Program notes
The documentary series, Une histoire de la musique à travers ses instruments (A History of Music Through its Instruments), takes a look at the history of the instruments used in Western music. Here, you can find out more about the harp.
Legend has it that the sound of a harp takes its inspiration from the sound of the string of a bow shooting an arrow. The idea to amplify the sound would have been the next step, first with the mouth and then using a sound box made of dried fruit. Chords were also added to the bow to produce a greater variety of sounds. The bow was then replaced by a more solid angular structure. This type of harp can be found in Egypt.
