The difference in sound between a large single-course harp and a smaller
double-strung harp is that the left (or lower) hand, which plays
accompaniments, can actually play in a higher register, often above what
the right hand is playing, because of the separate but identically tuned
row of strings, and this produces a unique and beautiful echo effect.
Styles which are possible on a double-strung harp include:
- Welsh doubled-melody
- the polyrhythmic sound of the African Kora
- Medieval and Renaissance harpa doppia and Gothic Harp repertoire,
- which includes early music and some Baroque music
- All lever harp styles, including Celtic, Pop, Jazz, New Age
- South American music and rhythms
- Some classical styles
There is an historical double-strung harp called "harpa doppia", which
was used in Spain and Italy. Unlike today's double harp, it had three
partial rows of strings, with the diatonic row split between the left
hand (bass notes) and the right (treble), and a chromatic row opposite
those strings. The harpa doppia was developed in response to a
growing need, in the 1500s, for accidentals, as music became more
chromatic. Later, triple-strung harps may have seemed to be the
answer to the limitations of the harp doppia, but they have no levers,
and though accidentals are easily accessed, key changes are difficult at
best.
The contemporary double-strung design, which is much more versatile,
resulted from the desire for a harp which could be played like a
triple-strung or a single-course lever harp, at will. Thus, two
identically tuned rows of strings, with two full sets of levers for key
changes, answered the need. It was designed in 1990 by harpist Liz
Cifani and me, and Triplett Harps and Stoney End Harps
built the first two contemporary designs. Later, other companies caught
on, and at this writing in 2000, many harp makers are offering
double-strung harps.
There is a video available with instruction for double-strung harp, "An
Introduction to Multi-Course Harps", which also features cross-strung
instruction. It was produced by Argent Fox Harps.