"Rosa Ritrovata" in the National Library of Greece

[@AdlerMow]

Really beautiful. How would someone imagine, looking at its seven strings, the lyre would be able to such delicate and intricate music. I, for one, did not expect it to play 3 octaves!

[@NikosXanthoulis]

Thanks so much!

[@Jl-pm6fp]

Thank you, thank you for posting this extraordinarily beautiful piece, played beautifully! This was magical!

[@flowersfrom7311]

Beautiful music in a beautiful setting! Thank you!

[@raihidara]

I'm a guitar player and I've been looking into the lute and felt limited by what I would I would be able to play. Your video introduced me to the true capabilities of the instrument and gave me so much more inspiration to try it out. Beautiful playing and thank you for opening my eyes!

[@NikosXanthoulis]

Thank you so much!

[@lauramcflymusica]

Amazing, awesome, outstanding!!! I cannot find words to say thank you. I already made my own homemade lyre. You are really an inspiration to catch the lyre and make of it a more popular instrument between musicians and audience. Sorry for mi silly english, I speak spanish. Cheers and hugs from Buenos Aires Argentina.

[@dimitrijohanrenucci4178]

maitrise extraordinaire ! et en plus c'est beau !

[@NikosXanthoulis]

@@dimitrijohanrenucci4178 merci beaucoup!

[@hh4826]

The harmonics are just brilliant. Grateful to have found your music

[@ΣΩΣΣΑΝΑΜΑΚΡΟΓΙΑΝΝΗ]

Πολύ ωραίο,αρκετα καλο...μακαρι να ξεραμε εμείς και στα σχολεία στο μάθημα της μουσικής την λειτουργία της επτάχορδης Αρχαίας ελληνικής λυρας .. υπέροχο ❤

[@nikolas_stratigos]

Thank you for this beautiful composition and performance!

[@idaabolins2907]

So beautiful So lovely.

[@ΕμπαθήςΠαράνομοιΝόμοι]

Εξαιρετικός!!!!

[@hh4826]

One of my favorites of yours, simply amazing.

[@BLyra]

Lovely! Thank you ❤

[@dormitria]

Amazing!

[@laclef9688]

So beautiful thank you for this :)

[@emilieevanston8108]

What a beautiful sound ❤

[@anthibozoviti_]

Υπέροχος κ. Ξανθούλη.. Μαγικός ήχος.

[@NikosXanthoulis]

Σ' ευχαριστώ πολύ Ανθή μου!

[@jadechan8673]

Lovely. What a subtle and delicate music. Now i can see why Orpheus had this effect on people if he played like that...

[@NikosXanthoulis]

Thank you so much! It is an honor to "listen" such things!

[@adriannv2562]

Amazing

[@Yutitsa]

Как прекрасно.

[@petercane6376]

Absolutely beautiful music. Thank you. What initial tuning did you use for this piece please? Also what tuning do you mostly use? I believe it may be B minor?

[@NikosXanthoulis]

@petercane6376 Thank you for your kind words. I have tuned a,Bb,c,d,e,f,g. But, I consider the whole piece in d minor natural

[@petercane6376]

Thank you Doctor. I have noted the scale you like and its component notes. I have this afternoon, ordered my Aphrodite seven string Lyre from Lutherios. It will come from Greece to Australia. Whilst I am waiting I will dive in with some theory of the scale and its harmonics. I thank you from the heart for sharing this with me. Thank you

[@NikosXanthoulis]

@petercane6376 My email address is [e-mail]. Don't hesitate to write

[@ipercalisse579]

Is the wrist hurting after practice?

[@NikosXanthoulis]

No, you have to be relaxed in all your body

[@ryanzblue]

I’ve been playing for a little bit now and have started doing this, where you block a string with one finger and strum with the other. It’s hard, but when I get it it sounds like this, a little Any tips to improve?

[@NikosXanthoulis]

fagottobooks.gr/en/5320-olokliromeni-methodos-tis-archaias-ellinikis-lyras-diglossi-ekdosi.html

[@ryanzblue]

Thanks! Your work is inspirational, I hope to get this good. The lyre makes me feel incredible when I play it, or rather when the Muses play it through me!

[@yazanalhajari4329]

Dear Mr. Xanthoulis, as a composer and visual artist from New Jersey, I’m deeply inspired by your expertise in Greek music and mythology. I’m working on a documentary and would value the opportunity to connect and learn from you.would you. I’ve tried to find contact info with no luck. Could you guide me on how to reach you? Your guidance would be invaluable. yazan

[@NikosXanthoulis]

Thank you so much! Please write to me in messenger: Nikos Xanthoulis

[@ConstantineA.Lignos]

Si non vero, bien trovato! Ούτως ή άλλως κανείς δεν μπορεί με σιγουριά να πει πώς ακουγόταν η μουσική στην Αρχαία Ελλάδα. Επομένως οποιοδήποτε «πρόταση» που λειτουργεί αξίζει να ακουστεί.

[@NikosXanthoulis]

I absolutely agree!!!

[@NgugiKigwe-l2q]

But they are no frets. How are the various tones achieved?

[@NikosXanthoulis]

Simple harmonics

[@molossoss]

Υπεροχος...Θελω να φτιαξω μια λυρα...θα ηθελα τις γνωσεις σας αν ειχατε την καλοσυνη να με καθοδηγησετε με λιγες συμβουλες...

[@NikosXanthoulis]

Σας ευχαριστώ αλλά δεν κατασκευάζω λύρες. Κοιτάξτε στα εργαστήρια του Νίκου Μπρα ή του Γιώργου Νικα (ΠΑΛΜΟΣ)

[@molossoss]

@@NikosXanthoulis Σας ευχαριστω πολυ για την απαντηση σας , εξακολουθω να μενω μαγεμενος απο την υπεροχη δεξιοτεχνια σας στην μουσικη της Λυρας...τετοιο παιξιμο με 7χορδη Λυρα δεν νομιζω να το εχει αλλος απο εσας...

[@irmin8196]

Das ist jetzt aber nicht in einer alten griechischen Tonart gespielt? Oder ?, - Das wäre z. b. : lydisch, Mixolydisch, Dorisch, oder Phrygisch? Hat dieser unglaubliche Künstler in einer alten Tonart improvisiert? Ich kenne die altgriechischen Skalen, - und die klingen irgendwie anders. Trotzdem ein riesiges Dankeschön für diese Meisterleistung!

[@NikosXanthoulis]

Dear @irmin196, thank you so much for your apt remarks! I am sorry for not anwering to you in German, a language that I admire but how little is my knowledge! Please allow me to mention that except for these four harmonies (this is the term that the ancient Greek used) there were also the hypolydian, hypophrygian and the hypodorian. The modern natural minor is identified with the the ancient hypodorian. This is the harmony (Tonart) I use here. It is not an improvisation. It is a result of a harworking process. By the way, I would like also to explain why I don't use the ancient terminology of the harmonies (mode, tropos, tonart). Despite our knowledge of the tone range and the inner structure of the octave in every harmony, we don't know exactly the function of each note. So, it is very much at risk to say that I play in this or that harmony. Moreover, nobody can tell us with certainty, how the ancient Greek music was. Our knowledge on it is enough to provoke (cause?) our inner quest. As for me, I am not trying to imitate the ancients (who can do that?). I try to discover the musical and technical possibilities of this magical instrument through my hands. The route is long without an end, but now I have many traveling companions. Thank you so much once again for your kind words and apt remarks. This kind of critic is always valuable!

[@irmin8196]

@@NikosXanthoulis I can read English well and understand what you write. It's just not so easy for me to write in proper English myself. But there are good translation apps. I studied music and German language and literature in Hamburg. That's why I have a good knowledge of old music and language. I know what has been handed down there well. For example, the "Palestina Lied" (Walter v.d. Vogelweide) and in Old High German, which has been handed down (very little) The oldest German language is probably Gothic. As far as ancient Greece is concerned, it has become my hobby to occupy myself with Plato, Aristotle, Protagoras, etc., and of course Pythagoras. Pythagoras in particular has my musical and philosophical interest! So I am familiar with the old keys. So I was very happy with your detailed answer. Thank you very much!

[@hellomate639]

Well crap. I'm going to have to make another lyre to accomodate those harmonics with the left hand. Maybe I can keep the number of strings down this time with those extra harmonics.