††The harp is a musical instrument consisting of many strings stretched vertically within a wooden frame. The harp may be the oldest stringed instrument. It was mentioned in the Old Testament of the Bible and was found in several countries in the West by the 9th and 10th centuries.
These early harps were quite small and normally placed on the knees to be played. Harps grew bigger once they were introduced into the orchestra in the 19th century. This larger size was necessary to produce the extra volume necessary in an orchestra.
