#the harp

[charnel-grounds]

Pedro De Kastro, “The Harp”, 1996 — Revisited Deathscape 2025

from ‘Death’ series

metal engraving on paper, etching

[newyorkthegoldenage]

One of the artists commissioned to create a new work for the 1939-40 World's Fair was the sculptor Augusta Savage. A leading member of the Harlem Renaissance, she was the only black woman to be so honored.

Her piece, intended to celebrate African-Americans’ contributions to music, showed a kneeling black man holding a bar of music and 12 black chorus singers representing strings on a harp, the sounding board of which was no less than the hand of God. She called it Lift Every Voice and Sing, a nod to a poem by her friend James Weldon Johnson that was later set to music and adopted as the black "national anthem" by the NAACP.

The work stood 16 feet tall and was made of plaster that had been lacquered to look like black basalt. She was paid $360 for it (around $8,000 in today's dollars) and it was placed in the courtyard of the Contemporary Arts Building, near one of the Fair’s gates. Fair officials renamed it The Harp, which Savage reportedly hated. Small metal replicas were sold as souvenirs, and images of it were reproduced on postcards.

When the Fair ended, Savage had no money to remove and store her sculpture, or to cast the large piece in bronze, as she had with other, smaller works. So, like all the other "temporary" artwork created for the Fair, it was destroyed by a bulldozer.

In 2017, a NY Times op-ed piece by the filmmaker Aviva Kempner proposed that a full-size replica of the sculpture be created and placed in front of the National Museum of African-American History & Culture in Washington. So far, there has been no movement towards carrying that idea out.

Photos: top and center, NYPL. Bottom, illustration from the book Harlem: Negro Metropolis (E.P. Dutton 1940) via The Wolfsonian–FIU.

[obi-wann-cannoli]

Idk how anybody can hate mariachi. Beautiful voices, music that you can cry and dance to and what is undeniably the best outfits of any music genre. If mariachi has no fans I am dead.

[bonbonbobomb]

...⟪INSTRUMENT OF DESTRUCTION⟫...

MEET THE HARP!

-- NAME: The Harp -- AGE: ...??? -- PRONOUNS: It/Its -- Living Weapon -- Cyborg

The Harp is a state of the art weapon, almost solely responsible for the military power that Requiem, its country (more of an empire), holds. It is feared, it is revered, and almost no one has ever seen it and lived to tell the tale. Other countries tell horror stories about it. Children sing rhymes about it. A hundred thousand different interpretations of its appearance are plastered on propaganda throughout the nation. But what exactly it is, how exactly it was made? That much has remained unknown.

For the time being, of course.

STORY MASTERLIST: TBA!!!

Tags for tagging purposes: @cepheusgalaxy

[grow-bettah]

Harpy Grian doodle from Class lawl

[dusty-ducky47]

Got anymore world building hc's? :3

I can't give more world Headcanons-

But I can give musical ones!!

So you know how in Epic: The Musical, everyone is assigned an instrument to play in the background of their singing?

Well- So does the cast of Legendary!

Instrument Associations below the cut!

Mk; The Organ

Its a large, powerful, mutli-faceted instrument that's integral to alot of the base of the world's best classical instrumentals.

It's Light, Airy and Ethereal. While holding that strong, grounding baseline. It's perfect for him.

Legendary! Mk's instrument in the musical would be the Organ, as i always hear it for all his big scenes and moments.

Redson; The Cello.

A deep, passionate instrument that takes alot of precision and control, also pairs very well with the powerful organ in a melody.

It's often associated with Strict, Organized events and music, but recently has branched out into Pop and Rock. Its perfect for Legendary! Redson. A character with rigid roots but is learning to express himself in ways he didn't know he could before.

Wukong; The Violin

Surprising Nobody: Wukong's Instrument is the Violin! Lol but not just because it is Penelope's Instrument in Epic,

It's because of its depth and versatility. Its an incredibly adaptive Instrument that can blend into any genre. But its presence is never in the background going unnoticed.

Its a strong, emotional instrument that can be played in the happiest of songs, or the most somber ones.

Macaque; The Guitar

I know! I know! Lmao another direct line up to Epic, lmao but hey at least I'm sticking to my inspiration!

The Guitar is also incredibly versatile and recognizable, just like the Violin. But its deeper notes lend to its depth of character.

But if played right- it can substitute an entire orchestra! It can be drums, strings, a choir- anything! Quite dramatic, and quite similar to the Organ :)

You can never forget the melody of a guitar, just like Wukong will never forget Mihou.

Tang; Church Bells.

While my Qi Tang isn't incredibly religious, he is still The Golden Cicada. A literal God of Paradise- he is a symbol of power and hope to its core.

Alot like those massive, haunting bells atop cathedrals. Their past is infinite and elusive, but they are ever present in the background.

No one can ignore them, but everyone just kinda seems to forget them once they manage to look away.

Pigsy; Flute

Weren't expecting that one, huh? Lol.

Legendary! Pigsy is an absolute badass. Don't misconstrue that by his instrument lol. But he's also incredibly soft, and familial.

Tradition matters alot to him- but only when it matters. He's open and quick to change when the melody needs it. But capable of being a strong front when his family needs him to be.

Just like the flute!

Sandy; The Handpan!

Calm, soothing, relaxing. Like a nice cup of tea, or peaceful meditation.

While being a bulky, strong looking instrument, the Handpan is actually one of the softest sounding drums to date. Its ocean, underwater sounds and vibes are perfect for our cat, tea, and peace loving foster dad.

Mei, THE DRUMMMSS!!

Also surprising no one, lmao, Legendary! Mei is the Drums to me! Loud, Passionate, Rebellious, and Proud- The Drums are fantastic support to any song. And will never stand down, lest the music loose it's grounding beat!

Especially when said drums are covered in Fire and Glow Paint! Leading to a spectacular performance and beautiful canvas in its wake of music!!

Nezha; the Panflute!

Whimsical, timeless, and fun! Often associated with childish songs, but more than capable of being mature and grounding. The Panflute is perfect for Legendary! Nezha!

It's majestic, and deeply cultural. A soothing lullaby, or an inspiring song. The Panflute is perfect for it.

Ao Bing; The Harp

Both his favorite instrument, and his association! The Harp is a large, almost Foreboding instrument to play, but capable and known for the lightest, softest songs. It's synonymous with Beauty and Grace, and capable of that and more.

The Harp is a wonderful instrument, perfectly content to stand alone, or joined in a band.

Peace, Power, Grace and Humility. Just like Legendary! Ao Bing :)

And thats everyone! I have some of the villain's instruments decided as well. This was fun! Thanks for the ask!

[acourtofantumbra]

I would love to just... even one time... have some kind of profound explanation for the parallels that are coming up during this Throne of Glass reread. Like what do I even do with this?

I haven't seen anyone draw this parallel between Elide's extra sensory bad vibes of the Stone Marshes in TOG and Nesta's vision in the Prison in ACOSF... but it's CERTAINLY there. (Edit: I fully believe some SJM scholar out there has not only found this, but drawn far superior conclusions lol & I encourage them to enlighten me please!!)

What does one do when "even Death itself bows to the 26th string" and Fae trying to claw their way through stone comes up in BOTH?! Asking for a friend.