I first came across a Harpeleik played by Bob Stewart when we worked together for a brief period back in the 1968/9 - he always introduced it as a Swedish instrument. Chris Coe also has a four course version that's doing nothing at the moment - last time we spoke she said it needed a good home! The extraordinary thing is the depth of sound you can get - and right across 4 octaves! Each chord bank is throretically tuned to a major chord (except it's more useful taking out the thirds and using them as neutral chords) and the strings that go partway across are an arpeggio on that chord (theoretically all major, but you can simply retune the thirds to give minor). You can then play melody by crossing the banks on the arpeggia strings - and the chords automatically lie under the melody strings! Carolan stuff sounds AMAZING. The sequence of chords goes as per the standard progression: i.e. a 7-course goes F.C.G.D.A.E.B Which reminds me - I must learn to play the damn thing properly!
Tom Brown