Fun Facts
- A musician who plays the harp is called a harpist.
- The harp consists of three parts: the frame, the strings, and the pedals.
- To play the harp, harpists ‘pluck’ the strings.
- The harp is the national symbol of Ireland.
Famous Works
Listen to the Harp
Every instrument gets its moment to shine! Press a Listen button below and hear what the Harp can do.
Tchaikovsky's Waltz of the Flowers (from the Nutcracker)
ListenThe harp takes center stage with a brilliant, sweeping solo, sending rippling waves of notes up and down the strings. Its sparkling sound creates a magical, glowing curtain that opens up the stage before the grand waltz even begins.
Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique Movement 2 "Un bal"
ListenTwo harps trade cascading, glittering lines back and forth, filling the music with the bright, festive shimmer of a crowded 19th-century ballroom. Berlioz was one of the first composers to use harps this prominently in an orchestra.
