GC6379G Orchestra 01 - Harp (Unknown Cache) in Kwazulu Natal, South Africa created by Waldo

GC6379G ▼

A cache by Waldo Message this owner

Hidden : 1/16/2016

Difficulty:

Terrain:

Size: Size: other (other)

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Geocache Description:

Another in the Orchestra Geo Art series. Urban caches all within Durban Metro. BYOP. Some cannot take swag. Random caches hold clues for a Bonus Cache! Find all 26!

Have Fun and Enjoy! Please return cache as found :)

Perhaps the oldest of the Orchestra instruments, the harp is certainly the most culturally significant. Simply a set of 46 – 47 strings strung between an angled Soundboard, and an opposed Neck. Commonly these are held in place with a pillar. The strings (made of gut or Nylon) are tuned to the scale of B, and are coloured to aid identification: C strings are red, and F strings are blue.
By early 1800's technology stepped in and it was then possible to shorten the length of each string by twisting the attaching apparatus. Thus the pitch of a single string could be increased, by up to a semitone. This method developed into the 7 foot pedals one finds at the base of the modern orchestral sound board.
In order to increase the sound performance, some instruments have a second layer of strings set at a variant angle. These are used for chromatic keys, and in some instances a third set of strings is added.
In every case, the vibrating string is hand plucked, and the vibrations resonate upon the soundboard. The hollow soundboard reverbs this resonance, producing the sound. The number of strings and cost to supplement the range of sound, has resulted in this instrument being rather delicate, large and heavy, as well as expensive.
The rippling nature of the sounds was particularly favoured by the Impressionist school of music lovers.

The Cache: Situate in a high Muggle area, it is available 24 hours, but sensible caution should be practiced .