Even King David played the harp! Over time, the instrument evolved and was used in various forms in folk music. The Celtic harp is so iconic that it features on the Republic of Ireland’s national coat of arms. Initially popular in salons and as an accompaniment because of its gentle sound, the harp gained prominence as an orchestral and solo instrument in the 19th century, particularly in the ›rousing‹ works of the French Impressionists. Combining the harp with a flute and viola creates an incredible blend of sounds: a plucked instrument, a melodic instrument, and a stringed instrument bridging the two. In Telemann’s sonata, the harp assumes the role of continuo instrument. Jan Bach highlights the Celtic influence with his variations on a Welsh folk song, while a thread of melancholy runs through Arnold Bax’s ›Elegiac Trio‹. In the French part of the programme, Debussy draws an arc from Baroque traditions to the music of his time, while Germaine Tailleferre’s concert études embrace classical modernism, much like André Jolivet’s lively ›Petite Suite‹.