Lyre

A lyre is a stringed musical instrument. Lyres and the musicians who play them feature prominently in ancient literature, including Greek mythology and epics as well as the Bible. The instruments came in various configurations and were made of different materials, depending on where they originated. However, each had in common the presence of strings that were able to be tuned and were strummed or plucked to make music.

Background

The lyre is often associated with the ancient Greeks. It is mentioned many times in Greek literature and depicted in Greek art dating back to 2000 BCE. However, there is ample evidence to document that stringed instruments that can be considered lyres were used by the Egyptians and others before they were introduced to the Greeks. Lyres dating back more than 4,550 years have been found in the city of Ur in the ancient Middle East. These lyres, unearthed in 1929, were found among the remains of costumed and jeweled people who appeared to have died in a mass suicide, as if they were playing music up until the moment of death.

Later, lyres were used by the Saxons and a number of Germanic tribes inhabiting Europe. Remnants of some of these lyres have been found, including one at the famous Sutton Hoo excavation site that dates back to the seventh century. They are also referenced in ancient European literature, including the epic poem Beowulf. Some scholars theorize that the lyre may even have been played by bards as they sang stories that included references to the instrument.

One of the best-known references to a lyre is in the Greek myth about Hermes and Apollo. This myth credits the invention of the lyre to Hermes. According to the myth, Hermes fashioned the first lyre by using the shell of a tortoise covered with goatskin as the sounding box. He used long curved sticks to form arms that came up from the shell and supported a board to which the top of the strings were connected. The strings were then stretched down over the sounding box and connected to the bottom of the shell. The strings, which were made of animal gut, were then stroked or plucked to be played. The lyre credited to Hermes had three strings; later versions had seven or more. The myth said that Hermes gave the lyre to Apollo after he was caught stealing fifty of Apollo's cattle, and Apollo went on to become a great lyre player.

There are also dozens of references to the lyre in the Bible, specifically the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Old Testament. The lyre is frequently mentioned as an instrument played to worship God. Biblical references include mentions of it being used both as a solo instrument and as an accompaniment to singing. Several times in the Book of Psalms, the psalmist mentions both the harp and the lyre (Pss. 57:8 and 150:3, for instance), making it clear these were separate instruments.

Overview

Different cultures had different variations of the lyre, but there were some general similarities. The most common form of the instrument is shaped like a fancy letter U with the upper portion flaring out and supporting a bar that connects the two uprights. This was often made of wood, but sometimes animal shells, horns, or bones were incorporated into the structure. The strings, made of animal gut, were connected to tuning pegs made of bronze, ivory, bone, or wood that were held by the crossbar. The other end of the strings would then be connected to the bottom of the structure. Most lyres had seven or eight strings, but examples with more have been recorded in art and literature.

While this was the most common design, as depicted in ancient artistic renderings, lyres could also be made in other shapes, such as a simpler square or triangle. While some lyres appear to have been relatively unadorned, other examples have been found with elaborate decorations. These have included carvings, artwork, precious metal coverings, or mosaics made of expensive jewels.

Lyres could vary in size but were generally small enough to carry. Some appear to have had carrying straps, much like contemporary guitars. They could be played with the musician standing or sitting. While the majority of lyre players appear to have been male, there are examples of art showing female lyre players; in particular, Minoan clay dancer figurines dating from the fourteenth or fifteenth century BCE include a female lyre player.

The ancient lyres played a seven-note scale, similar to the scale used in contemporary times. In some cases, replicas have been made of the ancient instruments, using photos, artifacts, and written descriptions to guide the reconstruction efforts. The resulting instruments have had rich sounds that resemble those made by contemporary bass viols, cellos, and guitars, depending on the instrument's size. Attempting to play music written in antiquity has proven difficult, however, as the music does not include any of the notations that contemporary composers use to indicate tempo, volume, and length of notes.

While lyres are generally thought of as an ancient instrument, they are still used in some cultures, most notably in Africa. Examples of lyres made and used in the nineteenth century through contemporary times can be found. These often use antelope antlers for the upright arms of the instrument and a variety of materials for the sounding area. Some have even been found that incorporate animal skulls, but they are also made of wood, gourds, and coconut shells.

Bibliography

Cartwright, Mark. "Lyre." Ancient History Encyclopedia, 16 Dec. 2012, www.ancient.eu/Lyre/. Accessed 18 Mar. 2017.

"Greek Lyre." Rutgers University, crab.rutgers.edu/~pbutler/greeklyre.html. Accessed 18 Mar. 2017.

"Introduction." Lyre of Ur, www.lyre-of-ur.com/history.htm. Accessed 18 Mar. 2017.

Kilmore, Anne Draffkorn. "The Musical Instruments from Ur and Ancient Mesopotamian Music." Expedition Magazine, Penn Museum, July 1998, www.penn.museum/sites/expedition/the-musical-instruments-from-ur-and-ancient-mesopotamian-music/. Accessed 18 Mar. 2017.

"Lyre." Metropolitan Museum of Art, www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/501834. Accessed 18 Mar. 2017.

Morrison, Dofinn-Hallr and Thóra Sharptooth. "The Saxon Lyre: History, Construction, and Playing Techniques." Vassar College, www.cs.vassar.edu/~priestdo/lyre.html. Accessed 18 Mar. 2017.

"Prehisto-Rock 'n' Roll! World's Earliest Stringed Instrument Found in Cave from 2,300 Years Ago." Daily Mail, 31 Mar. 2012, www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2123180/Worlds-earliest-stringed-instrument-cave-2-300-years-ago.html. Accessed 18 Mar. 2017.

Schmitz, Leonhard. "Lyra." University of Chicago, penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/secondary/SMIGRA*/Lyra.html. Accessed 18 Mar. 2017.