harp
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harp
A large plucked instrument with many vertically stretched strings, usually played in an orchestra or as a solo instrument.
Die sanften Klänge der Harfe erfüllten den Konzertsaal.
The gentle sounds of the harp filled the concert hall.
The most important verb used with this instrument is 'spielen' (to play). You can also say that you 'zupft' (pluck) the strings of the harp.
In ihrer Freizeit lernt sie, Harfe zu spielen.
In her free time, she is learning to play the harp.
The person who plays a harp is called 'der Harfenist' (male harpist) or 'die Harfenistin' (female harpist). If you know the word 'Harfe' (harp), you can also easily recognize the word for the person.
Die Harfenistin im Orchester spielte ein wunderschönes Solo.
The harpist in the orchestra played a beautiful solo.
The sound of a harp is often described with certain adjectives. You often hear of 'sanften' (gentle), 'zarten' (delicate), or 'himmlischen' (heavenly) harp sounds.
Wir lauschten den zarten Klängen der Harfe.
We listened to the delicate sounds of the harp.
same old story / lyre
'Harfe' and 'Leier' can both refer to string instruments. A 'Harfe' is a large instrument that you hear today, for example, in an orchestra. A 'Leier' is more likely to be a historical instrument from antiquity, or colloquially a hurdy-gurdy with a crank. So the words are not simply the same. Learners may confuse them because both can fit old or unusual string instruments. Also important: 'die alte Leier' is an idiom and does not mean music, but rather a boring, often repeated story or complaint.
Im Konzert spielte die Musikerin ein ruhiges Stück auf der Harfe.
At the concert, the musician played a quiet piece on the harp.
Im Museum sahen die Kinder eine alte Leier aus Griechenland.
In the museum, the children saw an old lyre from Greece.