About the Paraguayan harp

The arpa paraguaya is a diatonic harp without pedals. It is lightly built, usually carries between thirty-two and forty-six strings, and rests against the player’s shoulder. Unlike the classical pedal harp, the strings are plucked with the fingernails, which gives the bright, slightly percussive tone that is so characteristic of music from Paraguay.

Because the instrument has no pedals, each piece is played in a fixed key; changes are handled by retuning or by adapting the fingering. The repertoire leans on the polka paraguaya, the guarania and the galopa — genres built on a characteristic three-beat pulse in which melody and accompaniment keep trading places.

What you will find here

• Biography — the life story and the musical career.
• Discography — the line-ups of the various formations.
• Events — pictures from previous editions.
• Artists — the acts that can be booked through this site.
• Shop — an overview of the released CDs.

Additions, photographs or questions about the repertoire are welcome through the contact page.