The Washington times., 1920-01-11
HARP NOW ENJOYS
ERA OF POPULARITY
Demand for Skilled Performers
Exceeds Supply and Wealthy
Women Like instrument.

Rublnsteln once said that "music 10
an Aristocratic art" The harp has
from early times retained its nomsn-
ciature Of "ths royal instrument" and.
relates the New Yory Evening Sun.
at one time--htstory mentions the
EliEabethan period--it was refused
the touch OF fingers which did not
claim royal descent
In It's many forms. ranging from
the huge Egyptian harp seven feet
In height 10 that owned by Trinity
College, Dublin, the brian Boru" Of
thlrty-two inches, along with those
loved by medieval players. bards, min
strels, "fayre Iaydies" and others It
held public favor until the advent or
the pianoforte, then Its popularity de-
creased.
New Lease On Life.
Until n few years ago the harp,
only In the harmonies OF folksongs.
marches and hymns. Recently Il has
| taken a new lease on life and at the
present moment II Is said that the
demand for players far exceeds the
supply, and that no woman harpist
with a fair knowledge of her profes-
sion need go a-begging, and though
the prices paid are not enormous. they
AFFORD q good living wage. Theaters
| In New York pay $40 per week and
the road orchestral performers get
| from 40 to $66: the harpist engaged
| by a church choir for the year gets
approximately the same as the aver
age tenor or soprano. One cannot give
the sums made by vituosos. which are
dependent on their popularity.
Many women well known in society
and in other professions are excellent
harp players. Heading a long list of
titled personages one reads the names
Margherita OF Italy. who are said TO
prefer the harp to any other instru-
ment and to play It pleasingly. The
wife consort OF the newly chosen
King OF Albania, Princess William Of
Wied, plays IL and Carmen sylvia"
her aunt by marriage, was in her day
a harpist of royal repute.
Notable Women Harpists.
Mrs. william Clark. wife of the ex-
Senator from Montana. is a harpist
as is Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt, Mrs.
A. C. Vanderbilt, Miss James. daugh-
| ter Of the physician, DR.. Walter B.
James; Mrs. Eric Dahlgren. the
youngest daughter Of William Jen-
nings Bryan and the three daughters
Of James Crimmins. The family Of
ex-senator Lorimer are said to be ex-
ceptionally fine performers.
Many Of the virtuoso performers
are as proud OF their specially made
instruments as are violinists OF their
Cremona fiddles. Ada Sassoli's golden
harp has a surface of resplendent
beauty, and the instrument Of Miss
Morgan never fails to elicit a wore
Of applause, costing 5000 or 500 more
than the ordinary instrument, or
81 500. A harp sculptured to display
a Grecian design is being made for
Mrs. Max Bendix. and one that is
valued at $500 Is to be sent to an
American woman residing in japan.
In the days of royal pomp and mag
nificence, the harp was ornamented
with precious stones and represented
untold wealth. Today more atten-
ton is paid to tonal qualities than to
decorations.
At the present time the American
harp, throughout the world, has
scarcely any competition, in which II
differs from all other of our musical
instruments. The Erard harp manu-
featured in France, is practically it's
only rival The Chicago harp-for the
best ones are made In the Windy City
are to be found all over the world.
In the royal orchestra in Moscow.