‘“Some consorts of instruments are sweeter than others”: Further light on the harp of William Lawes’s Harp Consorts

John Cunningham

‘“Some consorts of instruments are sweeter than others”: Further light on the harp of William Lawes’s Harp Consorts

John Cunningham

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

William Lawes’s Harp Consorts are scored for violin, bass viol, theorbo and harp; however, scholars disagree whether Lawes composed for the gut-strung triple harp or the wire-strung Irish harp. In this article, the three harp sources of the collection, in the Bodleian and Christ Church libraries, Oxford (GB-Ob, Mus. Sch. MSS B.3 and D.229; GB-Och, Mus. 5), are examined to determine the harp range. The results suggest that Lawes composed for a retuneable, partly-chromatic Irish harp with at least 38 strings. Lawes’s Harp Consorts are also discussed in relation to other harp consorts.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	147–176
Number of pages	29
Journal	Galpin Society Journal
Volume	61
Publication status	Published - Apr 2008

Keywords

Irish harp; William Lawes; source studies; Music and culture in England

Cite this

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abstract = "William Lawes{\textquoteright}s Harp Consorts are scored for violin, bass viol, theorbo and harp; however, scholars disagree whether Lawes composed for the gut-strung triple harp or the wire-strung Irish harp. In this article, the three harp sources of the collection, in the Bodleian and Christ Church libraries, Oxford (GB-Ob, Mus. Sch. MSS B.3 and D.229; GB-Och, Mus. 5), are examined to determine the harp range. The results suggest that Lawes composed for a retuneable, partly-chromatic Irish harp with at least 38 strings. Lawes{\textquoteright}s Harp Consorts are also discussed in relation to other harp consorts.",

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N2 - William Lawes’s Harp Consorts are scored for violin, bass viol, theorbo and harp; however, scholars disagree whether Lawes composed for the gut-strung triple harp or the wire-strung Irish harp. In this article, the three harp sources of the collection, in the Bodleian and Christ Church libraries, Oxford (GB-Ob, Mus. Sch. MSS B.3 and D.229; GB-Och, Mus. 5), are examined to determine the harp range. The results suggest that Lawes composed for a retuneable, partly-chromatic Irish harp with at least 38 strings. Lawes’s Harp Consorts are also discussed in relation to other harp consorts.

AB - William Lawes’s Harp Consorts are scored for violin, bass viol, theorbo and harp; however, scholars disagree whether Lawes composed for the gut-strung triple harp or the wire-strung Irish harp. In this article, the three harp sources of the collection, in the Bodleian and Christ Church libraries, Oxford (GB-Ob, Mus. Sch. MSS B.3 and D.229; GB-Och, Mus. 5), are examined to determine the harp range. The results suggest that Lawes composed for a retuneable, partly-chromatic Irish harp with at least 38 strings. Lawes’s Harp Consorts are also discussed in relation to other harp consorts.

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ER -

‘“Some consorts of instruments are sweeter than others”: Further light on the harp of William Lawes’s Harp Consorts

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