Post by Blackbird on Nov 14, 2005 13:55:18 GMT -1
I'm reading Alison Kinnaird's book 'Tree of Strings' at present - a fascinating history of the harp in Scotland. She also has some interesting things to say on the harp in Wales, some of which I thought I'd share 
The Laws of Hywel Dda mention the harp, using the word 'telyn' in every case. Of course, this is still the most commonly used word for the harp in the Welsh language. The word does not derive from 'tension', as has often been suggested. Instead, it seems to come from an Irish word 'teilinn', meaning the humming of a bee.
The legend told about this expression is that it was originally a derisive nickname given in contempt by the Irish harpers regarding the Welsh harps, which they encountered in 1075 on visiting Gruffydd ap Cynan.
(*Blackbird notes that there are also tales which run the opposite way round, with the Welsh describing the Irish harps as 'gutty sound of a nasty lame goose, like a noisy, crazy Irishwoman'!)
All the early Irish instruments were strung with metal, whereas the Welsh appear to have been strung with twisted horsehair. Experiments have shown that twisted horsehair strings produce a pleasant tone, similar to that of gut, with a clear, sweet tone.
Andrew Borde, an Englishman writing in the 1540's, wrote a little poem about a Welshman and his harp:
'If I have my harp, I care for no more
It is my treasure, I keep in in store
For my Harp is made of a good mare's skin
The strings be of horsehair, it maketh a good din.
My song, and my voice, and my Harp doth agree
Much like the buzzing of a bumble bee
Yet in my country I do make pastime
In telling of prophecy, which be not in rhyme."
It seems that some harps were made with leather bodies, perhaps similar to the framework of a coracle - wooden hoops and stretched skin.
A poem by Sion Phylip from c. 1580 runs:
"The sweet polished trunk, fair and light the load,
The form of a heart, between the breast and the arm,
A tone and sound the strings produce:
To effect this tone, four things concur
Wood, skin, hair, lovely and complete the gift;
With which bone must be tightened."
(Bone being used for the tuning pegs, of course.)
The Laws of Hywel Dda mention the harp, using the word 'telyn' in every case. Of course, this is still the most commonly used word for the harp in the Welsh language. The word does not derive from 'tension', as has often been suggested. Instead, it seems to come from an Irish word 'teilinn', meaning the humming of a bee.
The legend told about this expression is that it was originally a derisive nickname given in contempt by the Irish harpers regarding the Welsh harps, which they encountered in 1075 on visiting Gruffydd ap Cynan.
(*Blackbird notes that there are also tales which run the opposite way round, with the Welsh describing the Irish harps as 'gutty sound of a nasty lame goose, like a noisy, crazy Irishwoman'!)
All the early Irish instruments were strung with metal, whereas the Welsh appear to have been strung with twisted horsehair. Experiments have shown that twisted horsehair strings produce a pleasant tone, similar to that of gut, with a clear, sweet tone.
Andrew Borde, an Englishman writing in the 1540's, wrote a little poem about a Welshman and his harp:
'If I have my harp, I care for no more
It is my treasure, I keep in in store
For my Harp is made of a good mare's skin
The strings be of horsehair, it maketh a good din.
My song, and my voice, and my Harp doth agree
Much like the buzzing of a bumble bee
Yet in my country I do make pastime
In telling of prophecy, which be not in rhyme."
It seems that some harps were made with leather bodies, perhaps similar to the framework of a coracle - wooden hoops and stretched skin.
A poem by Sion Phylip from c. 1580 runs:
"The sweet polished trunk, fair and light the load,
The form of a heart, between the breast and the arm,
A tone and sound the strings produce:
To effect this tone, four things concur
Wood, skin, hair, lovely and complete the gift;
With which bone must be tightened."
(Bone being used for the tuning pegs, of course.)