Frazur—On an Early Irish Harp. Tek 
prising the tones included between the highest pitch of the female 
voice and the lowest of the male, being the natural limits within 
which to construct the scale of an instrument intended to accompany 
vocal performances.”’ 
The highly ornamented and celebrated harp which is preserved in 
the museum of Trinity College, and usually called the harp of Brian 
Boru, but which has been stripped by modern investigators of its ro- 
mantic antiquity, and is now considered to have belonged to some 
distinguished person of the tribe of the O’ Neils, whose armorial bear- 
ings it displays, was supposed, through some error, to have only twenty- 
eight strings. Dr. George Petrie, in his examination of it, found 
there were thirty tuning pins and corresponding string-holes, which 
would appear to be the average number. This harp is well known 
for its beautiful decorative carving; it measures thirty-two inches in 
height. 
The Gardyn harp, described in popular belief as the harp of Mary, 
Queen of Scots, is also described by Petrie as having thirty strings ; 
and, from his scrupulous accuracy, this is probably correct. However, 
in a recently published Cyclopedia on musical matters, I find that 
twenty-eight strings are mentioned as being the exact number. 
This far more humble harp which I here endeavour to describe 
belongs to a different class of instrument. It is plain and simple 
in its construction, though possessing great beauty of form and grace- 
fulness. It was not intended for great ecclesiastics or the hands of 
wealthy nobles, but for the daily use of the wandering bard. What I 
have said of its construction is simple matter of description ; still there 
appears to have once been some additional figure or ornament at the 
upper part of the front pillar; what this might be is mere conjecture. 
Upon the Irish silver coins of the first James the harp is represented 
with the ornament of a bird’s head, and it is allowable for us to supply 
a similar device where it seems deficient ; or we may prefer a more 
graceful female head, such as figures on the copper Irish coinage of 
Charles II., and upon the succeeding copper coinages of our kings ; it 
is equally probable and at least better looking than the head of the 
bird, for an ornamental termination to the pillar. 
OO 
