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Like all modern interpretations of the ancient wire strung harp, the Ancient Muse seeks to tap into the mystery and charm of
the well known surviving medieval wire harps. The Ancient Muse captures the spirit of those ancient musical instruments
rather than attempting to reproduce them. Yet it differs from them in only one significant anachronism, the harp is made of
glued wood pieces rather than being carved from a single slab of wood.
The neck and pillar are each made of three pieces of hardwood laminated together in such a way as to confound the grain of
the wood. The prevents the wood from splitting, cracking, or warping under the tension of the strings. All joints are mortise
and tennon. Depending on the type of wood the soundboard is either 1/4" or 5/16" solid hardwood. The back is enclosed and
permanently attached as for a guitar or violin and is made of solid hardwood.
The harp can be strung with either spring brass or phosphor bronze strings.
The tapered steel tuning pins are finished with the "plum brown" process which produces a deep brown color rather than the
usual modern black or blue finishes.
The string shoes are made of brass or nickel, whichever looks better with the wood.
The Ancient Muse is made of the same specie of wood throughout and the parts almost always are milled from the same piece
of wood. Harps are usually available in maple, cherry, and black walnut but when suitable saw logs or lumber can be had,
there will also be harps made of sycamore, tulip wood, sassafras, mulberry, butternut, and a variety of other woods.
the well known surviving medieval wire harps. The Ancient Muse captures the spirit of those ancient musical instruments
rather than attempting to reproduce them. Yet it differs from them in only one significant anachronism, the harp is made of
glued wood pieces rather than being carved from a single slab of wood.
The neck and pillar are each made of three pieces of hardwood laminated together in such a way as to confound the grain of
the wood. The prevents the wood from splitting, cracking, or warping under the tension of the strings. All joints are mortise
and tennon. Depending on the type of wood the soundboard is either 1/4" or 5/16" solid hardwood. The back is enclosed and
permanently attached as for a guitar or violin and is made of solid hardwood.
The harp can be strung with either spring brass or phosphor bronze strings.
The tapered steel tuning pins are finished with the "plum brown" process which produces a deep brown color rather than the
usual modern black or blue finishes.
The string shoes are made of brass or nickel, whichever looks better with the wood.
The Ancient Muse is made of the same specie of wood throughout and the parts almost always are milled from the same piece
of wood. Harps are usually available in maple, cherry, and black walnut but when suitable saw logs or lumber can be had,
there will also be harps made of sycamore, tulip wood, sassafras, mulberry, butternut, and a variety of other woods.
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The range of the harp is from G below middle C and three octaves up. The range is the same as for a violin or mandolin.
