Jeff Snow
Learn young, learn fair; learn old, learn more. Scottish Proverb
Between its magical sound and perhaps a memory from a long ago middle school, there is a lot of interest in the autoharp wherever I go.
The term "autoharp" first appeared in a patent in 1882. It was for an instrument that could be described as a chorded zither. At first, and for many years, it was a trademark and referred to an instrument made by a specific manufacturer. Over time the trademark expired and the term is now used to describe the instrument in general. Most of the earlier autoharps were made by the Oscar Schmidt Company. They are still making them today along with a handful of custom builders.
The instruments were designed to be laid flat on a lap or table and strummed like a guitar. After a while they were often held upright and strummed. In the early 1970's some brave souls decided to try and fingerpick the autoharp much like you would fingerpick a guitar.
An traditional autoharp has 36 strings, mine has 37, and was designed to cover a range of about 3 1/2 octaves. Because my harp was designed and built to be played in just 2 musical keys it is tuned differently than a standard autoharp and I have a wee bit more than 2 1/2 octaves.
The range of this harp is similar to the range of the bagpipe. Because of that most bagpipe tunes move over to the harp easily.
As with all acoustic instruments the sound is dependent upon the type of wood used in its construction. My harp is made from walnut and west coast redwood.
The term "autoharp" first appeared in a patent in 1882. It was for an instrument that could be described as a chorded zither. At first, and for many years, it was a trademark and referred to an instrument made by a specific manufacturer. Over time the trademark expired and the term is now used to describe the instrument in general. Most of the earlier autoharps were made by the Oscar Schmidt Company. They are still making them today along with a handful of custom builders.
The instruments were designed to be laid flat on a lap or table and strummed like a guitar. After a while they were often held upright and strummed. In the early 1970's some brave souls decided to try and fingerpick the autoharp much like you would fingerpick a guitar.
An traditional autoharp has 36 strings, mine has 37, and was designed to cover a range of about 3 1/2 octaves. Because my harp was designed and built to be played in just 2 musical keys it is tuned differently than a standard autoharp and I have a wee bit more than 2 1/2 octaves.
The range of this harp is similar to the range of the bagpipe. Because of that most bagpipe tunes move over to the harp easily.
As with all acoustic instruments the sound is dependent upon the type of wood used in its construction. My harp is made from walnut and west coast redwood.
100 Pipers is a popular and traditional Scottish Bagpipe tune. The Irish call the tune "The Hair Fell off my Coconut."
All Through the Night, Traditional Welsh tune.
Ian Ruddah's Lament/Scotland the Brave
One with the old harp.
One with the old harp.
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Photos by Lauren Hourihan Photography Wilbraham Massachusetts
O'Holy Night. Written as a poem in France in 1853. My Favorite Christmas tune on the 'Harp.
The Hills of Argyll....Bagpipe tune written by George McIntyre of Campbletown, Scotland. He composed the tune while in a German POW Camp during WW2.