Grandharp
September 13th, 2009 | Published in Sculpture
Grandharp
Grandharp in action
Title: Grandharp
Medium: Different metals, screws and piano strings
As the idea grew to make an instrument myself, I ended up researching for nearly two years. The major part was spent studying the piano. Also the cymbalum, still very famous in Eastern Europe, was a huge source of information concerning the stretching of strings and playability of the instrument. Watch this video of Toni Iordache, the King of cymbalum as he was called.
Second prototype
These are some of the first sketches towards the new design. What was important here was the search for the strongest form that could counteract the pulling strings. The tension of the stringing on a normal piano is 18.000kg so I immediately began to make calculations. I found this calculator on the web during my research. At this time the attachment of the strings were similar to the Small Grandharp accept that piano strings were going to be used instead of guitar strings. The differents between them is that piano strings are tougher thus have a greater traction.
Some of the first sketches
Below you’ll see the second prototype assembled with found metal pieces. To get a better view of the result I drawed the strings on the photos.
Second prototype (front)
Second prototype (side)
Second prototype (detail)
When speaking about sounds and strings, resonance is the main issue. Resonance jumps in when tuning an instrument. Watch this video where a machine visualises the symmetrical figures of resonances.
Final Frame
My research ended up in this final structure. In contrast with the second prototype this one is made only with straight bars welded together, to ensure stability. The left bars have a curve based on the length of each string. The outer bars serve as attachment for the strings, the inner bars as guidance. A totally new mechanism was designed for the attachment of the strings to the frame.
The left bars have a curve based on the length of each string (top)
Frame (front)