ARPA. - Legendary tales recount the obscure, most ancient origin of the harp. Egyptian monuments represent harps variously adorned, which over time became more refined, increasing in size and the number of strings. Greeks and Romans primarily used the lyre. Nonetheless, they knew two types of harps: the Assyrian harp and the trigon (triangular in shape). In the 12th century, the Irish held a true primacy in the use of the harp and in the technique of its construction, as the harp played a very significant role in all aspects of their lives. The Irish harp soon spread to Germany, Flanders, France, Spain, and Italy, enjoying great favor especially at courts during the Renaissance period; with the first melodramas, it began to be part of the orchestra. After improvements made by the best makers, Nadermann, Cousineau, and especially Sébastien Érard (1712–1831), who brought it to its current perfection, the harp is considered an integral part of an orchestral score.
In large concert organs, a percussion stop that imitates the sound of the orchestral harp is often included. Alessandro Santini