|
Meet King David
|
Great ability as a musician may, today, earn its possessor no more than a modest – or, with the necessary good luck, a substantial – income: neither level is guaranteed.
Pic. 1 St Sulpice
|
A century ago, fame as a pianist led to Ignacy Paderewski being offered the premiership of his native Poland. The Israelite, David, did even better. Described as a cunning player on the harp, he was called on to cheer King Saul when black moods were on him. So effectively did he do this, that the King appointed David as his successor. That was 3000 years ago and there has been no parallel instance since. (From time to time, the thought has been expressed that the world would be run better by musicians than by politicians.)
|
It is King David who is often depicted on organ cases as harpist; angels appear in this role only rarely, though they play just about every other antique instrument. An example that seems often to go unnoticed is that on the organ case of Ste Sulpice, Paris – perhaps because there is so much other detail (pic 1). The king is seated on the clock – a fact that led one teacher to the not illogical conclusion that the figure represented Old Father Time and his scythe. Reference books state that the biblical harp had ten strings. There were two versions with relationship approximating to that between cello and fiddle. Few, probably, were as ornate as that at Ste Sulpice.
Pic 2: St Catharinakerk, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
|
Another version appears at Eindhoven, The Netherlands (picture 2). This harp has considerably more than 10 strings: those furthest away must require a considerable reach on the part of the player. The group of figures is interesting and seems older than the organ, which has been arranged to hide as little as possible of the fine rose window. The figure to the right of the king plays an instrument of the viol family. The one on the left has a guitar that is in lighter-coloured wood than the rest and may be a later modification or replacement.
|
|
King David, hiding coyly in his niche, harps away, too, at St Thomas' cathedral, Portsmouth (pic 3). This case, by Abraham Jordan junior, dates from 1718. Features to note are the two circular compartments – top – and the larger oval below. Two little cherubs support the towers. The harp itself seems to be based on those in use when the case was made.
A modern example is found at Christchurch, Rochester, NY. The Craighead-Saunders instrument is a joint venture by the church and the Eastman School of music at Rochester University. Details will be found at the Eastman School of Music page here . The sumptuous case is illustrated; the large figure of the king may be seen in the top picture. (Efforts to acquire a better view have been unsuccessful.) It would be interesting to hear the results that a modern harp virtuoso like Jemima Phillips* would produce from a 10-string instrument, tuned to a scale familiar to Western ears. Just as interesting would be the chance to hear King David playing a modern seven-pedal pedal harp. This seems most improbable, however much cunning is employed. David Bridgeman-Sutton, March, 2011
|
Pic 3: Portsmouth Cathedral
|
