(II)

From the Early Middle Ages to the 19th century The medieval harp was thoroughly diatonic while chromaticism was slowly beginning to invade western music. During the Renaissance, diatonic harps were still used (Gargantua by Rabelais leaned on such a harp). But the lack of chromaticism caused the instrument to slowly fall out of favor, to the advantage of the lute and new keyboard instruments.. To remedy this insufficiency, Italian instrument makers created the "arpa doppia" , or double harp.

In 1697 a Bavarian instrument maker, Hochbrücker, invented a mechanism which allowed certain modulations through the use of pedals. This harp found its way to France in 1749. In 1770 the young harpist and Princess Marie-Antoinette, was the source of considerable popularity for the harp in France where, through snobbism, the whole court wished to learn to play. In 1784, Rose de Chantoiseau counted 58 harp teachers in Paris! Many instrument makers ( like the Cousineaus ) tried to invent ways to give the harp more chromatic possibilities. But none of these makers found a satisfying solution (complex playing technique required, strings would not stay in tune, etc...). It was only around 1880 that the famous piano maker, Sébastien Erard, invented the modern forked disc system which allowed the harp to compete on a level playing field with other instruments once more.