It ’s not an instrument you ’re likely to see make an appearance during a modern melodic execution , but the lyre played a major role in ancientGreek polish . But even before it began come out up at private drinking political party performances and spiritual ceremonial occasion , an earliest version of the stringed instrument likely initiate in the ancient Middle East .
According toRichard P. Martin , Antony and Isabelle Raubitschek professor in classic at Stanford University , the version of the lyre that existed in Mesopotamia and the Near East around 2000 B.C.E. include big " box " lyre that were sometimes so large , they had to be set on the ground like a modernistic harp . " There is at least one ancient statuette from the Aegean islands ( later Greece ) from around 2500 B.C.E. render a sitting man play one of these tumid mouth harp - corresponding instruments , held on his stifle , " Martin says , in an electronic mail interview .
The Traditional Structure of the Lyre
Traditionally , the lyre had two fixed upright arms ( pecheis ) or horn ( kerata ) and a crossbar ( zygos ) , and its tuning pegs ( kollopes ) were made of bronze , pearl , ivory or wood . The instrumental role ’s seven strings ( neuraiorchordai ) evaluate the same length but varied in heaviness and were stretch between the crossbar and a bushel tailpiece ( chordotonon ) .
" The lyre dates from thou of years before the Common Era and is cite in numerous hymns in the Hebrew Bible and the Greek of Homer ’s Iliad and Odyssey , " says professional musicianDave Mostert , in an electronic mail . " Because of the computer address in the Bible , lyres are sometimes used as symbols of the constitution in westerly culture . "
The lyre many of us are familiar with today is the " stadium " lyre that is typically connect with Greek finish , which Martin pronounce was invented after 1000 B.C.E. " It was humble and light and had from three to 11 strings that you would take on by plucking , " he says . " The bowl lyre was associated with private amusement at drinking parties ( symposia ) . Apparently , the sound was not too brassy and you ’d try it better in a way . "
Martin say the true origin of the lyre reckon on which version of the legal instrument you ’re referring to . " Depending on how you specify it , the lyre , or another simple hand - held stringed legal document like it , seems to be popular from the Mediterranean through to India and in many parts of Africa , " he says . " musicologist debate whether one very ancient epitome feast , with different cultures borrowing from others , or whether these were independent macrocosm . "
At the same fourth dimension the lyre was becoming a dearie among Greek partiers , another instrument was also picking up popularity . " Ancient Greeks also had what they called akithara , a much - larger , boxwood - style lyre that you played with a pick ( plectron ) and which had a resonating sound - box , " Martin says . " This was used in musical contention , either for instrumental spell or to companion vocaliser . It was also played during ritual , where it would accompany more schematic , public Song like thepaean , a anthem of extolment and celebration of triumph . "
According to Mostert , the earliest lyre were likely made from the forearm bones of sheep , Goat or donkey , and image of the instruments were depicted on Sumerian carvings date from close to 2000 B.C.E. " There are many representations of lyre on classical Grecian vase paintings , and according to the account of various historians , the body shape of lyre instruments varied greatly over the years , " he aver .
The Science of the Lyre’s Sound
According to Jed Macosko , prof of physics at Wake Forest University and academic director ofAcademicInfluence.com , there ’s hearty scientific discipline to explain the singular sound of the lyre .
" In the ancient public of lyre - players , no one had an electronic tuner , or even a tuning fork , " he says , in an email interview . " So , how did they keep their lyres sounding good ? They had to use maths ! Pythagoras — the guy cable with the a - squared - plus - vitamin B - squared - peer - atomic number 6 - feather theorem — and his students were among the first to assort the length of equally smashed , equally impenetrable bowed stringed instrument with their tones and , more importantly , recognize that ratio of the lengths of those strings was super important . In the goal , he was able to explain why the fours strings on the lyre that people run in his time fathom good together , and he was able to help people keep them in line ! "
When it come to the actual acoustics of the lyre , people have depict the docile sound in a variety show of ways . " They sound likeHawaiian falling off - key guitars , only tinnier , " Martin says . " I ’ve only heard reconstructed instrument , of line , " he says , referencing this video from composer Michael Levy :
Mostert confirm the lyre ’s delicate sound , assign the acoustic effect to the tool ’s expression . " The strings on a lyre are broadly speaking stretched over a frame because of the force they wield , " he says . " The sound of a lyre is faint and airy , and not powerful enough for orchestral public presentation . "
The Lyre’s Role in Mythology
Martin , an expert on all thing Greek mythology , says the lyre act an important role in at least one famous tale of the gods . " The most famous story is how Hermes , when only a 1 - day - quondam baby , enticed a tortoise into his home , kill it , gutted it , and made a lyre out of it , stretching pelt on top of the hollow carapace and then tighten seven sheep - gut corduroys over the skin , " he says . " Hermes then went and on the QT steal the cattle of his comrade Apollo . When the older god tracked him down , the baby god capture Apollo by play on his newly invented instrument . Apollo was so taken with the music it produced that he made a bargain with Hermes — he would take the lyre and give Hermes a golden wand , and also ability over some physical body of divination . "
The instrumental role also made an appearance in another famous myth regardingHercules , otherwise experience as Heracles . " The lyre figures in the account of how the unseasoned Heracles killed his first music teacher , Linus , by snap him over the head in anger with his lyre , " Martin say . " Orpheus the illustrious singer who could move rocks and trees and creature with his music play a lyre . And when Orpheus was kill the gods placed his lyre in the sky — it became the constellation , Lyra . "
Another Greek immortal also had railroad tie to the lyre , according to Martin . " We get the word ' lyric ' as in ' lyric poetry ' from the cat’s-paw that was used to accompany ancient song and recitations , " he say . " Apollo , who is shown playing the big concert - stylekitharamore often , does take on the lyre as well , as represent on some ancient Grecian vase paintings . It is interesting that Apollo is also the god of archery , famous for his unerring arrow and bow , because in some cultures ( for example , in piece of South Africa ) people even today really can convert their hunting bows into melodic instruments — they are multifunctional . "
