Harps, Nevel

Nevel harps are translated Psaltery, and are mentioned several places in the Christian Old Testament, including 1st Samuel 10:5, 2nd Samuel 6:5, 2nd Kings 10:12, 1st Chronicles 13:8, 15:16, 15:20, 15:28, 25:1, 25:6, 2nd Chronicles 5:12, 9:11, 20:28, 29:25, Nehemiah 12:27 Psalm 33:2, 57:8, 81:2, 92:3, 108:2, 144:9, 150:3, Isaiah 5:12, 14:11, and Amos 6:5, 5:23. The name nevel is similar to N'velah, and means carcass. It is named such because of the skin membrane. Nevel harps have a vessel type body with strings arranged horizontally across the surface like a guitar or banjo, and can have round or square bodies.

According to Greek mythology, Hermes created a lyre-like instrument from the shell of a large tortoise. He stretched animal hide over the shell opening and attached antelope horns as posts. A similar instrument with a skin soundboard called the bägänna, is a large eight or ten-string lyre, made of a trapezoidal wooden frame fitted with a skin soundboard. Some believe this is the instrument King David played to temper the ravings of King Saul. The bägänna's bass vibrations are said to bring peace to the soul. The instrument, associated with the Ethiopian Coptic Church since the 4th century, was played primarily at Christmas and Lent.

To see our other types of harps, view our Main Harps Page.

SPECIAL NOTE - No Warranty on Strings: Manufacturers recommend that you change the strings on your instrument as soon as you receive it. Your instrument has completed a long journey before it ever begins the final leg to your home. During this time the elements affect the strings and may shorten their lifespan. It occasionally happens that a string will fail during that final leg of the journey. Therefore, it is recommended that you purchase a replacement set of strings and consider changing your strings soon after it arrives. If you are a student you may want to change your strings every 3-4 months. If you store your instrument, you should consider changing the strings when you pick it up again.