# What does a symphony harpist do between gigs?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-a-symphony-harpist-do-between-gigs/805215>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [December 24, 2017, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-a-symphony-harpist-do-between-gigs/805215 "2017-12-24T18:50:04Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\
**Post date:** [December 28, 2017, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-a-symphony-harpist-do-between-gigs/805215/41 "2017-12-28T13:05:16Z")

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> [@aceplace57](#):
>
> Its amazing someone would dedicated the 1000’s of hours practice needed to learn an 18th and 19th century instrument.
> 
> There’s so many other choices. Piano, guitar, voice, or even a wind instrument.

You’re talking about the piano, invented in the 18th century? And the guitar, invented in the 16th century? And wind instruments, invented by Cro-Magnons?

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**Author:** ![Jumpbass](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jumpbass/32/147_2.png) [@Jumpbass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jumpbass)\
**Post date:** [December 28, 2017, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-a-symphony-harpist-do-between-gigs/805215/42 "2017-12-28T16:26:30Z")

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> [@BobLibDem](#):
>
> I always wondered if you could shove a brick of Velveeta through a harp. Deli meats might be a little too hard I suppose.

I believe Harpo did that with a loaf of bread regularly. I’m pretty sure they did in Brain Donors, an homage to the Marx Bros.

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