33© SKETCH OF THE HISTORY OF THE 



firings was invented. This fupplied the deficiency, 

 and in fome degree obviated that difficulty of play- 

 ing the flats and fliarps, which in all the preceding 

 inftruments had for fome centuries been found almofl 

 infurmountable. — The next improvement was in the 

 invention of the triple harp. This, which is the 

 harp now in common ufe in Wales, had its origin 

 about the fourteenth century. Its compafs extends 

 to five oclaves and one note, namely, from A in alt, 

 to double B in the bafs. The three rows contain 

 in the whole ninety-eight ftrings. The two outer 

 rows are diatonics, and both tuned in unifon ; and 

 the middle row conftitutes the fliarps and flats. — 

 The lateft improvement that the harp has under- 

 gone, is in the invention of pedals for producing 

 the femitones. For this we are indebted to a per- 

 fon of the name of Simon, who refided in BrufTcls 

 fomewhat more than forty years ago. To this in- 

 flrument there are but thirty-three firings, which are 

 merely the natural notes of the diatonic fcale, the 

 reft being made by the feet. It is an ingenious and 

 ufeful contrivance, and has thus not only rendered 

 the inflrument capable of infinitely greater expref- 

 fion than it ever had before, but any paffage can 

 be executed on it that can be played on the harp^ 

 fichord. 



The crwth, which is another of the Welfli inftru- 

 ments, is now fo nearly out of ufe, that even its 

 name is fcarcely known to fome of the prefent harp- 



7 QXS. 



