Lyre of Ur plays again after 4500 years!

[HarpMaker]

What instrument is the guy playing that are like flutes?

[MarkHarmer]

Hi - they're called twin pipes (see the notes about this just under my Dance of Delight logo). They're extremely thin - about 4mm or so - and have a reed in the end. I don't know what material the reeds are made from.

[zciweslab]

beautiful reconstruction- i've stood in awe in front of the one in the University of Pennsylvannia- imagining what it would sound like. now i sort of know. thanks so much for this video.

[MarkHarmer]

The "buzzing" of the Lyre strings is due to a parchment bridge - and what I like about the video, which was shot in the corner of a room during a break before a concert, is that it captures the sound balance well.

[Klezfiddle1]

Amazing!Tell me more about the lyre - is the sound board of wood or animal hide?How did you devise the tuning of the strings - I noticed that the lowest pitch strings weren't at the furthest end,but somewhere in ther middle.What material is used in the strings?I have been attempting to learn a few ancient Hebrew lyres myself(the Kinnor and Nevel)- this is fascinating!