Helen

Yes I am in Canberra, Oz. I know a few harpists here including Amanda Graham and Brian Hungerford.

I don't have or play a harp myself, but my father had an Irish harp made for him in the early 60's, when it was a very eccentric thing to do. He intended one of my sisters to play it, but she was not all that keen, and eventually it was passed on to someone who would use it. (Yes, I have been kicking myself ever since for not having a go). Its other impact was the very occasional extremely loud 'ping' that would wake the entire household when a string broke, always in the middle of the night. Is this a known phenomenon for harp households?

I did have a dream about harps in which I was a old and famous harpist trying out harps in a harp museum. I moved from harp to harp, playing the same 'well-known' (but only in the dream) practice piece on each. When I woke, I remembered the music. I must try it on a harp sometime.

I do have a large old European zither, with a part fingerboard. Do you know anyone around here interested in them?

For Catspaw49, I don't remember what they called the strung bed, but having made it, I suppose they had to lyre on it!