TUESDAY’S TIDBITS AND TRIVIA CLARSACH OR CELTIC HARP

Queen Mary’s Harp

The harper on the Dupplin Cross, Scotland, circa 800

While doing research for Triumph and Treasure, Book 1 in the Highland Heather Romancing a Scot Series, I came across the clarsach (pronounced kla:rsex or kla:sek) or celtic harp, popular in both Ireland and Scotland. 

Isobel Ferguson, my heroine in the novel, plays the harp, and  I was tickled to discover the Scots had their own small harp. Clarsach is the Gaelic word for small harp, and my understanding is that the clarsach was the harp of the Highlands, which if you’ve read Highlander’s Hope, is where Isobel’s ancestral home, Craiglocky Keep (castle)  is located.   

The oldest instrument of Scotland, it was strung with gut strings (wire later on). It’s thought by some scholars that the harp was introduced to Europe via trade with Phoenicians and that the first harps originated in Egypt. At one time, the English banned harp playing and the popularity of the instrument gradually died down toward the end of the eighteen century. 

I confess, I’ve always wanted to learn to play the harp. It’s on my bucket list, and a clarsach, would be just the right size. 

Is there any instrument you’ve always wanted to play? 

   Want to hear the celtic harp?  If you click on this link, you can actually hear a sample! 

Resources: 

http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/scotlandssongs/about/instruments/clarsach/

http://www.alisonvardy.com/harp-info/celtic-harp-history.htm

http://www.clarsachsociety.co.uk/about-us/history-of-the-society