The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-29
AMERICAN HARPS THE best.
Those Made in Europe Unable TO stand
the Climate Here.


1t was certainly sick looking harp,
The carved pillar had buckled out OF shape,
there were cracks along II, body and the
sounding board had warped in unsightly
wets.
lts beautiful carving, inlaid tracery and
gliding showed that il once had been
musical instrument OF great price. But
now its soul was gone.
a recent arrival from Europe. said the
music dealer az tho expressman set il
down In the corner. European harps
are Ike European furniture in our climate;
they must be rebuilt.
This instrument isn't 80 hopeless wreck
as you might think. Wen send it on to
Chicago, where there Is big harp factory
and they'll put steel ribs into it's consti-
tuition, strengthen the veneers, straighten
out the column, restore the inlaid work.
and so forth. When ii comes back in all
its original beauty YOU can take it around
tho world, for it will be to all intents and
purposes an American instrument
es we import our viollnsts, pianiss
and opera singers. but we make our own
harps and the famous European soloists
and orchestras buy them from Us. What
gives the American harp this advantage?
Well. partly our climate
I'VE had TO build them to last here. which
means an instrument that will last any
where American builders know how TO
make better veneers. evidently. Then
they've found way OF fastening the pillar
to the body which prevents breaking, so
common in foreign instruments.
The body IN reinforced inside with ribs
all the pedal rods are placed in tubes that
mufIie their rattle, and the body j. built
20 stand the enormous pull Of the strings
American harps. too. have better tone.
1t may surprise you TO know that the latest
Improvement in a European harp dates
back to 1872.
There is a decided revival Of interest
in the harp lust now. and II seems to Doe
musical instrument that has come TO stay.
A few years ago the church choir that had
a harpist was a novelty. Now many churche.
have them, and most of the players are
young women.
The harp offers an attractive career
to a woman of moderate musical ability.
Long wears Of practice on the piano or
violin would bring her nowhere, but two
years study of the harp enables an in
tellRent player TO appear in choir or
dance orchestra. The harp i also poplllar
at weddings
THE record time for learning this in
strumcnt - held by man harpist in this
city who played in recitals a year from the
time he began TO practice, You see. the
harp Is simple instrument, recurring
no great feNibility of hands, as does the
piano Some Of the crack pianists can
which is spread of over seven inches
On the harp such PLAYER could reach
more than two octa YES
Harp music is written much the same
az piano music but il simpler The nstr1I-
ment lends itself 70 homeiy simple music
too, so that little proficiency goes great
way. Many women are amateur harpsts
of skill and harps are now purchased for
children
You'd be surprised to know how much
in vogue they are and how many are sold
in New York. Two-third- Of tie purchasers
are women. and perhaps of these one half
buy the instrument as means to live-
hood. Besides recitalS, church PLAYING
weddings, &C. there is a demand for harp
teachers
Only one thing stands in the way Of
this instrument wider popularity IhaIs
the price Some harps cost twice a. much
as the best concert grand piano, and with
elaborate ornameniation they may run
as high Us sJ.J01
But when the first cost has been met
the instrument becomes a good investment.
don't know how long a European harp
would ast-that instrument in the corner
may be only five or ten years old. But il
il said that the construction of an Ameri-
can harp is so scientific and strong that
full century may be set as its shortest life.