Chelyslyre01.wmv

Demonstration of an ancient Greek chelys (tortoise shell) style lyre reconstruction by Paul Butler. The "echo" is actually natural to the instrument, and not an added effect. The first piece is a 2nd Century AD fragment reconstructed by M.L. West attributed to Mesomedes. The other two pieces are improvisations by me, mostly to demonstrate the sound of the instrument.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• ancient
• greek
• chelys
• lyre
• cithara

[GranddaughterCoyote]

Hi! I am going to be making a lyre myself, using the plans that you've posted on your website. I seem to be having a little trouble with the strings, though. On the Aquila website, What set of strings did you purchase for your lyre? Any information about that would be greatly appreciated. Thanks a bunch!

[pcbutler1701]

@GranddaughterCoyote I didn't acquire a string set, I did it by individual guage per string. That would depend on what notes you wanted to tune it to, and whether you

wanted high or low tension strings (higher tension are louder, but put a lot more stress on the instrument). I was working with about 4.5-5 kg tension per string. If you let me know how you are going to tune it, I can give you the string guages for Aquila strings if you need them. pcbviol@gmail.com

[GranddaughterCoyote]

@pcbutler1701 I'm going to be tuning the lyre; B | A G F E | (E) D C B.

[pcbutler1701]

@GranddaughterCoyote Is that starting on B=247 htz (B just below middle C) or B=123 htz (octave below middle C, or the first finger on the low string of a viola)?



[Klezfiddle1]

Amazing! I have been trying to get hold of a quality made replica lyra for years, to no avail. What strings do you use? Are they gut? Where did you get the tortoise shell??? I love the string-blocking improvisation....

[pcbutler1701]

@Klezfiddle1 The strings are "artificial gut" made by Aquila. They are similar in tone and feel to gut, but are a lot more stable. They don't QUITE have the "bite" of gut on the sound, and I have gut on my A/S lyre. And the body is made from a large gourd, as the tortoises in question are actually endangered.

[GranddaughterCoyote]

I believe it is the tuning B below Middle C to middle B, or the B=247 which you described; or in reference to tone, more of a tenor than an alto or suprano, if you can get this low on a lyre

[pcbutler1701]

@Klezfiddle1 The body is made actually from a dyed gourd. The tortoise historically used (testuda marginata) is now a threatened species and would not appropriate. The gourds are about the same size and shape, but are not as rigid, so the arms cannot be wedged directly into as with the originals. It's a compromise, as this creates a slightly flatter instrument, but at least the resonance chamber and skin are about the right size and shape.

[aarontrombone]

@Klezfiddle1 On the website, he says its a gourd, not a tortise shell.



[fljugherra]

wonderful!