Lyres:
Currently, I am playing 3 different styles of Lyre each style made by Brandon John Luthiery in Pennsylvania USA.
The Lyres are:
- 19-string, bass up, diatonic, solid body Lyre made from Sapele wood that is played in settings where a quieter sound is required. (Lyre to the left in the image.)
- 19-string, bass up, acoustic Lyre made from Maple wood that is played in settings where a louder sound is required. (Lyre in the center in the image.)
- 23-string, bass up, chromatic, solid body Lyre made from Sapele wood (Lyre to the right in the image). The Chromatic Lyre is particularly well suited to performing complex music and studying the microtonal system of Byzantine Chant as used in the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese in the USA. Unlike traditional instruments limited to semitone intervals, the Chromatic Lyre’s strings can be fine-tuned to produce pitches smaller than a semitone, providing the precision needed to accurately render the subtle intervals of Byzantine music. This capability makes it an invaluable tool for musicians seeking to practice, analyze, and perform the intricate scales, modes, and melodic nuances that characterize the Byzantine musical tradition. The role of the Chromatic Lyre in the study and performance of Byzantine Music will be explored in depth throughout this website.
Harp:
- Special Edition Fullsicle Harp . Coming soon!
If you are interested in learning the Harp and/or Lyre, I recommend two amazing teachers:
- For Harp and Lyre: Sharon Brownell of Learning the Lyre Harp
- For bass up Lyre: Catherine Guilbeau of Enfolded Heart.
God bless you and may the peace of Christ be with you.
Mastering the Lyre and Harp 