What are the characteristics of a “Gothic” Harp?

[Simona Millham]

Hello!

I’m in the UK

[Tacye]

I suspect those harps are rosewood harps made in Pakistan (of the higher quality sort) in another shape.

[Audrey Nickel]

Yep, that’s a Paki.

[Chris Asmann]

Blevins makes a gothic type with 29 strings and a proper oval soundbox. (though I doubt it’s hollowed out by hand at the modest price they’re asking)

There is one in cherry on their discounted new harps page. The model name is Harmony:

http://blevinsharps.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=167_2_99

[Chris Asmann]

I reralized after I posted that all of us who replied didn’t really answer the question:

“what are the charactaristics of a “Gothic” harp”

Here is a link that may help: http://www.eric-harps.de/historical-harps/gothic.htm

There are sound clips with and without brays of most of the models he makes along with a nice explantion of where he found inspiration for each one. There are other places where you can read more about the construction of harps and the music written for them in the 15th and 16th centuries, but this site is the only place I have found sound samples offered for instruments

[Chris Asmann]

Please pardon the premature post, here is the second link:

http://www.thurau-harps.com/harps/hh-uebersicht.htm

[Simona Millham]

Wow – thanks Chris. Absolutely fascinating…. quite a distinctive sound!

[Tacye]

The harp of your original post however does not sound like that!

[Simona Millham]

Tacye – yes, don’t worry, that harp has been well and truly crossed off my list!!!Thanks very much for the advice!

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