Beautifully illustrated with more than 130 photographs and drawings, this book surveys the progress of the harp from antiquity to the present day -- from the simple bow-like early harp to the gleaming modern pedal harp, most recently equipped with the refinements of electronic sound.Part I considers the harps of the ancient Egyptian, Mesopotamian, and Cycladic peoples, those of the fabled Scythians, and traditional instruments still played in Burma and Afghanistan. Part II presents the non-pedal harp in the Western world, from early in the Christian era to the 20th-century. Examples from art and literature are discussed, along with extant early harps and some important harpists and their music. Part III traces the development of the pedal harp over the last 300 years. Famous performers, teachers, and harps are highlighted. The book concludes with information on the modern study of the harp, on harp societies, conferences and competitions, and on the burgeoning repertoire of harp musi