Harp Guitar & Related Articles

PDF Articles

PDFs can be accessed here or from Gregg Miner's Academia.edu page.

Original format Web articles here

All articles by Gregg Miner, unless otherwise noted

 

  History (Organology, Terminology & Timelines)
  What is a Harp Guitar?

My original web site thesis that addressed the complex topic for the first time.

"Harp Guitar": What's In a Name

This paper surveys the wide variety of instruments collectively known today as harp guitars. It examines the group from a modern organological viewpoint, and includes an overview of historical forms and configurations. Additionally, it investigates the provenance and conflicting definitions of the term "harp guitar," which has been unsystematically applied to various plucked stringed instruments for over two centuries. In addition to analyzing and comparing these instruments, this paper examines the large number of harp guitars that have been known by many other names. Finally, justification for new terminology and modern organology will be given, as well as a consolidated modern definition.

"Harp Guitar" Labeling: Have I Created a Monster? An Exercise in Context and Perspective

A "real world" case of determining proper labeling of harp guitars and related instruments for museums and others.

Super-Treble Strings: To Infinity and Beyond

In which I explore the fascinating history and evolution of non-bass harp strings incorporated into guitars to form harp guitar variants.

Floating Strings: The Remarkable Story of the Harp Guitar in America

Museum of Making Music, 2017

Our accompanying exhibit book - the history of the harp guitar in the U.S. and beyond.

Some Truths About Lyres

An organological re-examination of lyre forms of plucked stringed instruments. (HInt: They are NOT all "guitars.")

The History and Organology of the Modern Archguitar

The first modern organology for the instruments with this name.

   
  Instruments (Specific Historical Makers & Inventors)
The Guitarpa

The re-discovery of the incredible Gallegos Guitarpa!

Charpentier, Munchs & Louis: The Guitare-multicorde a Harp Guitar 190 Years Ahead of Its Time

Unlocking the mystery of the Guitare-multicorde in the Brussels Musical Instrument Museum.

Cracking the Dyer DNA Code

Sometimes a single historical photograph can provide the final smoking gun to settle questions in musical instrument research. In this case, it confirmed the circa date of the earliest W. J. Dyer & Bro. harp guitar in America.

Weymann Harp Guitars

Exploring the extant harp guitars of the unsung American guitar manufacturer H. A. Weymann & Son company of Philadelphia.

A Vega Harp Guitar

Examining the sole surviving harp guitar by Boston's Vega Company.

Altpeter's Harp Guitar Patent and Double-Harp Ukulele

A look at the patent and sole surviving instrument - a double-harp-ukulele - of harp guitar inventor Franz Altpeter of Chicago, Illinois, with additional images and information from his descendants.

  Players (Historical)
Walter A. Boehm, the Gibson Harp Guitar and Their Influence on America's BMG Community

The most well-known harp guitar player of America's early BMG movement, Boehm is virtually unknown today, even though he created the tunings for the Gibson Company's harp guitars.

Carl Jansen: American Harp Guitarist

The career and instruments of early American harp guitarist Carl Jansen

America's Harp Guitar Playing Evangelist Preacher Southern Gospel Singers

An investigation into the careers and use of the Gibson harp guitar by Alfred G. Karnes and J. Warren Lowman.


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