Have been to Crete a long time ago but never touched (or, probably, saw) a lyra. I did have an album of the playing of a well-known lyra-player of the time - 1970's - called Kostas Moundakis. I haven't heard it for a long time, but as far as I remember, like most Greek traditional music it was sung as well as played; it had an agreeable upbeat sound and fairly rapid speed and rhythms.
More helpfully, I know there is, or was, an Irishman on Crete called Ross Daly, who has been there a long time and become a respected player of the local music. Try looking him up on the Internet and you might find him, and who knows, further information / links to do with the lyra.
Anyone play a lyra
Anyone play a lyra
I have got myself a cretan lyra. More as an incentive to stop biting my fingernails than anything else.
Has anyone tried playing one of these? any advice on tunes to start with, bowing etc. I am a melodion player so this is a new area for me.
# Posted on January 12th 2007 by ubendum
Re: Anyone play a lyra
Have been to Crete a long time ago but never touched (or, probably, saw) a lyra. I did have an album of the playing of a well-known lyra-player of the time - 1970's - called Kostas Moundakis. I haven't heard it for a long time, but as far as I remember, like most Greek traditional music it was sung as well as played; it had an agreeable upbeat sound and fairly rapid speed and rhythms.
More helpfully, I know there is, or was, an Irishman on Crete called Ross Daly, who has been there a long time and become a respected player of the local music. Try looking him up on the Internet and you might find him, and who knows, further information / links to do with the lyra.
# Posted on January 12th 2007 by nicholas
Re: Anyone play a lyra
http://www.rossdalymusic.com/
http://stigmes.gr/br/brpages/articles/rossdaly.htm
# Posted on January 12th 2007 by dafydd
Re: Anyone play a lyra
Thanks nicholas I will try that
# Posted on January 15th 2007 by ubendum
Re: Anyone play a lyra
Sorry only know Philip Pullman wrote about one
# Posted on January 20th 2007 by Lyra