‘Nikolai’, 26 strings, with bray pins

The ‘Nikolai’ is based on various iconographical sources including a carving of a human musician on the high altar of the Nicolaikirche in Kalkar (c. 1488-98) and English misericords images of sows playing harps in Manchester Cathedral (c.1508) and Beverly Minster. The soundbox is rectangular in section. The stringband, front and sides are carved from a solid piece of wood. The back is inset.

Typical Materials:    Soundbox, Back, Arm and Pillar:  Maple

                    Brays:  Pearwood

Strings: PVF*

Approximate length along pillar side: 41 inches

Recommended tuning (at A=440): diatonic,  F - c’’’

*Usually strung in PVF, this instrument can be restrung in gut, please ask for a price quote for gut strings.

please request price quote

(with synthetic strings*)

(add shipping and tax, if applicable)

‘Genevieve’, 23 gut or synthetic strings

Several harp players have expressed interest in a harp that sounds like my ‘Mathilde’ harp but with a few more bass strings. This harp has also been designed to work well with regular, low-twist, gut harp strings. This means that it also work well with synthetic strings. The soundbox is nearly 3 inches deep but is still carved from a solid piece of wood. The back is inset.

Approximate length along pillar side: 40 inches

Recommended tuning (at A=440): diatonic, C-d’’’

‘Aonghus’, 23 wire strings

The photo shows the prototype for a relatively small 23-string instrument,

designed specifically for a musician who wanted an instrument which

would be like the Queen Mary clarsach in many ways* but small enough

to travel with more easily. 

Approximate length along pillar side: 27 inches

Recommended tuning in brass (at A=440):  diatonic, C-d’’’*

* It is possible to string this instrument for a lower tuning but lower tuning might require

precious metal strings. Please contact me if you are interested in a lower range,

partial chromatic tuning or a “sister strings” tuning.

*I would like to thank Karen Loomis for sharing the invaluable research she has been undertaking

on the surviving early clarsachs.

The two 23-string harps listed below are some of the instruments that were keeping Alice busy at the time of posting. Please also feel free to contact us to ask about different possible tunings or stringing for the models shown below or to order a custom-made instrument to suit your requirements. 

(listed from fewest to greatest number of strings)

please request price quote

(with brass strings*)

(add shipping and tax, if applicable)

please request price quote

(with synthetic strings*)

(add shipping and tax, if applicable)