An instrument in the shape of a harp, fitted with a keyboard action. Ever since Mersenne (Harmonie universelle, Paris, 1636–7, iii) mentioned an attempt to fit a keyboard action to a harp-type instrument, investors have experimented repeatedly with mechanisms that pluck or strike the strings. Among the earliest is probably the claviarpa, a harp-like instrument controlled from a keyboard, thought to have been invented in the 17th century in Spain by Juan Hidalgo. The first such instrument to have established itself seems to have been the claviharpe demonstrated by johann christian Dietz (i) in Paris in 1814. The instrument was strung with gut and had three pedals, sustaining, bassoon and buff stop. Dietz and his son produced versions of this instrument until about 1890. Numerous other such hybrids were devised during the 19th century. For further information see The New Grove Dictionary of Musical Instruments.
HOWARD SCHOTT