Lyre or a Lyre Harp Latest [2022]
A lyre is a string instrument that started way back in 1400 that was used in Greece’s classical era to the later period. The lyre is similar to the lap harp but with distinct differences. In organology, lyres are defined as “yoke lutes”, being lutes in which the strings are attached to a yoke that lies in the same plane as the sound table and consists of two arms and a cross-bar.
The lyre head holds the strings that are stretched by two raised arms, and the strings are placed across the gap between arms and the body which is often hollow.
The lyre of classical antiquity was ordinarily played by being strummed with a plectrum (pick), like a guitar or a zither, rather than being plucked with the fingers as with a harp. The fingers of the free hand silenced the unwanted strings in the chord. Later instruments, also called “lyres”, were played with a bow in Europe and parts of the Middle East, namely the Arabic rebab and its descendants, including the Byzantine Lyra.
Beginnings of Harp and Lyre and Some Facts
The harp began in antiquated Egypt and was initially called “the kinnor.” The earliest lyres showed up in Mesopotamia (what is currently Iraq) around 2500 BCE and were designated “giparu” in Sumerian, or “gurğu” in Akkadian. Harps and lyres were at last conveyed everywhere; pretty much every culture has its own rendition of these instruments today.
The harp was presumably demonstrated on creatures‘ guts and the turtle shell, while the lyre was likely displayed on the bent shell of a turtle. The two instruments were utilized for backup and to go with artists.
Harps and lyres were additionally played solo as melodic instruments, yet they weren’t considered performance instruments like the piano or harpsichord (the two kinds of console instruments) are today. Harpists and lyre players went with vocalists, artists, and different instrumentalists. Harps are utilized in both traditional music and people’s music, while lyres are generally utilized in Western workmanship music.
The harp is the public instrument of Ireland, where it’s generally played at people’s celebrations; it’s otherwise called an Irish Harp or basically “the Harp.” Harps are likewise broadly utilized in traditional music, typically as a feature of a symphony. Harpists incorporate Yolanda Kondonassis, Lisa Batiashvili, and Natalie Clein.
The lyre is the public instrument of Denmark; there, it’s viewed as the most seasoned stringed instrument and has been an image of Danish personality since the Middle Ages. Renowned Danish lyre players incorporate Bo Andersen, Lauridsen Lausen, and Thomas Blachman.
With such a rich history and custom, it’s no big surprise that these two instruments keep on affecting music today. Harps and lyre players can be heard in symphonies and at society celebrations from one side of the planet to the other.
Sound of Harp and Lyre
A harp and lyre is comparative, yet there’s a slight distinction in pitch between the two. Harps have a pitch that is about an octave lower than that of lyres.
Harps will quite often emit more volume than their partners – you can even hear them when they are played in enormous show lobbies. Harps are more straightforward to hear on the grounds that they have a wide, level sound box that projects their sound outward, while the lyre’s empty body hoses its sound. Harpists ordinarily play with a few harps on the double to make a more full, more extravagant sound that will top off a whole lobby or theater.
Plan of Harp versus Lyre
The plan of harps and lyres shifts broadly relying upon which country they start from. Harps are likewise made in a wide range of sizes – there are little harps that can be played with only one hand, while show harps are almost ten feet tall! Harpists normally have a stool to sit on when they play so they can arrive at the harp’s strings. Harps are likewise normally played with two hands, while lyres are played with one hand or a pick held in the player’s other hand.
Lyre configuration fluctuates generally – some are straight while others are bent, some have arms while others don’t. There are even lyres with additional strings for a more full sound! Harpists generally sit on a stool or seat when they play their harps. Harps can be played with one hand, however, harpists for the most part utilize two hands to cull each.
Learning Harp or Lyre, which instrument would it be advisable for you to begin on?
Harps are by and large harder to play than lyres.
Harps have a more extensive neck and require your fingers to belong and adaptable enough to traverse a few frets immediately – on the off chance that any of those frets are nearer together or further separated from one another, it could influence the pitch.
Harpists frequently utilize the entire palm of their hand to stop strings, adding one more aspect to strategy and adaptability. Also harps require more arm strength than lyres on the grounds that your whole arm needs to hold its weight at the same time – relying upon how you play it, a regular harp can weigh as much as 100 pounds. Harpists are likewise expected to walk around while playing, which additionally adds opposition.
Harps are played either situated or standing up – assuming you anticipate plunking down the whole time you play it, try to free some from the strain off your arms by setting it facing something, similar to a seat or table.
Lyres are simpler to move and set up – they just require four legs rather than six, making them more minimized for moving around. Harps can’t be concealed in a console stand, so they should be completely upheld somehow or another – lyres can regularly slip right in the middle of harp legs.
Harps additionally have more surprises to the neck, constraining players to help them from under or hold down those strings with one hand while playing.
Harpists who need to play seriously will see that lyres are more straightforward – they’re more modest, lighter, and don’t expect you to hold down each of the strings while playing. Harpists who aren’t up for rivalries regularly play harps since it doesn’t make any difference assuming their instrument is somewhat harder to oversee or not.
Harps are extraordinary instruments that are still broadly utilized today, yet lyres require less time and work to make due. Harpists should work more earnestly to make up with the harp’s rich, full sound – however assuming you need an instrument without breaking a sweat of utilization, lyres are the thing you’re searching for.
Number of strings
The strings of lyre vary from 1 to as many as it can get with ten strings being popular in various times. The earliest known lyre had four strings, that is tuned to create a tetrachord series of four tones filling in the interval of a perfect fourth. The majority of lyres have 5 to 16 strings, having more is considered already a large lyre.
In the modern days, lyre harp (also being called as modern harp and mini harp) is majorly available in 7 strings, 10 strings, 16 strings and 24 strings (large harp).
Modern Lyre (Lyre Harp) – 10 strings
10 stringed lyre are so common as they are quite cheap in the market and typically made by Pakistani people. Although this previous years, Chinese have entered the market which offer a better quality on the sounds which are cheap as well.
For those people who would like to play music in the Middle Eastern and Greeks, this lyre is definitely for you, as it’s still cheap as well and has added range than the 7 strung.
There are not so many advantages for our opinion on getting 10 strings if you will upgrade very quickly or you want to play modern music. Unless you want to play like Michael Levy, go and get this one. But we highly suggest on buying a Chinese made than the Pakistani made. We’ll make a comparison with these two in the near future.
Modern Lyre (Lyre Harp) – 16 strings
Finally, if you are more into modern music than that folk music, the 16 strings is ultimately for you. With two octaves and additional 2 notes, you can play basically all modern music. Starting with 16 strings is never a bad decision. Although you might feel overwhelmed with the number of strings at first.
A decent model is around $80 which is still relatively cheap, although the high-quality brand will range about $1000.
There will be a lot more kinds of Lyre with a different number of strings and design. We will do a lot more discussion with others like Anglo-Saxon, African, Germanic, Bowed Lyre and many more.
Last Thoughts on Harp and Lyre Comparison
The harp and the lyre are two comparable-looking instruments that produce fundamentally various sounds. While both can be played with an arrangement of strings, one has an ease off volume than the other – the harp is more bass-weighty while the lyre produces higher tones. On the off chance that you don’t know which instrument to begin on, it might assist with pondering what sort of sound you need your music venture or tune to have. Which sort of stringed instrument do you like? Harps or Lyres?
