Lyra - Revision history

Lazarus at 15:16, August 12, 2006

2006-08-12T15:16:28Z

Irlandos at 08:47, August 12, 2006

2006-08-12T08:47:01Z

Irlandos at 08:46, August 12, 2006

2006-08-12T08:46:34Z

New page

While the ancient [[lyre]] is no longer played in modern [[Greece]], the term ''lyra'' lives on as the name shared by various regional types of folk fiddles (bowed lutes) found throughout the country.

There are two basic styles of lyra fiddles:

1) a pear-shaped instrument with a vaulted back which is found in the Greek islands – in particular, the [[Dodecanese]] and [[Crete]] - and the northern mainland regions of [[Macedonia]] and [[Thrace]];

2) an instrument with a narrow rectangular cylinder body of the Pontic Greeks who trace their roots to Pontos ([[Pontus]]), the Black Sea region of northern [[Asia Minor]] (Turkey). The Pontic Greek lyra is also known as ''[[kemenche]].'')

Both types of lyra typically have three strings. They are held vertically upright and bowed horizontally; if the player is seated, the instrument's tail end rests on the upper left thigh. The Cretan lyra is traditionally played in a duo with the ''[[laouto]],'' a long-neck fretted lute that's strummed like a guitar.

[[Category:String instruments]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:47, August 12, 2006
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−	While the ancient [[lyre]] is no longer played in modern [[Greece]], the term ''lyra'' lives on as the name shared by various regional types of folk fiddles (bowed lutes) found throughout the country.	+	While the ancient [[lyre]] is no longer played in modern [[Greece]], the term '''lyra''' lives on as the name shared by various regional types of folk fiddles (bowed lutes) found throughout the country.

	There are two basic styles of lyra fiddles:		There are two basic styles of lyra fiddles:

@@ Line 3: / Line 3: @@
 There are two basic styles of lyra fiddles:
-) a pear-shaped instrument with a vaulted back which is found in the Greek islands – in particular, the [[Dodecanese]] and [[Crete]] - and the northern mainland regions of [[Macedonia]] and [[Thrace]];
+# a pear-shaped instrument with a vaulted back which is found in the Greek islands – in particular, the [[Dodecanese]] and [[Crete]] - and the northern mainland regions of [[Macedonia]] and [[Thrace]];
+# an instrument with a narrow rectangular cylinder body of the Pontic  Greeks who trace their roots to Pontos ([[Pontus]]), the Black Sea region of northern [[Asia Minor]] (Turkey). The Pontic Greek lyra is also known as ''[[kemenche]].'')
 Both types of lyra typically have three strings. They are held vertically upright and bowed horizontally; if the player is seated, the instrument's tail end rests on the upper left thigh. The Cretan lyra is traditionally played in a duo with the ''[[laouto]],'' a long-neck fretted lute that's strummed like a guitar.
 [[Category:String instruments]]