Harp Peace...with Shoshan For those with a Mystic's Heart ~ Peaceful Healing Harp Music ~ Devotional Songs Sacred Bells & Candle Meditation ~ Blessing Prayer & Anointing with Oil Given I Welcome other Women who love Father God for Fellowship at my Home My music is to restore the soul unto God in the Peaceful Healing Presence of the Holy Spirit We make a Sacred Time & Space & Place ....to Meet with the One who is beyond all Time & Space & Place yet is ever Present with us...Emmanuel   To me the harp is a mystical, gentle & spiritual instrument...for personal devotion, song, prophesy, meditation & healing....& a beautiful way to pray & commune with God. Sacred Harp Music for Personal Worship, Meditation & Healing Hints & Encouragement for Beginners ~ Lots of Links for Free Harp Tuition Healing Music in Celtic Christian & Hebrew Traditions...With Scriptures from the Book of Revelation about the Sounds of Heavenly Angelic Worship "Sing unto the Lord with the harp & the voice of a Psalm" Ps.98:5 "My meditation of Him shall be sweet" Ps.104:34 I Encourage other Women to Rise up in your Holy Faith & Trust in God alone... If you have, like our Lord..."found no where to lay your head"...if you've even suffered rejection or find you can't fit into or share in noisy, worldly churches...then form your own Home Groups, your own Prayers, Communion & Meditations...Tap into the Mystery of Christ, the Love of the Father, poured out into our Hearts through the Promise of the Spirit...Then sing out your own Heart Songs to Him... for Spiritual Worship, Healing & Restoration of your Souls. "Be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in Psalms & Hymns & Spiritual Songs...singing & making melody in YOUR HEART to the Lord" Ephesians 5:18b-19 Anyone who has a HEART after God...can sing out their OWN SONG to Him. Don't be limited by traditional ways...or copying what others have done or expect. The KEY is Simplicity...& the TUNE is being in HEAVENLY HARMONY with our Creater Father through the Beloved Son of His Love."ZAMAR" is the Hebrew word for praising God...by plucking the strings of an instrument or of the vocal chords. So when I play my bells, timbrels or stringed instruments I am TUNING in my HEART, SOUL & MIND to the Realm or Spiritual Dimension of my Father God's Kingdom (Heaven)...& in that tuning in...that communing in spirit...I can start to sence something of His Presence & guidance for the words / prayers to say, the songs to sing & the tunes to play. The Holy Spirit is our helper, comforter & teacher. Whether alone or with others...He will help us PRAY & WORSHIP GOD! If we will just "come" & be available...make a sacred place & time. He is the Conductor / Composer / Song Leader...we are His Holy Priests & Instruments of Worship...for the Healing of His People's Precious Souls...for spiritual worship, offered up as SACRED INCENSE from hearts of love...brings the anointing / blessing of the Holy Spirit & it's the ANOINTING THAT HEALS US! It's not the "name / brand " or our religion but OUR FAITH that CREATES a response! It's ALWAYS THE DAY OF SALVATION...of help & healing. Ask & expect by Faith! God is the CREATOR, our Dear Spiritual Father & He loves us very much...are you hurting? He can help you...He will never hurt you or push you away. Ask for Angelic protection & guidance. Ask Him to fill you with the Holy Spirit. Be baptised in water for cleansing...then as John the Baptist said, Yeshuah will baptise us with the Holy Spirit & Fire. This is YOUR OWN PENTACOSTAL EXPERIENCE WITH SIGNS & SPIRITUAL GIFTINGS SOON FOLLOWING. The Gift of His NEW COVENANT BLESSING...His Ruach Holy Spirit is here for all who ask Him. Emmanuel God is with us. It is up to us to be ready & willing to receive. Just find YOUR OWN SACRED WAY to seek & speak with God...from the TRUTH of your own HEART CENTRE. Be honest & open with the ONE who created you in your mother's womb. He "knows every hair on your head" & "every sparrow that falls" Christ said. Human Beings are the real Temple that has been broken down & that He is restoring for His Glory! A New Spiritual Covenant, a New Spiritual Priesthood, a New Spiritual Way of Worship...Give Him the fruit of our lips...The sacrifices of joy...the Sweet Incense of a life of Prayer & Devotion. The Holy Spirit showed me many years ago that all the Father has ever wanted is a people for His own Name's sake...a people who will love, praise & obey Him out of their own free wills as Yeshuah has shown us. Harp Music & Song Coming Soon on MP3 (If you are interested please email me!) Harp Peace ~ Sacred Music, Song, Meditation & Healing with Shoshan Women's Home Fellowship, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia [email protected] The Harp...Is the Instrument of the Angels who worship & adore before God's throne Carrier of the Incense of Prayer & Worship...A Healing Balm of Peace.... With the Blessing or SACRED LOVE ANOINTING of the Holy Spirit... the sound of a harp is like a Gentle Healing "salve"...a Holy Ointment that pours forth...to heal, restore, calm & assure our hearts of God's Reality, Care & Presence with us through the Ruah Spirit... It is the Sacred Sound of Peace...It brings us to a Place of Peace within Resting in the Beloved...BEING in Him...ONE with God The Harp & Prophesy... "And you will meet the prophets coming dowm from Mt. Carmel with harps & tabrets. (A small double skinned hand drum) & you will be turned into another man & you will prophesy. This is the "UNCTION" of the Holy Spirit that is stirred up inside when one hears Holy & Anointed music played & sung by Holy & Anointed vesssels. Be a Priest / Priestess of the Lord & BLESS & INSPIRE OTHERS ! "On my menservants & on my maidservants I will pour out my Spirit & they shall prophesy" Acts2:18 "Let the instruments speak!"..."Play skillfully with a loud noise"..."Be filled with the Holy Spirit...speaking to yourselves with spalms & hymns & SPIRITUAL SONGS, singing & making melody in your hearts to the Lord"... "Prophesy AS OFTEN as YOU have FAITH TO RECEIVE IT !" Practice at home...write things down, tape all your music & songs. Worshipful Harp Music Creates a Holy Haven of Peace & Healing When played with a heart in connection with the Anointing of the Holy Ruah Ha Kodesh...the resonance of the Harp strings connect HEAVEN & EARTH with the sounds of running Spiritual Waters as Yeshuah's beloved disciple John saw & heard of the Angels of God playing the "Harps of God" in his Great Heavenly Vision of Revelations We pray... "Your will be done on EARTH as it is in HEAVEN" Math.6:10 "Oh worship the Lord in the Beauty of Holiness" Ps.96:9 "Until the Spirit be poured out upon us" Isaiah 32:15 The Harp for Healing... Playing a harp is healing...for the harper & for others who will come to listen with a heart & ear for God. The healing effects of certain kinds of music have been well known for a long time but there is something special about stringed instruments. The strings vibrate & produce frequencies that cannot even be heard by the human ear...yet these harmonics will go on travelling forever though all the dimensions of time & space! Harp music can soothe & comfort, energize & inspire! I've seen coloured photos of music sound wave patterns. The resonance that comes off the strings...can effect us on all levels, mentally, emotionally, physically & spiritually... effecting the living energy fields that surround & permeate our bodies for scientists now say that all matter, when it's seen at the sub atomic level, is composed of VIBRATING LIGHT. Is this not what the Book of Genesis says God created everything out of..."And Elyon said Let there be Light!" ( * I've seen Kirlian Photography that picks up this Light in us as amazing colours called our aura...no two people are alike & we vary continually because we are ALIVE! We can feel uncomfortable when someone stands in our "space"...in an elevator or crowd. I am very sensitive on my back & can feel people staring, or too close. Our light / aura is dimmer when we are tired, withdrawn or gloomy...& brightens up & reaches out when we do!!!! A leaf with a section cut away STILL retains a coloured photographic image of the original piece...but the light gradually "dies / fades" away until it dissapears! This explains why amputees say their limb is still there. That they can "feel" it. It might sound "new age" but it's true. If people who feel depressed, oppressed, suicidal, cleansed & protected their surrounding space / auras with water, (especially the wonderful salt ocean surf & spray) prayer for protection, praise & anointing with frankincense & rose oil...then such dark, fearful spirits couldn't get near enough to plant their negative & condemning thoughts & ideas into our minds. "He SURROUNDS me with songs of DELIVERANCE"..."Cleanse yourselves of all filthiness of the flesh"... "Resist the devil & he will flee from you!"..."The light shines in the darkness & the darkness comprehends it not") There is music in the cosmos... The Angels sang at the creation"...we know the Most High God, the Heavenly Father... is the Eternal Word the True Living Torah...but do we think of the Word as also being Beautiful Harmonious Music & Light? I've read about how God has opened a "window" to heaven for some so that they have heard the music & voices of angels singing. They say there are no orchestras or choirs on earth who could duplicate it...that our little tunes & efforts at music cannot be compared! Listening to beautiful, peaceful & thoughtful music can help to "balance" us. I find the strings often effect each other & "create" new sounds or combinations of tones by themselves!...yet the harp is very much the voice of the harper...who must "tune" hemselves into the right mood & focus on the harp & the sounds they are producing. "How shall we sing the Lord's song in a strange land...(in a sad or angry mood)... we hung our harps on the willow tree" Psalm 137:1-4 I believe using the SOUND & POWER of these WORDS & the SONG of Moses & the Lamb...from Isaiah & Revelations, whether spoken or sung...brings an anointing...a manifestation of the Shekinah's Ruah Spiritual Presence with DIVINE HEALING, PROTECTION & GUIDANCE for our souls. Sometimes as we're worshiping & singing "As the mountains are around Jerusalem, the Lord is around his people" or a similar scriptural song...there comes an inner "lift" & a sence that some Angels of the Most High have entered the room! Sometimes extra "voices"can even be heard behind ours...very clear & high.I know many Christians have felt, seen & heard angels...the Heavenly Messengers Harp Music seems to attract them...I wonder why? The Harp for Worship... The Harp is the most heavenly, Biblical & prophetic instrument that we can use on earth. It is Zamar praise...meaning"to pluck the strings of an instrument or of the HEART!" It is a beautiful & prophetic instrument for the Church on earth & the redeemed saints in HEAVEN. I was surprised to realise that the scriptures about harps in Revelations don't mention any Angels playing them at all... even though that is most people's concept of what Angels "do". The ones Yeshuah's Beloved disciple saw playing them were actually the "redeemed" from the earth who sang of their deliverance! Of course I believe they were the Angel's harps they were playing or more specifically the "Harps of God" as in Rev.15:2-4 Read them below for youself...The Vision moves continually from what is happening in HEAVEN to what is happening on EARTH. If you think nothing much is happening here, then think again. (I will have my WAKE UP WEB SITE ready soon) So, for all those who love & worship God from their hearts, even if you are not recognized by the church establishment...If you feel alone in the wilderness of this world...know you are loved & valuable to God. His people are HIS INHERITANCE! We are each a small but important part of God's plan. Lights in the world...salt in the earth...believe your existance here is not an accident...that we are here for such a time as this & that you & I DO MAKE A DIFFERENCE SOMEHOW! Be a caring, sharing angel of love to others. I like to imagine here & there all over the world are men, women or children worshiping God with their little harps. If they could be seen from above as little lights...how many would there be?...one here or there...probably not enough... but I'm sure EACH ONE IS SEEN & KNOWN & HIGHLY VALUED! Doesn't that throw a different" light" on the beauty of being a Sacred Harper? Whether you do it in church, home fellowships, by a river with a friend or alone at home...God knows & loves you...& our loving & trusting Him is the most important thing in the world... so just keep twinkling away little star! As we play our harps on EARTH...(& or guitars, autoharps, stringed instruments) we can use scriptures & the words of psalms & songs for our own prayers, worship, healing & protection...as well as while singing our own NEW SPIRITUAL SONGS. "Speaking to yourselves with psalms & hymns & SPIRITUAL SONGS...singing & making MELODY IN YOUR HEART to the Lord" Ephesians 5:19 "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching & admonishing one another in psalms & hymns & SPIRITUAL SONGS, singing with GRACE IN YOUR HEARTS to the Lord" Colossians 3:16 "& they sang as it were a NEW SONG before the throne & only those who had been redeemed FROM THE EARTH could learn that song!" Yes we have much to look FORWARD to so we shouldn't get caught up in Jewish HISTORY... "these things happened to them as examples to us"..."Having begun in the Spirit are you now made perfect by the keeping of the law?" but PRESS FOREWARD into the prophesies that have yet to be fulfilled... Like the appearing of Yeshuah, our translation & ascension etc.The disciples didn't know what to expect until the Day of Pentacost arrived...nor do we know when or how Christ / Messiah will return...but the angels will come for us & we must be WATCHING & READY to leave! He said so...See Mathew 24, Luke 17, 1 Corinthians 15

Today many more believers are being led, as I was, to aquire a Harp or Davidic harp (which are smaller) so that they can play & sing to the Most High Lord on their own, as the many Psalms listed here mention. David of course, most probably taught himself to play on a home made hand harp or lyre, strung with dried sheep gut, as he watched his sheep feeding in the mountains for weeks on end. He was a man of Spirit & had a heart after God even though he had some very human failings.His psalms are full of emotion, victory & repentance for he knew that breaking God's Laws / Word of Love brings it's own penalty..."A man reaps what HE sows".

King Saul was an angry, jealous man, given to bouts of evil spirit. He called for a sweet harper to come & soothe him. "When David played his harp the evil spirit left Saul"...of course, because Saul didn't deal with his dark attitude...it kept coming back & so did David. The evil spirits troubling Saul HATED the sound of the Harp...for they knew that it is an instrument used by the angels to worship Elyon the Most High! They also hate worshipful prayers & songs by anyone who loves the Father.They HATED David & inspired King Saul to pick up a spear & throw it at David...He ran for his life...going into hiding...a lot of thanks he got! SO THEREFORE WORSHIP ON A HARP IS DEFENSIVE WARFARE...& GREAT PROTECTION. Remember satan can put thoughts into the minds of those who are not aware of where they are coming from...just as he did to Judas who then went out to betray Jesus / Yeshua. He already had a weak spot & went into confusion thinking it was a good idea to help his own desires for Yeshua to lead a rebellion! No wonder he hanged himself later for grief of what he had done. This is why we have to "test" the spirits...the thoughts & ideas we have & the words & or accusations coming from others...ask "Is this in harmony with Christ's teachings & Spirit? If in doubt, don't.

Yes, if only we could see in the spirit more! Our greatest Spiritual weapons which I have found by necessity alone at night...is saying the Sacred Hebrew Names of God...example Baruch Ha Ta Adonai Elohanu...Blessed are you Oh Lord our God King of the Universe!...also PROCLAIMING who we are ...the redeemed OVERCOMERS etc. & pleading the HOLY BLOOD of Yeshuah Ha Mashiah...the COSMIC CURRENCY with which he bought us off the god of this world & delivered us from an earthbound existence into the freedom of the Children of God! See Revelations 1:5, 12:11, 1 Peter 1:2 & 19, Col.1:12-23, 2:6-17, 3:1-4 !

Attacks & oppression, seducing spirits & doctrines of devils coming into our minds...tempting us to go against the scriptures & the Spirit of God...do back off if we keep it up. A Spiritual attack is not pleasant to bear...we HAVE to KEEP ourselves covered & protected with the Light of the Truth about God's Messiah Yeshuah & ABIDING in that Holy Spiritual Communion.To bow down & lift up the face & hands to God is also the scriptural way to come before the Heavenly King. Nothing can seperate us from the love of Elyon the Most High God. As the joy of freedom comes we can twirl & dance!

If we are quiet & open...we can hear God speaking to our hearts through worshipful, sacred music...for did He not speak to Moses through fire?"I AM not in the thunder & lightening but in the still, small voice"

The Hebrews had schools for the prophets. Many of them used small harps to seek God & accompany their prophesying. They also used the tof...a small double sided skin drum on a wood frame. "When you hear the prophets coming down from the mountain you will be turned into another man & you shall prophesy" Another scripture says..."Let the instruments speak"...this is when the angels / messages of God are coming through via the empowering of the mystical Holy Spirit...bringing the Shekinah Presence of the Lord...& Rest & Healing for our Souls

New Covenant Believers can also use music in worship, prophesy & healing... but the Holy Spirit will only anoint that which is HOLY not the "strange fire" of worldly "christian rock bands" etc. Let us BE STILL & KNOW GOD through the PEACEFUL INNER VOICE!

Anointed music is itself a healing to our bodies, souls & spirits. I am self taught...it doesn't have to be professional...often the simplest tunes, songs & prayers are the most powerful...for the power is of Him not us. We should humble ourselves to still the ego & carnal mind in Sacred Prayer & Meditation BEFORE & WHILE we are playing. Sometimes...there comes a lift within & we sence the angels of the Lord have come right into the room to bless us!

As I said earlier...the great mystic, poet, singer songwriter David...used his harp...probably with a simple hand made wooden frame...out in the fields as he watched his sheep.When King Saul was troubled by evil spirits he called for a harper & they brought him David. When he played...because he was communing with God in his heart... the spirits left & Saul was relieved. But because of his hateful attitude they kept coming back! This shows we have to "keep ourselves in the Love of God if we want continuing Spiritual Peace. David had been chosen by God & anointed by the prophet Samuel to replace Saul as the anointed King...& later it would come to pass. When he brought the Ark of the Covenant into Yerushalem...he threw off his Kingly robes sang & danced for joy. He knew who he was...the struggle & fear he's been through & that God had delivered him. His appointment as King was God's doing & from his seed, DNA would come the Messiah to sit on the Throne of David in the New Yerushalem / Jerusalem of God's rule on earth! This LORD YAHSHUAH / Jesus will do when He returns in the Power & Glory of the Heavenly Father & His angels. (Mathew 16:27)

NOTE: The Gospels tell us of the geneology of Joseph, Mary's husband...that he was of the lineage of David right back to Adam! But the Incarnation of the Eternal Lord of Light was by Divine Conception not of a natural seed from Joseph...especially before marriage! See Mathew chapter 1:1-17...& in verse 18 "the birth of Christ was like this, when His mother Mary was espoused/engaged to Joseph, BEFORE THEY CAME TOGETHER SHE WAS FOUND (TO BE PREGNANT) WITH CHILD OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (pregnancy/sex before marriage was a shame & was subject to public ridicule...he thought she had been acting immoraly but was prepared to cancel their engagement & see that she was cared for anyway)...but while he thought on these things the Angel of the Lord to him in a dream saying Joseph you son of David, fear not to take unto you Mary for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit & she shall bring forth a son & you shall call His Name Yahshuah (meaning YAH / God / YAHVEY... & SHUAH / Salvation or Yeshua...for Jesus is the Greek translation used later ) for He shall save His people from their sins!...all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet ...A virgin / young UNMARRIED woman shall conceive & bring forth a son & they shall call His Name Emmanuel, meaning GOD WITH US...& he did as the angel said & married her but DID NOT TOUCH/ KNOW HER SEXUALLY until after she had given birth ( & probably weaned the child.) That which was conceived of her (Mary the chosen human being) was divinely conceived by the Holy Spirit "coming upon" her. See Luke 1:26-35 & 69, 2:4, 11.So MARY HAD TO HAVE BEEN OF THE LINEAGE OF DAVID HERSELF AS WELL AS YAHSHUAH'S step father Joseph..I'm sure I've read that this has been proved from records somewhere? Her cousin Elizabeth was of the daughters of AAron ( Luke 1:5) For in Judaism it is the Jewishness of the MOTHER'S BLOOD LINE which counts for a person claiming to be an Israelite (from one of the 12 tribes of Israel's sons). For had Joseph been His natural Father He would NOT be the Divine Son of YAHVAH the most High God / Elohim...the "Word became flesh, a human being, & dwelt among us"( John 1)...nor would Yahshuah have grown up saying "I must be about MY FATHER'S WORK". The angel had said Mary was HIGHLY FAVOURED by the Highest...So if He had especially prepared her to bear the Messiah...HER LINEAGE would have HAD TO HAVE BEEN FROM DAVID'S HOUSE...thereby fulfilling the prophesies!

Later when the Temple musicians & singers were appointed they had harps & rams horns for the worship of God.

I used to think playing an instrument was the prerogative of the "professional", trained musicians. Certainly to play in a group with others or to back others as they sing it is! But that thinking puts the pleasure of making music beyond the average person. But the good news is, as I found out, that for personal use no musical knowledge is required to start worshiping God on a Harp as "the Anointing which you have received of him teaches you all things" 1John 2:27 All we do need as I'll explain is the HEARTFELT DESIRE!.

After I was blessed with the baptism / anointing of the Holy Spirit (at 29) I began to sing & dance & prophesy around the house at all hours! I had been given the Oil of Joy & the Garment of Praise for the years of sickness & depression (Isaiah 61 See article about My Experience...(coming) & suddenly a new interest & hunger for the Word. As I was reading it...I found tunes were coming up out of my heart & so I began to sing the scriptures as I was reading them! Amazingly the inspired tunes were matching the words of the scriptures. Not in a verse, chorus, verse, chorus sort of way but in creative ways that made sence. They were more like living stories & words set to music. I found the Bible had a musical feel to it...truly "The stars sang at the creation of the world!" (Stars being another name for the Sons of God / Elohim with whom the Most High made us..."Let US make mankind in OUR image after OUR likeness" Genesis 1:26

(Incidently I found this only seemed to happen with the Thompson Chain Reference version I had of the King James Bible. It isn't a perfect translation...no ENGLISH bible could be...but the Holy Spirit does seem to annoint it & speak through it...especially as one goes into the Chain References & also the Strong's Concordance doing word studies on different themes & particular words.(There is a Mystery about the Bible that only those who are seeking Truth through it find as the Living Word moves upon your heart & mind & "opens" the scriptures to you...the deeper esoteric Truth hidden within. Otherwise it's a dead thing...just words on paper. The Holy Spirit also can speak to us through nature & all sorts of creatures. I have no doubt that others find His Presence working in & through their own sacred scriptures & belief system. Surely it's the heart's attitude that matters. I believe the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is simply about opening the heart to be filled with God's Love. Surely all who thirst & ask God for His Blessing...receive. "In the last days I will pour out my Spirit on all people" Joel & Acts 2))

So then as I was singing...MY FINGERS began tapping on tables with spoons saying we want something to play! My natural mind kept THINKING... "Yes I've ALWAYS wanted to sing & play an instrument but I CAN'T SING the hymns at church properly & I CAN'T LEARN to play an instrument, I'm too old" ( I didn't think I could cope with this computer when I first bought it either!)

I wished I could have a big golden concert harp but that seemed a remote possibility! I looked longingly at Autoharps in a shop window, they seemed to be the next best thing but I thought "How would I ever be able to keep it in tune?" So I talked my husband into letting me buy a guitar then taught myself to play from simple chord drawings found in a book of choruses by the late Suzi Wilson. I also met her at a ladie's camp later. She was quite an inspiration. THEN I found out there were such things as electronic tuners! (My guitar is a 6 string acoustic Ibanez...now about 25 years old. I had a look around a guitar music shop today...played some models up to around the $1000 mark & there wasn't anything better in sound or string action...except perhaps for an Ibanez with a built in pickup & beautiful mother of pearl inlay patterning on the fret bar. If anyone would like to shout me it I wouldn't mind? Actually I am attracted to unusual looking instruments. I'd love a lute if one ever comes up miraculously "cheap" or maybe a xylophone? I saw some in an import shop made of blackened bamboo & I might go back & order one. They were only about $50. I've got an appalachian dulcimer with 3 strings & a drone 4th but don't play on it much. Bells have really taken my fancy lately. Biblically they mean "Holy unto the Lord" & the Hebrew Priests wore bells on the hem of their sacred ministry garments. I play them as I listen to music on CD or just "play" / jingle them quietly while singing, praying & meditating. Exodus 18:33-36, 39:25-30, Zech.14:20

"In that day there shall be written upon the bells on the horses Holy to the Lord".

(Taken in about 1979, after "playing" & singing a simple song at a church group in the first week after I had bought my guitar! Afterwards the Pastor said "Wasn't that beautiful...a psalmist for the Lord" That was a blessing)

The Holy Spirit inspired me to write dozens & dozens of wonderful songs (I especially related to & used the minor chords of Am,Bm,Dm,Em, with major chords of C,D,E,F,G,A, several of the 7th's & sometimes use a capo) but as wonderful as the guitar was, it still seemed 2nd best because I had wanted a harp since I was a little child. Mum had taken me to the pictures & I saw a woman playing a large Golden Harp in an old David Niven movie. I remember him saying "Oh you're an Angel!" & at that moment I wanted to play one too. That desire had never left me until at about 46 years old I was told about where to buy a simple zither for about $75 which I did & then from the same man I saved up & bought a harp which one of his students had made.They are not exactly sitting around in music shops but one can find harp makers on the web easily enough now though.(See some Links below)

A second hand one can sometimes be bought through a newspaper but one needs to take care there are no CRACKS in the joint structure or sound board. Some people may sell off a harp that has problems with levers or tuning keys. If it seems cheap enough & sounds good enough then anything is better than nothing. My harp is nothing crash hot & I have to re-tune the strings if I want to play in a different key as the levers are not very exact. But I anointed it with oil & prayer & make melody on it. If I can do it because I wanted to...then so can you! Just get yourself a small harp or even an old guitar to start.

CLICK HERE for an amazing painting I found in an old book called Newne's Pictorial Knowledge. The painting is called "Hope" with a woman sitting, blindfolded on the world plucking the LAST string on her harp / lyre. If that's all you've got use it!

(You could also try ringing Conservatories of Music in Capital Cities or perhaps look in the phone book for harp teachers who may have or know of one for sale. They can usually be sent by plane, road or rail. It should be insured against theft or damage though.) As they say your Heart WILL get you there...where there's a will...there's a WAY.

But we have to have a go! I heard about a Christian woman who had a harp near me & rang her to see if we could get together & share our harp music etc. She said "Oh no I can't play it, it's just sitting in the lounge room. I have to FIND A HARP TEACHER first". I tried to share what I do, even played my harp over the telephone but she seemed to think I was just "very clever" or something! Our Beloved Lord said "Seek & you will find, ask & you will receive...knock & the door shall be opened to you" Mathew 7:7 It all starts with our heart's desire...

It is written..."Singing & making melody in YOUR HEARTS to the Lord"

Also..."Delight yourself in the Lord & He will give you the DESIRES of YOUR HEART"...Our Beloved Teacher Yeshuah said..."Whatever YOU DESIRE when YOU pray, believe that YOU HAVE received it & YOU WILL have it"

So if YOU HAVE the HEART DESIRE & feel drawn to HAVE A HARP FOR COMMUNING WITH GOD...then YOU are DESIRING & praying for something that IS in God's revealed will about Holy Worship from the Angels & His Holy Nation of people & YOU WILL be able to find, buy & play it! Just relax, pray & thank the Lord & sit with it.

Think of your harp as an extension of yourself..a friendly helper...not something to be feared or conquered! Let there be a Loving attitude. We are the Handmaidens or Servants of the Lord. We are COMING BEFORE HIM WITH OUR INSTRUMENT OF PRAISE & WORSHIP. It is a time of Beauty..."Oh worship the Lord in the Beauty of Holiness" Tune in your HEART to the strings & start playing! Remember there's no hurry...we are coming into a Place of Peace...a Holy Haven. To be SILENT & commune with the Living Word is more necessary than to do all the talking & keep busy with trying to play that thing!

NO, Please let us realize the church has been too noisy & too busy for too long a time. The thing that is most NEEDFUL according to Yahshuah / Jesus is to sit at His feet & listen to HIM...as Mary of Bethany did while her sister scurried around breathlessly, controlling & demanding that He tell Mary to help her run the show! He refused to tell her any such thing..."Mary has chosen the better thing"! (See my article on SACRED MEDITATION)

You don't have to think up a known song or chorus & try to emulate that...that might be too frustrating at first. If it's something SIMPLE...try it...but SIMPLICITY IS THE KEY. We can always get fancier later on. Obviously one's playing becomes easier & more enjoyable for others to listen to as time goes by. They say practice makes PERFECT...but that scares the life out of me! Who says we have to play PERFECTLY! I think that is wordly pressure on a worshipper! I cannot function at all as a Psalmist in front of other people unless I have time to muddle around for a while. But most people aren't used to that. They want "entertainment". They want singers & musicians to hop straight up & get into it. Like instant coffee. You've got 3 minutes to do "it"...your item...then sit down again while the rest of the service goes on. That's pressure to me. That's NOT what I'm talking about. If others want to & can work that way with a band & chorus leader that's up to them. I can't be a part of noisy, busy places or stages. I like meditation & contemplation. I'll just stay home & do some gardening or play my harp under a tree. Many years ago I spent hours out in the garden one morning & hadn't had my daily reading & prayer as I usually did. I came inside & said "Oh sorry Lord"...and the message that came into my consciousness was "That's where I created you to be...in the garden"...then I realised how many object lessons I'd had out there...about the tenacitiy of weeds...the courage of little insects etc. Why can't the gardens be our "church"?

May God raise up many beautiful, proficient harpers who CAN play in church groups or with choirs or for special "performances".That would be just WONDERFUL...but I am just trying to encourage beginners or those who have no aspirations to play publicly.There's no reason though that we can't all share our harp music with others in some way. The aged people's homes, hospices, hospitals or various therapy groups may be very open to a Sacred Harper coming in.

There are moves within society towards "Harp Therapy"...even some places that "train" harpers how to play, visit & support the sick or dying.For Christian ministry I earnestly believe we can train ourselves BY WAITING ON GOD & learning to play & or sing at least a small repetoire of different pieces. If we enjoy it on our own & feel comfortable with what we are doing...then BY FAITH & PRAYER...WE CAN STEP OUT & OFFER TO PLAY FOR OTHERS. I've found most people don't expect too much..they just seem delighted to see a "real" harp up close & perhaps to touch the strings. It really seems to be some sort of long lost soul memory...& it never ceases to surprise me how good ANYONE sounds when they first gingerly pluck a few strings. There's something very simple but ancient & haunting about the sound of a harp. There's NOTHING else like it. I'm available to share my music, songs & healing prayer ministry for women who are interested in visiting my home but I can't put anyone up.

Of course we can't charge for sharing our healing music...but if requested for visitation or certain circumstances we may wish to say we'd appreciate a donation to cover petrol costs or whatever.

I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM OTHER "SACRED HARPERS" (do you like that?) OR SINGERS/WORSHIPERS OR OTHER WOMEN WHO ARE HELPED IN ANY WAY FROM THESE SUGGESTIONS...I HOPE MY SHARING WILL BLESS & INSPIRE SOMEONE... LET ME KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH "YOU"...WHAT YOUR HARP IS LIKE...HOW YOU PLAY OR SHARE OR MINISTER ETC. & WOULD YOU LIKE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS HERE FOR OTHER WOMEN TO BE ABLE TO CONTACT YOU?

Is it for personal use or as a ministry? Do you play at church or groups or nursing homes? Have you got a home church fellowship going somewhere? Better still send / email me photos & I could make up a special page on this web site for my internet friends?????? (Sorry ONLY for ladies ministries on this site...but hope some Davidic Harpers can start their own site...or is there one going already? Please send in Links for me to look up & maybe include for reference if so)

PLEASE GIVE SOME FEED BACK...THAT WOULD INSPIRE ME NO END!

He isn't worried by our present imperfections...for that ia a part of our earthly existenc ...but we are changed by communing with His Spirit & meditating on His PERFECTION...His GOODNESS...His LOVE. HE IS DESIRING to draw us into Himself...into HIS Perfection & Goodness & Love. He is the Teacher...we are the pupils. He is our Father...we are His children.

I read that when the Christian Celts used to do detailed drawings & swirls on their art, utensils & jewellery etc. that they would PURPOSELY leave something looking imperfect to remind others that none is perfect...except God

The Irish, Welsh & Scottish used harps. They had hair or gut strings...or were steel strung & gave a "bell" sound with holes in the front of the sound box. They often put the harp on their left shoulder to play...though most people use the right shoulder now.

The Celts called it the "Loom of Music" & the "Doorway to the Other World"...The healing sound brought what they called "Wellness of Soul". The Harper / Bard was a well trained & highly respected person who travelled around entertaining in courts for Kings & other rich or well to do people in society, sharing history, news, folk tales, poetry & songs.

He knew how to elicit three distinctly different human emotions by changing the atmoshere with the harp music. From a sence of sadness & tears...to joy & lightheartedness & on to deep relaxation & sleep.

I have read that when the Celts sought a vision or guidance about a problem...they would "call for the harper"...& together would go into a dark room, light a candle & start to hum. Then as the harp chimed they would wait until the vision or "answer" came.They knew the power of music...to speak beyond words to the heart & to help focus the mind to pray & tune in the heart to God.

It's great for Australian people who are of the Christian Faith to realize our Celtic ancestors from the British Isles / Ireland who were involved in creating our family blood lines & names & looks...(even our "mannerisms" & voices) may have also been Celtic Christians! Perhaps our forefathers or foremothers were HARP PLAYERS TOO! Or singers at their local parish / church. Perhaps we had relatives who accepted & promoted the Christian Way & message...may have been leaders/ ministers / nuns...or wrote Christian books or printed them! If only we could meet them all...perhaps one day we will! I like to look up at the stars & moon at night & think about how all people over the ages have looked at the SAME stars! That's quite a link I feel. And they're still alive...somewhere. Because many of our families were brought here to Australia as convicts, or came willingly, only a few hundred years ago...we may not have as strong a sence of IDENTITY as other cultures. It helps me to think of myself as a Celtic Christian in Australia. I certainly like the music...they think now that racial memories are passed down in our genes!

I'm not advocating we copy pre christian Celtic paganism or their gods, or "use" music for inducing self hypnosis or trance states...but as many were becoming Christ's Ones they probably also used the harp in some way in their worship, prayer & seeking God. Music is FIRSTLY for the worship of God but surely for anyone with an open heart...wanting to KNOW more of the Mystery of Spiritual Life...resting & meditating with music is a beautiful way to commune with all our heart & soul & mind. The healing that comes from our Father God...is sometimes a gift of grace but also as a RESULT or FRUIT of loving & drawing near to Him...for worship brings the anointing & it's the anointing that heals!

Evidently a Celtic Christic Church was going well within 50 years after Christ went back to heaven...(The Spiritual Realm) He may have travelled there earlier with his uncle Joseph of Aramathia & may even had had disciples there? Early Christians may have fled there for safety from the Roman persecution before they made "Christianity" the State religion & created their own version of the Nazareene's Spiritual Church with a mixture of Mithraism & Egyptian Mystery religion )

CLICK HERE FOR The Celtic Light (coming)

As one of the Gospel writers says "If ALL the things that Yeshuah did & said were written down (which they OBVIOUSLY were not) then I suppose that there would not be enough room to hold all the books!" Semetic people do over exagerate a bit! ...but it just shows how little we really know about what the Son of God said & did for all those years. They weren't even written down for many, many years. It was mainly word of mouth. The Gnostics had teachings too. They were probably the "New Agers" of their day...& they had some very differing ideas which were regarded as heresy by some. But in the two oldest copies of the New Testament are 4 Books we don't have in today's versions. Yet the early Christians were reading them. They were the Gospel of Mary Magdalene, the Gospel of Thomas, The Gospel of Barnabus & the Shepherd of Hermes. They also read the book of the prophet Enoch & refered to it. (He was the grandson of Noah & had many out of body experiences / visions) He taught about the fallen angels interbreeding with women on earth. Something only very briefly mentioned in Genesis. They produced the Nephelim who were the giants or very tall men of renown possible the very ones in Greek & Assyrian mythology etc. According to old clay tablets found in Sumer...they were their resident "gods" cum kings that the people served & worshiped & in some cased gave live human sacrifices to!

There were dozens & dozens more books & teachings. Most were burned & destroyed along with their advocates by the Roman Church as it sought, like a vicious lion on the prowl to round up, THREATEN & CONTROL all Christians & what they read & thought... See my Links section for online versions of the Gnostic teachings & Hebrew translations of the Bible with the true Names of God! (coming)

The Music of Hildegard von Bingen

The 11th century Catholic Abbess called Hildergard of Bingen (1098 -1179) was a visionary, healer, writer, poetess & composer. She surely would have used an early medieval type of stringed instrument like a lap zither or lute for composing & accompanying her amazing devotional songs. There are quite a few albums available on CD of her works. I've got about 8. (ABC Shops carry some but they can be ordered at any music shop. The NAXOS label puts out all sorts of classical music & they have at least 2 with her music. A group called Sequentia have produced 4 CDs & Hyperion put out "A Feather on the breath of God" & "Vespas".) She also healed with herbs etc. & wrote books & a play. She even started & ran a monastery for monks. Hildergard is regarded as a Christian mystic of her time...which was a "dicey" thing with the church heirarchy breathing down your neck & investigating any "strange" visions & prophesies. Master Odo of Paris wrote in 1148 "It is said that you are raised to Heaven, that much is revealed to you & that you bring forth great writings & discover new manners of song". In her own words..."writing, seeing, hearing & knowing all in one manner". She continually added to her large collection of poetry & music which was called "The Symohony of the Harmony of Celestial Revelations" YES SHE WAS A CHRISTIAN MYSTIC ALRIGHT!

She has INSPIRED me by her devotion to God...& inner connection to the flow of the Divine Love. Her music & song words obviously came forth from a deeply devotional & meditative life & love for God. "She sought to find words & sounds to express the unutterable things she saw & heard. She wrote music to create a state of blessedness, bestowing on the listener inner peace & meditative quiet & comfort." (This is very similar to the ex-monk John Talbot's anointed self composed, sung & played music. Try & get or order his beautiful & sacred music...it is totally unique.) Hildegard's originality (especially for a woman in her day) & the way she dared to tap into & be a vessel for the inspired MUSIC OF THE HOLY SPIRIT & share that with others...is truely unique & admirable...SHE JUST GOT IN & DID IT!

SIMPLY THINK OF THE HARP as a way to pluck in the background while you meditate or hum away. It can just be brushing the strings back & forth as you sing your prayers & desires out... "Lord...we need you...bring peace & healing to those who are hurting" etc. etc. Actually I don't sing my or other people's songs very much when I play the harp. I find that easier to do on the guitar or my electric Omnichord. For me the harp is enough."Let the instruments speak"

I'M NOT into madly "practicing" every day. There may be weeks or even months when it sits patienty covered up in a corner of the lounge room. There really is a time for everything...A time to play & a time not to play. It depends what else is going on in my life & what I want to commit my energy & time into. There are times I read more or make crafts which I find is a real soul healing thing if I get too "religious"! Then there are all our animal friends to feed etc.

I USUALLY ONLY PLAY WHEN I DESIRE TO & as I start to play & I am inwardly seeking to start communing & speaking with the Holy Spirit. I tune my heart into the sounds that are coming forth & after a while I seem to hit on a particular string that seems to be speaking something to me...so I'll begin to focus on that string & weave around it & keep coming back to it. It just develops but if I don't START...it won't will it? I may play some tunes I already know but I usually weave them in & out of making up other tunes.It's good to have a little PRACTICE every day of some sort of two handed scales in each octave, just to keep "nimble"

TEACH yourself harp books are available from different web sites. Perhaps a Music Shop could order one in for you?

(See the Links below for on line help...there must be many others too. Send me your good LINKS to add)

FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW ANYTHING...basicly the red string is a C and the purple or black one is an F There are mererly 7 notes ABCDEFG which are repeated over & over again towards the high end...near your chest. Just think...all the music & songs in the world are made up from only 7 notes & their different tunings, timing & combinations! Some notes...in this case strings, can be tuned into different "sounds" called sharps & flats...I'm no expert! But I do have MUSIC IN MY HEART & that's what I seek to reproduce outwardly. For understanding musical terms & reading music...you'd obviously require some musical knowledge, via books or a teacher...but I am trying to encourage ANYONE to realize making music on an instrument is not the perogative of people who have studied for years. We should't be frightened or embarrassed to have a go...or just to say "I am teaching myself...I want to do it in my own way".

JUST PLUCK the strings.That's ZAMAR PRAISE..."to pluck the strings of an instrument or the vocal chords".Try plucking 1,2,3 or 4 strings at one time. Try it with both hands at the same time.Think "Pluck, Pluck Pluck" with a pause between. Rest the pads of the fingers on the strings & pull straight outwards briskly. Work for a clear sound. PRETEND YOU ARE A REAL HARPER...that helps a lot! Sitting in front of a mirror could help sometimes...to see how you look! Be positive. RELAX & ENJOY...don't ATTACK IT! Aim at doing something simple, well...rather than making a mess.There is a difference between a "harpist", as a professional in an orchestra... playing with a large pedal harp & a "harper" who may be be at any level of profficiency. Phewww!

RECORD yourself on a tape & listen...over the weeks you might be surprised!

A CD HARP COLLECTION...Gradualy make yourself a harp music collection of Classical, Celtic Harp, Ambient, Christian style. Whatever you like. Often the Public Library has a selection to borrow...look up their computer catalogue & reserve items.They may even have a book! They can usually do inter library exchanges too, so ask the librarian what is available elsewhere. Try markets & 2nd hand shops, garage sales etc.for more inspiring music...keep it on around you & in car.

TELL people about your interest in the harp...invite them over for a cup of tea & a play. MANY people have a secret yearning for a harp & will want to talk about it & have a go. It is also a way to share about YOUR FAITH if they are interested. Encourage others! Don't be shy.

PLAY around with different tunings...most harps having "levers". Mine don't work very well. Anyway, one can always retune the needed strings with the turning key. I mostly leave my harp with the E & A & B strings flattened...that means C, D, Eb, F, G, Ab, Bb, (OR on your electronic tuner it will be C, D, Dsharp, F, G, Gsharp, Bsharp etc) & keep repeating this. When altering your tuning start in the centre group of strings then do the lower ones & then the higher ones alternatively etc.

KEEP your harp away from hot cars, the sun, dust, damp, fireplaces or the wood will warp, crack or buckle. The sound board might crack or glued edges may be weakened with changes of temperature which also effects the strings. Sometimes they go flat...then they can tighten up. Aim for a moderate temperature. If you have to travel wrap it in a wool blanket in the boot or use reflective "silver" material. If shipping a harp the tension should be slacked off the strings & re tuned later. Keep some extra strings handy...mainly mid to higher range ones might go. A whole set of strings can be very exy so look after them. They may last for years but eventually start to sound dull after many tunings which stretch them. Mine are wound strings on the deeper end....nylon folk harp strings the rest. When first changing strings it may take a week or so for them to settle in. Gradually keep tuning until they "hold" nicely. Wash & dry hands before playing, keep the harp covered with a dust proof veil or sari or perhaps make a special velvet cover with tassels on the corner. I'm going to make one with peacock feathers around the edge. I'll put a photo here when it's finished. You could also make a nice tapestry or padded bag with a shoulder strap...perhaps with a big zipper or flap on top. Send in photos of your harp & or covers & I'll make a special page to show others! Also use a guitar string cleaner / polish on the wood now & again.( If you want to bless & "anoint" your harp for sacred use with Francincense or other pure Essential Oils...be sure to put it "inside" in case it effects the varnish.) (If you send me an email put Re: Sacred Harpers as the message so I don't discard it as being from someone I don't know.)

GREAT things can happen by picking out tunes with the right hand towards you on the higher strings (don't use the little finger...& keep the thumb generally angled upwards) whilst giving some background sounds with the left hand on the deeper sounding strings. Usually picking back & forth with the thumb & next two fingers over every second string sounds really good...just keep in the same area with each hand. (Example C, E, G, ) These are JUST IDEAS...nothing to stick to. For instance if you are picking out a tune, one can add some "runs" by simply running the thumbs & fore fingers of both hands back & forth in various ways to get that lovely waterfall sound.(Don't use the back of nails...try just index finger coming towards you & thumbs going back down. It can be as simple as you like but you don't need to pay for formal lessons unless you want to. You'll find some good basic photos of finger positions & more info in the links below.

THE SONGS OF THE SPIRIT ARE RIGHT THERE IN YOUR MOUTH...& the TUNES of the Spirit are right there in your heart & fingertips! It's just between you & God...& who knows you may just be able to share it with others & it will surely bless them too! I'm sure professional harp players would say a rank amateur would only "teach themselves" bad posture & techniques which would have to be corrected later on. Maybe so, in a secular sence but this is about spiritual music taught by the Holy Spirit! And surely we don't want to play a harp in someone else's image or only by written music. That often hinders a person from developing their own style & originality & being able to play by ear. Of course it depends on the teacher & pupil & possibly the AVAILABILITY of a harp teacher & the money for lessons if you do want lessons. If you've got both..then go for it! Some of us just have to make do. LOL!

GOOD NEWS! There is a lot of FREE, PROFESSIONAL ADVICE on web sites I found...it's in the LINKS below...(But did King David have harp lessons?) I haven't & I also coped with teaching myself the basic chords for guitar...it's surprising what we can do)

It sounds a lot louder this way than when it had the chord bars on...loud enough for a small room but I can add a pick up for my speaker which sounds really good by simply laying a FLAT floor type microphone upside down on my lap UNDER the autoharp. I bought & tried a double "bug" stick on microphone ($49.50) but it was hopeless...hardly picked up any sound & was in the road of strumming the strings. I took it back & exchanged for an ordinary singing microphone which I needed. (They are made for guitars or mandolins but weren't very good on my guitar either. I have a guitar pick up which has a chrome finish & sits across the sound hole under the strings. It does quite a good job of amplification. I've also put the FLAT microphone in the back of the harp. It does a fairly good job. The only other way is with free standing microphones angled at the strings. I was told a professional harp player uses two of the very expensive "bug" mikes & is happy with them ( but they are $200 each.)

Autoharps became popular in the 1800's...especially for ladies to play in the parlor!

Some professional muscians thought they were just a toy, a play thing for entertainment & that only amateurs would use them. (A very scoffing, superior attitude...as when some guitar players put down people who use a capo to get easy different sounds instead of learning complicated chord structures) Many people did take to playing them & singers to accompany themselves.

They are having a real resurgence now, epecially in America it seems. There are web sites about them also of course. They are strings (usually metal) on a shaped wooden sound board but they use key chords BARS with felt pads underneath which when pressed with one hand, clamp over set strings to create chord sounds as the other hand strums across the strings. When I bought mine I found the strings which are metal, are very taught & have no reverberation. They are usually played with a plectrum but sound very "scratchy" even with a felt one. The strings are also so close that there is no scope for finger picking. There is only a fairly low sound even in a small room.

I DARINGLY removed nearly half the strings on mine so that I could play it like an open zither (having given my first zither away) I took off every second string exept for most of the wound bass strings & drones.Obviously I coudn't leave the strings, that were left, in their original order of tunings, so I had to juggle around & rearrange the tuning of the strings without breaking any by raising the pitch too far !!!!! (I'm sure many others have done this already...but they are probably a lot more knowledgable about such things!)

I can't read music - I just get by on basics & just did what seemed best to me...putting new little stickers with ABCDEFG alongside the original notes. It had cost me about $470 & I just coudn't relate to it with the chord bars. Maybe I was too used to the picking style of guitar & harp. I just felt I had to change it to use it at all or I would have sold it. Well now I LOVE it. If anyone else has done the same thing & reorganized the tunings on their autoharps could you please send a sketch of the instrument & the tunings used to share with myself & others. I will put a special page up for such terribly unique & absolutely, stunningly interesting contributions. No, REALLY, any creative ideas are most welcome here.( I have just recently found a web site about tunings for Autoharps...it's listed below)

Anyway I worked out a way so that some of the strings either stayed at what they originally were, or were tuned DOWN a bit. There were only a couple that needed to go up by one or a half a semitone. That's all I could dare try & stretch them to as wire strings don't have much give. I will do a sketch & put it on line here if anyone is interested in knowing how I did it. In C tuning (as a piano) It sounded very much like a Celtic wire strung harp... OOUCH on the fingers...but I've actually changed the tuning again into Eb (as my harp is tuned, with all A's, B's & E's flattened.) It's a more mystical, gentle sound. (Details on all that were above)

The sound board can be placed in either diection on your lap or table. I prefer to play it with the wound base strings towards me which is the opposite way to how we play on a harp. I still use two handed fingering but there isn't much room. If my right hand is in the centre I can just play on either side or make runs across between pauses.

I have a few tunes I play but it's mostly IMPROVISATION...a sort of Soul Journey with Spiritual Music, making it up as I go. An MP3 for listening to the sound of it is coming...I think you'll enjoy it.

Some people may think Autoharps, with the chord bars are wonderful...well each to their own style.

I think they are more useful for playing along to choruses, using ready made music with chords, but one would really have to learn & know the positioning of where the different chord keys are without looking...if they want to hold it up against the chest. The other method is flat on the table or lap, but then the arms are crossed over & one may be looking at the keys upside down! Either way there is very little space to actually stroke or play across the strings.Not the same feel or sound as playing with the fingers from both sides of a true stringed harp.That's my observation though. For those who love their Autoharps, I say that's wonderful go for it!

I've had a dream about some strange musical instruments

I'd like to make some unique "harps" myself ! Wouldn't have a clue how to...but why not? Have you seen those "guitar / harps?" Maybe I could get an old guitar & cut it up or stick two together...GREAT! It's so interesting to think about...& YES I do realize it's easier said than done. There is tremendous pressure on the necks of guitars & the frames of harps when the strings are tightened. I suppose the ART of making musical instruments is a passion for many people. There is a couple in Yerushalem who make harps with loving care. Their Link is below.