Tim manning

Aeolian Harp

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An Aeolian Harp repair

The repaired instrument with its case

Close-up of new instrument made using measurements taken from the original

The first Aeolian Harps were reputed to have been formed from the bodies of dead Turtles who's desiccated and dried bodies had some element of stretched string about them. When wind blew through the shell it caused the 'strings' to vibrate.

The Victorians were fond of Aeolian Harps and constructed them to fit in front of sliding sash windows. When a draft blew through the window it had to pass through the instrument as well, causing a somewhat other worldly sound to eminate from the instrument.

The sound that comes from an Aeolian Harp is not that of the fundamental note of the the string, but from the partials or harmonics of the string. Different intensities and directions of the wind cause different pitches to sound.

Murphy's law dictates that almost invariably when you would like to demonstrate the instrument to someone, there is no wind and conversely if you are seeking peace and quiet, the instrument plays loudly.

I once went to Westonbirt arboretum when there was a performance of what could probably described as an Aeolian Harps Ensemble. These instruments were entirely different in design from the Victorian models and had magnetic pick-ups fitted in order to amplify the sound. A CD was made of these instruments and it was called Windsongs. You may still be able to find it.

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