The Welsh harp (also known as the triple harp) is widely considered to be the national instrument of Wales. Harpist Cerys Hafana joins us to explain how its magical sound came to dominate our traditional musical landscape.

The harp is the national instrument of Wales, with an unbroken line of harpers reaching back to at least the 11th century. Little is known of the origins of these early instruments, although small details such as poems are recorded, decrying the use of the new-fangled gut strings, as opposed to the traditional strings of plaited horse hair.

The triple harp is a type of multi-course harp employing three parallel rows of strings instead of the more common single row. One common version is the Welsh triple harp (Welsh: telyn deires), used today mainly among players of traditional Welsh folk music.

The harp is the national instrument of Wales. To the Welsh people, the harp has been part of the musical and poetical tradition of the land from time immemorial. They used to say in bygone days that there are three things that are necessary for a man to have in his house – a virtuous wife, a cushion for his chair and a well tuned harp!

Welsh Harp may refer to: Welsh triple harp or triple harp, a traditional musical instrument; Welsh Harp (ward), an electoral ward of the Brent London Borough Council; Welsh Harp railway station, London 1870–1903; Brent Reservoir or Welsh Harp, London

2014年3月12日 · The Welsh Triple Harp is a national symbol, an icon of patriotic pride in the principality’s rich cultural heritage, associated with legends of the ancient druids and bards, and (from 1742 to the present day) with traditional Welsh music. But how Welsh are its origins?

During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries many triple harps were built in Wales. Two of the most famous harp makers were John Richards (1711-1789) of Llanrwst in North Wales and Bassett Jones (1809-1869) of Cardiff.

The harp is the only traditional instrument in Wales with an unbroken history up to the present day. It is also the instrument most often cited in Welsh literature through the ages. The earlier harp was a small instrument – ‘telyn benglin’ (penglin = lap).

Whereas the Irish harp calls up images of mist and haunted romances – when it isn’t playing a jig or reel – the Welsh triple harp repertoire of hornpipes, resonates with a darker, gypsy-like energy.

This harp was more playable than its predecessors and became the first truly chromatic harp. Unsurprisingly, it became popularised around Europe, becoming the harp used by baroque and early-classical composers including Monteverdi and Handel.