has very clearly established the concept that any harp outfitted with his invention would constitute an autoharp. Smaller harps were played by minstrels and troubadours for hundreds of years. Therefore, there inventor of the harp or the exact year in which it was invented is not known. Guinness converted its Dundalk brewery into a modern lager production plant with the guidance of Dr. Herman Muender, a distinguished German brewer. A harp so provided has the size of a zither, and which I term an `autoharp,' and the manner in which the instrument is played is entirely new." by Marshall D. Smith President - Teddy Speaks Foundation, Inc. (Originally posted to the ELFrad Group 06/27/00) Many thanks to Charlie and the members of the Group in the preparation of this report. That invention and subsequent improvements have led to the modern pedal harp like the one I play. During the Renaissance in Europe large floor harps began to be built. The Great Seal of Ireland includes a harp, which is a symbol of the country. Medieval & Renaissance Harp History The harps played by the harpers of the old Gaelic orders were an aristocratic instrument, played in the courts of kings and before the chiefs of clans. At first harmonicas were produced by clockmakers as a sideline, but in 1857 Matthias Hohner decided to manufacture them on a large scale and went into production in Trossingen, Germany. History of the Harp. Modern harps have the largest range of all the instruments in an orchestra. The harp has been around for thousands of years and dates back to the times of Mesopotamia. Various names were considered for the brand, including … Anatomy of the Harp, from 'A … We know from archaeological evidence that harps existed at least 4,000 years ago in ancient Mesopotamia and Iraq, where simple line carvings of harps have been found on clay tablets and plaques .. Harp music had an important role in Gaelic culture, legend and folklore. He is often holding a harp, and is known to have played one. Around 1810 a harp was invented that permits the player to use pedals to change to any key during the playing of a piece. The Harp - BBC Documentary. An informal survey of Jewish friends over the years has yielded mixed reactions to the "Jew's harp". The harp is one of the world's oldest musical instruments, with evidence of its use dating as far back as 3000 B.C. These early harps looked very different from contemporary harps, although the suggestion of what was to come is present. Harps were widely used in the ancient Mediterranean and the Middle East from about 3000 B.C.E. In its favor, jaw harp is a misnomer of a misnomer - a quirky name for a somewhat quirky instrument. Harp Lager was first produced in 1960 as a bottled beer by the Guinness company (now Diageo), in response to the trend among drinkers in Britain and Ireland towards Continental lager. The Parts of the Pedal Harp. The modern harmonica was invented in 1821 by a German clockmaker named Christian Buschman who put fifteen pitch pipes together to create an odd little instrument. Jaw harp, then, is not an invented term intended to be politically correct, but is rather a misnomer brought to life by bad scholarship. The pedal harp (also known as the concert harp) is a large and technologically modern harp, designed primarily for use in art music.It may be played solo, as part of a chamber ensemble, or in an orchestra.It typically has 47 strings giving a range of six and a half octaves.