You’ve probably heard harpists say “that sounds muddy”
Um, what?
Yes, it’s a “technical” term.
What we really mean is that something sounds blurry, or unclear.
On the harp, the strings continue to ring unless stopped (or muffled). Muffling requires a second action (i.e. time for a second action), so much of the time, muffling isn’t possible.
In the mid to low register of the harp, the strings will continue to ring for far longer, which creates a blur of sound. (This risk of buzzing is also quite high, but that’s a different topic.)
Writing that is fast and/or uses small intervals in the mid to low register of the harp tends to sound muddy. Conversely, open voicing (i.e. wider intervals) will sound much cleaner and be easier to control.
What do I mean by the “mid to low” register of the harp? I have a post coming later this month that will outline the various ranges of the harp. Stay tuned!
P.S. If you are unsure if your writing is playable, or are just curious how it will sound on the harp, I would love to help you! I offer editing and consults for composers, details at daniellekuntz.com/editing-and-consultations