The Ancient Greek Kithara

The instrument in this video is a reproduction of the ancient Greek 'kithara' and it was made by Greek master luthier Anastasios Koumartzis of LUTHIEROS MUSIC INSTRUMENTS. The strings on the instrument are of 100% pure silk, which is closest in tone and response to the gut strings of the ancient Greeks. The more time I spend with this kithara, the more I discover about it. I am beginning to understand why the kithara players of the Golden Age (500 B.C.) were considered rock stars!

[@enaremco]

I can remember this song making the Top 10 in Athens back in 484 BC.

[@CRITON9]

hahaha yeah me too bro

[@leavingjupiter]

Me too, and I remeber Uriah Heap when they were just a pile

[@titogarcia3708]

Back then we had *real* music

[@MrUmakemelaff]

Actually, you're wrong...It was Freebird.

[@timpenfield5]

a shame fame and the lifestyle took its toll

[@andreavgr]

As a greek electric guitar player I seriously can't thank you enough for this information!

[@HighPriestofLemuria]

Honestly it sounds like the Kithara could handle acoustic versions of metal songs, without the electricity. The Greeks were awesome.

[@un_tlaloque]

Djent maybe haha

[@AgeofDoom]

Ancient Greek Metal.. 🤘🏻

[@randomcultist398]

Imagine a metal song about the Peloponnesian War played on those

[@OrthoKarter]

they sure were

[@danielseelye6005]

​@@randomcultist398 Someone needs to contact Sabaton. 😁

[@PixelOutlaw]

I can't imagine anyone not liking this. I mean how could anyone be antikythera.

[@Spacebaby21]

I know! Why the dislikes? It's weird.

[@Xezlec]

Whoosh...

[@MyGreenpotato]

or leykada?

[@anachronisticon]

Only the cog-noscenti will understand the perfection of that finely machined joke.

[@dj_koen1265]

this is actually an ingenious yet subtle comment

[@MadSpectro7]

The origin of the word "guitar" is even more apparent when you realize that the ancient pronunciation of 'th' was actually an aspirated 't', so it sounded kinda like "kit-hara."

[@era1442]

In Finnish it is nearly the same spelling as well, since guitar is "kitara" in Finnish.

[@ggpp1417]

modern italian has "chitarra"

[@filiprank9870]

Gitara in Serbo Croat

[@OBVIOUSLYPENNY]

Guitarra in portuguese :)

[@alexandert696]

malaka in greek I think

[@gambucino1260]

The kithara has a whammy bar wow lol

[@agony664]

Whammy stick

[@JamesRDavenport]

This channel is a gift to all those who seek to learn something new. Thank you.

[@candyninja2722]

Im greek and i wish we were as clever as the ancient Greek...

[@epicstimulus282]

They are

[@Allan-et5ig]

When I lived in Athens in 1990 my host family said "we lit the lamp of civilization for the rest of the world and blew it out for ourselves."

[@flukos79]

Οι κοινοι άνθρωποι δε νομίζω να διεφεραν από εμένα και εσένα. Ίσα ίσα που δεν είχαν όλοι την ίδια παιδεία

[@jwadaow]

@Johnny Deep Yes that is where things are headed, great power competition, the withdrawal of the US from the global stage. Have you read Evola at all by any chance?

[@artchannel8401]

@Misha Hahaha this is a thracian instrument

[@AiAngel]

So concisely explained, yet so present in the moment in which the music is played, reverence for every note played, as a portal to a time lost long ago...

[@cherrygoblin6697]

Very strange place to see you, very true comment tho, it's really awesome that we have all of this knowledge about stuff that's so old

[@ipytho]

i didnt think i'd find you here

[@stoikusu5084]

AI ANGEL OMG

[@YPERION369]

Greetings from 🏛️ Athens - Hellas🇬🇷 My friend you have the ancient Hellinic spirit in you. You have the golden ratio in your soul. Thank you. I enjoy so mutch this sound your kindness your talent of your voice and performing with the ancient Hellinic κιθάρα. May the Olympians be with you. ΧΑΙΡΕ

[@KAELIN250]

This is so cool!

[@Pizza_Man_]

Greetings from Italy 🇮🇹 I love Greece, and our Roman Empire learned so much from all of ancient greeks, and they were probably envious too that's why they stole a lot of traditions, but I mean, your culture was so fascinating.

[@lvsoad22]

@@Pizza_Man_ remember it was not just all stolen, you also had common ancestors

[@Pizza_Man_]

@@lvsoad22 Yes, correct, in fact we have lots of Greek Ruins in South Italy, especially Calabria and Sicilia, because there were lots of Greek colonies there.

[@malelemonade5979]

Southern Italy is an Italian-Greek mix. Greeks settled about everywhere south of Rome. My family is from Bari, a south-eastern Capital facing the Adriatic Sea, right across the ocean from Greece. My family has Greek and Italian blood, and so does almost anyone in Italy, especially Southern Italy. So both cultures are a smoothie of influence and genetic history! You probably have Greek ancestry Guido Mista 🔫

[@ScrapwoodCity]

I was not aware of all this amazing information. Vibratos and harmonics? Amazing! Thank you very much. Ευχαριστώ πολύ

[@filippocagliostro5536]

You should teach in schools

[@chrish1657]

Or, children should do this and not be in schools.

[@snowromance203]

@@chrish1657 i agree

[@jonistan9268]

My music teacher gave us some of his videos to watch, including this one

[@sandracain4010]

This is so hauntingly beautiful - It gives me joy to know there are artists of this calibre.

[@AshleySerena]

I love how you explore instruments from long ago and try to sound as authentic as possible from drawings and other small clues. This kithara sounds incredible and I love your tones. Thank you so much for gifting us all with these educational and lovely videos!

[@methodicalmysticbutterflyi2669]

My ancestors are from Thessaloniki, and I love seeing and learning about this. Thank you kindly for educating all of us.

[@nerolia_gaming8030]

People back then were really into high quality arts! Sending cheers from Russia to you, master, thanks for the video!

[@MultiMrDmitry2]

My mind was travelling to some magnificent ancient places while I was listening to you singing and playing this beautiful instrument, thank you!

[@WayneofGames]

I really love your videos. These old instruments are sending me on a journey when i close my eyes.

[@scottpreston5074]

Past life memories.

[@jbaccellieri7315]

Peter Pringle - we are so lucky that you have explained this instrument to us, will you do more? Are you available to tutor?

[@bishal6043]

That piece of music at the end cured my headache...I could feel myself walking the streets of an Ancient Greek city, the bustling agora, the smells and sounds of a grand open market and its colourful wares.

[@juliana.gonzalezibarra2169]

I studied the ancient civilizations and I love classical music. I found the most amazing thing I had ever seen about music, which brings me to other world. Thanks Peter!!!!

[@Gilmaris]

The piece towards the end is some of the most hauntingly beautiful music I have ever heard.

[@evrenrodoplu]

wow! the song at the end is epic!

[@markantestierchen]

Danke für die ausführliche Erklärung! Das Lied ist wunderschön!!! 💝 Herzliche Grüße aus Belgien! 🇧🇪

[@ecologicaladam7262]

What a wonderfully haunting sound... I’m just in the middle of reading Mary Renault’s The Praise Singer - whose instrument would have been exactly this... Living history!

[@sergeymedvedev2493]

Amazing instrument, amazing performance!

[@doctorNproductions]

The 8:05 part is just outstanding. What a voice.

[@HLS_Ministries]

I was looking for this comment. And man, when he gets into falsetto!!❤️

[@medinayusazlan]

8:03 dont mind me just making a timestamp so i can replay n practice,,here if anyone needs it too

[@ethanpayne4116]

An absolutely stunning performance

[@razanlthr9093]

Aaaaaaaaa apaan aaa aaaaaa aaaaaa aaaaaaa aaaaaa aaaaa aaaaa aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa a a a a a a a a aaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaaaa

[@NinjaSushi2]

I am so glad I found this guy. I absolutely love history and I'm a big music lover and so the fact that he is bringing us ancient music from history is wonderful.

[@mirzaaljic]

The vocal part on your song is so well done! I wish there were more videos with that style.

[@Akkordeondirigent]

Grandiose! I´m a teacher at grammar school and am preparing lessons about fundamental knowledge about music. I call it "gallop through the epochs". I have just closed the early advanced civilisations and am now getting to ancient times. This is so interesting! That is really great work!

[@mariecachet867]

6:24 for music.

[@amethyst760]

Daniel Springer. Marie Cachet came here for the music, as I also did. So please stop acting the Troll.

[@FurrySergal]

Hey thanks, it's not like anyone here would want to actually _learn_ something; that's just time consuming. After all this _is_ YT.

[@fryingwiththeantidote2486]

my dick is in my hand, thank you.

[@cirenrose]

SEEEEEEHHHHHHREEE ET.

[@MusicalMissCapri]

It amazes me how effortless you sing as well. Just wonderful!

[@user-nr3sd4dg3y]

Dude you're amazing I never heard anybody (non greek ) know that much stuff about ancient greek music,as a greek myself I bet there are many greek people who don't know as much stuff as you do

[@dmitrysofronov8624]

Thank you very much for this! Can't wait to hear Iliad or Odyssey in your rendition. I wonder why these portamento and vibrato columns, discs and springs are made symmetrical. I don't think the reason was simply the aesthetics side of it. Probably they meant it for both left and right-handed musicians, or one musician could swap hands to equalise the job of both hands - for health's sake, you know.

[@copperleaves]

+Dmitry Sofronov An interesting theory, Dmitry, but the system of springs behaves differently on one side than it does on the other, in spite of the fact that they mirror one another. The springs do not affect the middle string at all (or very little). You can displace a treble or bass string without disturbing the middle string(s), so you can play an interval and shift only one note either up or down, while the other remains stable. This is also possible by shifting tension on a modern pedal steel.

[@dmitrysofronov8624]

+Peter Pringle Thanks for clarification. Now I can stop wondering.

[@manueldelsol31270]

"You can displace a treble or bass string without disturbing the middle string(s)" Wow, this is of kind of ancient B-bender then ! Great work man ! :p

[@patriciafriedson8860]

this is amazing in so many ways! The portamento, the harmonics, so many wonderful sounds! And your singing with it is just extraordinary, and it touches the soul ... and really enjoyed hearing you talk about the kithara ... your appreciation of it is very contagious. also, beautiful Greek girl was very foolish indeed not to show up!

[@michael198427]

DAMN!!!👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾🔥🔥🔥that transported me to a place will be replaying this a few times

[@gregkral4467]

I so love your work. The beauty of your voice and skill at the ancient string instruments to me is like time travel, and joy. Thank you so very much from my soul.

[@ricardollorente]

I never get tired of watching this video. Thank you very much!

[@oletski30]

I stumbled on Ali Farahani Younan on apple music last week and I just couldn't get it off my head. I just needed to find the original sound... And here it is! I'm so happy

[@bobblowhard8823]

That music near the end of the video: So beautiful. So timeless. Amazing.

[@Idalilit]

Nice Times, Lovely Times....never come back! Great MUSIC ...! Fantazy!

[@consiliononpetu9959]

Peter Pringle... I have always loved you and with this video... I love you more. You are a genuine and true artist. Thank you so much. Your historical knowledge is amazing and your legenday beauty has never faded...

[@Venceremos1960]

Un MILLON de GRACIAS... ...Las musicas y MELODIAS que salen de las LIRAS, obran un efecto RELAJANTE y CELESTIAL... por decirlo de alguna manera. Tambien son como 'MAQUINAS del TIEMPO'... Que MARAVILLOSO poder reconstruir los instrumentos que los musicos antiguos construian e interpretaban. Yo, al menos ya tengo mi primera lira (de 7 cuerdas) y cuando la hago sonar siento como si casi estuviese levitando -no materialmente claro esta- pero si espiritualmente.

[@TheKarret]

That music as the end is SO nice, I hope there's more Greek songs like this on your channel. * 3*

[@ajeje1996]

I'm so happy I stumbled upon this channel :)

[@kaume7719]

It's incredible... magical music... It's like you're immersed in your own past, in a time when you understood music and the language of nature... Ancient Ellada... I'd like to hear this song, music and voice, longer... To make it longer... If there's a full version, where can you listen to it? And what is it called? You're just an incredible musician... The ancient music, sacred, woven together in the land of nature...

[@alvanpilot]

Simply BEAUTIFUL and somehow, it awakens certain feelings from someplace down deep in my sould, just as if I am hearing this same ancient music for the first time.........AGAIN!!!!!!!! Very weird feelings. I do not know why but it seriously creates a feeling of longing to return to some place, some where. a long time ago? I can't quite understand it myself so I get it how it would be hard for someone else to understand my reasoning.

[@scottpreston5074]

I get it.

[@cessatiolux6250]

I love this channel.

[@Ragd0ll1337]

The portamento you demonstrated made it sound fascinatingly similar to an Indian sitar. I wonder if the instruments had the same origin. Even the names sound quite similar, especially considering that Greek and Sanskrit are both members of the Proto-Indo-European language family. Greek was part of the centum languages and Sanskrit was part of the satem in which the k sound became an s.

[@arastoomii4305]

Ragd0ll greek kithara is from older canaanite origin, it’s the instrument of the Kothar god, which is the canaanite version of Ea. The instrument however did make its way to india after alexander’s conquest. It was known as citra in india.

[@rijiriju]

idiot

[@bluesoul2620]

I was thinking this same thing.

[@dmarufow]

Would love to hear more of this beautiful music! Thank you!

[@tracksuitjim]

please record/upload some more songs on this thing. that tune at the end was amazing. what a fascinating instrument. sounds like a profound revelation

[@i75gg]

I read about this instrument in my ancient Greek class, a long time ago, so it's very cool to see it in action! My textbook had an article dedicated to this instrument, but I don't remember very well. I go to Greece often, so it was really cool to learn something about the ancient Greeks!

[@MrJerryleyva]

Brilliant and fascinating.

[@chiefsoulc8405]

Awesome instrument. It's like an electric guitar of Ancient times...

[@martisnikosnmm]

Ευχαριστώ Πολύ! Η παρουσίαση είναι πολύ εντυπωσιακή! Thank you for your video! It is so amazing!

[@LeLoS95]

ti grafeis ellinika re, nomizeis tha se katalavei o xenos?

[@sabhotep5153]

Ουάι αρ ιού τάιπινγ ιν Λέτιν κέρεκτερς;;

[@epicstimulus282]

@@sabhotep5153 χαχαχχαχαχα

[@arabesque1]

these kinds of videos of where you show off these ancient instruments make me really happy. i love it man :)

[@janette2422]

+Peter Pringle I've just gotten into your videos and I have to say that I am not only hooked for life but so impressed!!! Your singing voice is absolutely wonderful as well and it's good to see an artist bring these beauties to life in an age that is so hard-pressed by the noises of today. Not saying modern rock is all bad but there truly is such a great amount of crassness involved that simply wasn't the case with the slender, unique lovelies that you've given us. Thank you so much, Mr. Pringle!!

[@johnsimms3957]

Sounds beautiful. No wonder these instruments were so popular.

[@TripleHandcuff]

Yes! So glad you are back. Love all the information as well as the playing. Fantasies is my favorite album ever! Keep it coming my good man. Everywhere I go I spread the word about Pringle. Amazing voice, amazing talent, amazing. Pringle is the real deal.

[@discount8508]

colour to my ears

[@jeronimofernandez7643]

Peter, you are a great inspiration to many, you have perrsonally inspired me a lot, thank you.

[@EmmaEgypt]

Fantastic! Thanx for making this clip.

[@alikimarkan]

Really love it!!!Beautiful piece Peter!

[@nelsonleeroy]

Fantastic! thank you for all those discoveries

[@andreas1988gr]

Congratulations! Amazing instrument!!

[@makita3680]

The chord playing is really impressive! I did not expect that!

[@vlad-andreidavid]

Thank you for those enlightening lessons of musical history...you really made my day my good man :) !!!

[@lzrbld]

This was fascinating. Thank you for helping to keep the knowledge and interest in these instruments alive.

[@jamestodd9115]

Thank you. That is beautiful and informative. So interesting!

[@ChoochMcGuffin]

Fantastic! Just by listening to you speak I can tell you love these instruments and have an abundance of knowledge about them. Keep up the great work!

[@Alberad08]

Impressive & interesting presentation of a beautiful instrument!

[@atrejudefenice]

Fantastic! Amazing this sound.

[@valarmorghulis9871]

much respect for all the amazing things you do

[@Pays2Win]

Hauntingly beautiful

[@INDYOSKARS]

That wuz luvly Peter !

[@coitusinfernalis]

Fantastic organ and a very beautiful song

[@florenciagarcia5839]

Wonderful tutorial Peter. Thank you

[@Allan-et5ig]

Peter Pringle. The round discs impart vibrato but don't change pitch? Whereas the rectangular posts change pitch AND, if desired, vibrato? Fantastic video. One of the best of all I've ever seen across all subjects on You Tube.

[@SEIKILO]

It works for both! You can manipulate different features of the sound of the Kithara with different techniques.

[@AndreaBaggioSoundVideo360]

Great demo, wonderful instrument and perfect Teacher! Thank you

[@ricardollorente]

Fascinating!!!

[@puma7171]

Thank you showing how extraordinary this instrument was and still is!

[@soppdogg1267]

This was eye opening. It (for lack of a better word that I know of) itches the brain in a way that I didn't know possible. Thank you. P.s., I would love more!

[@KiraPlaysGuitar]

Beautiful. You should add "pre-bent" notes too. Rather than "bending" up from one note to another and then back down, try already applying tension then playing and releasing down to a note. Cool, emotional effect. Makes me want to get one. Wanted to find out the history of the names of the modes. Then heard that Plato mentioned the use of different modes, and recommended everyone to play a Kithara. This is a great rabbit hole.

[@maryfrance9783]

Thank you for an informative presentation of this amazing instrument along with your beautiful voice at the end. The ancient civilizations were not primitive but advanced - more advanced than given credit for too long. Your expertise and talent are important to education and to a world that is losing sight of the past and its significance. Keep on doing what you are.

[@Vaninasanta]

Thank you SO MUCH for uploading this!! Beautiful, indeed. I love this channel! Greetings from Argentina.

[@Rivenshield]

Mind. Blown.

[@IasminaYelMar]

I need to meet you, you are a big inspiration, all your passion for ancient music is incredible and makes me hope in a better future! Thanks for all That!

[@davidjones5925]

I just got the shivers listening to you play, just wonderful

[@helios7646]

dude i need a longer version of the song at the end its too good

[@AlmudenaSkelter]

Wonderful performance ❤️

[@MisterDavidBell]

Absolutely magical

[@lady-LumenChristi]

super cool info very interesting... ty 🌹

[@spaceartist1272]

amazing!!! thank you for the video amazing! i love it

[@drunkardsdream]

Your voice is sublime.

[@VETERANSHERMANANDMAXINHAWAII]

VERY NICE VIDEO, THANK YOU. VERY INFORMATIVE AND VERY INTERESTING.

[@fiandrhi]

That was beautiful. Thank you.

[@marinesargsyan4959]

Peter, thanks a lot for educating mankind all over the world!

[@Lady_Lilium]

Thank you mister Pringle. This is amazing. Blessings

[@39Thorns]

That was awesome, thank you! New subscriber, I'm going to recommend this channel to everyone I know. YOU NEED TO RECORD A PERFORMANCE OF THE ILIAD!!!!!!! And some PSALMS!!!!! It's important.

[@EmmanuelBelart]

that's a very good idea ...

[@salamsaid7443]

39Thorns rtitititekd tj8rjrurt3 r33gy1j vr2g5thtty3rrgcy6totueu1urufi

[@Xezlec]

The Iliad is long as fuck. Also the music is unknown.

[@katekatey279]

Right!!!

[@alvanpilot]

I agree 100% It actually would be good for the WORLD to once again RETURN to this era of ancient music. I am quite certain that to the ancients, their music was most definitely more that JUST words. I think there was so much more to the reasons for their music than we could ever HOPE to understand today.

[@vintagebrew1057]

Ancient music is so sensual...