Photos

This was taken inside the ship M/S Constellation of the Celebrity Cruise Lines when we were docked in Oslo, Norway. I have seen and heard other harpist but so far she is the prettiest harpist I have seen. Unfortunately she does not sing but I have watched others who play and sing at the same time. The sound of a harp always relaxes me.

Do you know that the harp is one of the most ancient types of stringed instruments? It was important in pre-Christian cultures and still survives today in many forms all over the world. Harps use open strings exclusively, thus the range of each is determined by the number of strings. In the Middle Ages strings were made from twisted animal gut (usually from sheep), although horse hair and even silk were used as well. Each string of the harp is attached to a wooden peg or metal pin. Strings are tuned by adjusting these pegs or pins. According to the Laws of Wales (twelfth century), the three items indispensable to a gentleman were his harp, his cloak, and his chessboard, while the three proper things for any man to have in his house were a virtuous wife, his cushion on his chair, and his harp in tune.
I took this photo against a half closed window but wished it was something else in that location to balance the area of the harp and the performer. Another thing that bothered me is a carved coat of arms behind the harp. I used flash because it was a little dark and to offset the background light from the window.