The Lyre of Classical Greece!

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What is the Lyre of Classical Greece, and how it played a key role in shaping the Ideal Past of humanity and ideas such as philosophy, culture, scientific thought, and democracy? What does it have to do with Homer, Plato, Aristotle, Pericles, and Classical Greece in general?
Let's find out the basics in a short video (only 4 minutes), a great introduction to our "10 Ways to Play with your Lyre" video that will premiere soon!
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📽️ Directed by Nikolaos Koumartzis
🎙️ Presented by Lina Palera
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🗒️ 🇬🇧 Transcript
This is the ancient lyra, a musical instrument that dates back thousands of years, all the way to Classical Greece and even beyond. It was present when the greatest philosophers came to be, when ideas were formed that still make us think the way we think today; it was also present when democracy was born.
It was there when Pythagoras talked about the Music of the Spheres, when Pericles gave the order for the Parthenon to be built, and when Plato wrote The Republic, where he presented the ideal society and his ideal philosopher-ruler.
We are sure that the ancient Greek lyra, or lyre as we call it today, was present thanks to hundreds of ancient depictions on pottery, both in black-figured and red-figured amphorae and dozens of ancient Greek statues. We know further details that cannot be depicted visually but can be described verbally, thanks to surviving text sources authored by Homer, Pythagoras, Plato, Aristoxenus, and more.
These sources, though, reveal to us something even bigger and mind-blowing. There are surprising passages from various respected authors,
with credibility beyond all doubts, that the ancient lyre was not just present in all these amazing turning points of the human species. The ancient lyre and the deep integration of music into Greek society were one of the main reasons all these amazing things, philosophy - ideas - and democracy came to be in the first place.
Protagoras, for example, prescribes for the children to hear "harmonies and rhythms quite familiar to the children's souls, so that they become more gentle."
In a famous passage from the Republic, Plato says that the proper education of his ideal city's guardians should be physical and musical.
In his famous Timaeus, Plato mathematically relates music with the constitution of the world's soul. He goes even further and says that this harmonic order of the universe can be instilled in the human soul through the psychagogic power of music.
And to quote him, in his Republic, Book 3, he states that «rhythm and harmony penetrate most deeply into the secret places of the soul and take a powerful hold on it, bringing gracefulness if a man is correctly trained."
So, we know what the ancient lyre looked like, what was the music theory behind its teaching, and how it was able to positively form the soul of an individual human and, therefore, gracefully form the collective soul of an entire society.
If we want, then, to introduce the lyre to our lives and gradually to our society, we have to find out how it was played too. Thanks to many ancient sources and modern interpretations from various virtuoso musicians around the world, here are 10 ways to play with your lyre.

[@iberius9937]

Resurrecting an ancient art form that was forgotten for the longest time until the last century!! And being breathed new life into in this day and age, more and more!

[@SEIKILO]

What a great comment! Thank you so much! Stay tuned, as the second part of this video will premiere on November 25: kzbin.info/www/bejne/r3PFpGyZpN2crKM

[@LuisTorres-bp5kt]

That opening blew my mind and gave me new ideas for what i could do with my lyre and a good pick. Like wow. Whilst I may have only a 16 string Nylon lyre there's so much I could think of now!

[@SEIKILO]

Thanks for watching and for your comment, Luis! This video is the introduction to another one, covering 10 ways to play with your lyre, from beginner to virtuoso lyre players. Take a look at kzbin.info/www/bejne/r3PFpGyZpN2crKM, and you will certainly find a lot of inspiration. What's more, don't forget to subscribe to stay tuned, as more videos like this premiere on our channel every week: kzbin.info

[@mariatiraski2]

Dear Lena good evening Thank you so much for another precious lesson, with so much particular information on the lyre. I so much look forward to everything you post, as well as of all SEIKILO wonderful Artists. Please continue your beautiful work, we are tuned in, we are listening. 🌷 🙏

[@SEIKILO]

Thanks for watching, Maria, and for your support. Stay tuned, as more videos like this are on their way!

[@politicallyincorrectgrandp1351]

The Beautiful nature of the Lyre allows us to explore History and Rediscover its importance. Love the References. Sound waves generate a calming effect when coming from the Lyre. This is class is a Historical Treasure. GP, Out!

[@SEIKILO]

What a beautiful and inspiring comment! Stay tuned, as the second part of this video will premiere on November 25: kzbin.info/www/bejne/r3PFpGyZpN2crKM

[@iberius9937]

Οι μυστικοί τόποι της ψυχής......μου αρέσει πολύ. Η μουσική έχει κοσμική δύναμη από τον θεό!

[@SEIKILO]

Thanks for watching, and for your great comment! Stay tuned, as the second part of this video will premiere on November 25: kzbin.info/www/bejne/r3PFpGyZpN2crKM

[@randalbuhler9042]

Purely Beautiful!

[@SEIKILO]

Thanks for watching! In case you haven't already, subscribe here to stay tuned, as more videos like this premiere on our channel every week: kzbin.info

[@epambos]

Such a beautiful and informative video... 👏

[@SEIKILO]

Thanks, Pampos! Stay tuned, as the second part of this video will premiere on November 25: kzbin.info/www/bejne/r3PFpGyZpN2crKM

[@kmarginean]

What an inspiring overview! I love the idea that music can connect us with and enrich our individual and collective souls. I look forward to the day that society returns to such a humane and beautiful acknowledgement of music and the human soul and its role in daily and political life. Thank you Seikilo and Lina for bringing us one step closer to that amazing vision.

[@SEIKILO]

Thanks for watching and for your great comment! :) More videos like this premiere on our channel every week, so subscribe here to stay tuned: kzbin.info

[@puncprosody]

Very interesting! Thank you for giving us this history lesson!

[@SEIKILO]

Thanks for watching and your comment! Stay tuned, as the second part of this video will premiere on November 25: kzbin.info/www/bejne/r3PFpGyZpN2crKM

[@ge0rgeharris218]

Great commentary on the relations between the cultural and the musical! It's amazing how the Greek cultural and even the mathematical are woven into justabout every cultural aspect of others social cultures throughout the world! Actually this subject could of course become a book and has in fact become books throughout history! I'll be waiting for your next video! I'm very impressed!

[@SEIKILO]

Thank you so much, George! The truth is that we are currently working on two great series on the relation of the lyre with myths, history, art, and culture in general. So, many videos like this will become available soon on our channel! Until then, stay tuned for the second part of this video that will premiere on November 25: kzbin.info/www/bejne/r3PFpGyZpN2crKM

[@petercane6376]

I am new into lyres and the more I research them the more my mind is blown with its ignorance. I believe everything you have said and value every word. I want now so badly to make my own lyre. It will calm my soul and do miracles for me. It must be made my myself and I am researching this fabulous instrument. I have watched videos of yourself and Dr Nikos Xanthoulis and I love everything I hear. Thank you so much for educating me and moreso your music that I never dreamed was possible with 7 strings. I understand Pythagoros believed in Harmony with 5ths combined with the math involved. He apparantly thought that the " octave" was not harmonius and therefore I wonder if that is the reason for only seven strings? Thank you.

[@SEIKILO]

Thank you so much for your comment, Peter! The lyre was indeed known to be used to calm one’s soul throughout both mythology and history, from the likes of Achilles to the great Pythagoras. As for the harmony, the 7-string lyre predates Pythagoras, but it was not the only one, as virtuoso players have been known to add more strings to their instruments, especially the more professional kitharas. According to our best source for ancient Greek music, Aristoxenus, the Greeks considered the octave harmonious but also a composite of a fourth and a fifth. The basis of their system was the perfect 4th, which they called “tetrachordon,” literally “four-chords”. Funnily enough, when a musician called Terpander tried to add more strings to the lyre, the Spartans cut off the extra strings as “excessive”! More videos like this premiere to our channel every week, so subscribe here to stay tuned: kzbin.info

[@MariaJose-tl4pz]

Thank you 🌹❤️

[@SEIKILO]

You are so welcome, Maria! More videos like this premiere on our channel every week, so subscribe here to stay tuned: kzbin.info

[@Tekmirion]

Πολύ ωραία και όμορφα!

[@SEIKILO]

Ευχαριστούμε πολύ για το σχόλιο!

[@suemacias667]

Very nice 🌺🌺

[@SEIKILO]

Thank you so much! Stay tuned, as the second part of this video will premiere on November 25: kzbin.info/www/bejne/r3PFpGyZpN2crKM

[@ChrysaPlati]

❤

[@SEIKILO]

Thanks for watching!

[@user-nt6wj9hq3v]

Love your videos. Do you know where I can find a plectrum just like the one Lina is playing at the beginning of the video? It seems perfect for techniques like hroes. Thanks in advance!

[@SEIKILO]

Thanks for watching and for your comment! You can find all the plectrums we are using in one set, available by the amazing LUTHIEROS team at luthieros.com/product/ancient-lyre-plectrum-two-animal-bone-authentic-ancient-pick-for-stringed-instruments-top-quality-artefact-actual-playing-pickv/ What's more, in case you haven't already, subscribe here to stay tuned, as more videos like this premiere on our channel every week: kzbin.info

[@user-nt6wj9hq3v]

That's great news! I suspected that the plectrum was from Lutherios, but wasn't totally sure because the pictures on Lutherios website look a little different. I will definitely subscribe. Thanks for the quick reply!

[@SEIKILO]

Stay tuned, as more how-to tutorials for lyre players are on their way.

[@pinwheelgrl9304]

So there you have it. Proof of why our music scales were changed, so that we could be changed. So much more reason why we should go back to what is real and natural.

[@SEIKILO]

Thanks for watching and for the great comment! More videos like this premiere on our channel every week, so subscribe here to stay tuned: kzbin.info

[@mariadelvalleherrador9726]

Democracia Nació??__

[@SEIKILO]

Gracias por vernos, María. Sí, la democracia, como sistema de gobierno en el que el poder del Estado recae en el pueblo o en la población general de un Estado, apareció por primera vez en el pensamiento político y filosófico de la antigua Grecia, en la ciudad-estado de Atenas, durante la Antigüedad clásica. En realidad, la palabra democracia viene de dêmos '(pueblo) común' y krátos 'fuerza/poder'. Por tanto, sí. Si hemos entendido bien su pregunta, la democracia nació realmente en la Atenas clásica, a finales del siglo VI y principios del V a.C. Cada semana estrenamos más vídeos como éste en nuestro canal, así que suscríbete aquí para estar al tanto: kzbin.info

[@sitaroutreachministry6289]

Play it, stop talking!

[@christinebonvallet4818]

Eh bien, personnellement, je remercie pour l'immense page de culture qui nous est offerte ici et régulièrement. Belle soirée, réjouissons-nous ! 😊

[@MirA12334]

listen to your own advice ;)

[@SEIKILO]

Thanks for the comment! You need to wait until our next premiere on November 25 for a video full of lyre-playing, showcasing all the available lyre-playing techniques. Here is the link: kzbin.info/www/bejne/r3PFpGyZpN2crKM Until then, our channel is full of lyre music videos, so we are pretty sure you will find a lot to enjoy listening :) Check this playlist for example kzbin.info/www/bejne/rKHZY4mXlJutisU

[@SEIKILO]

Thanks for your constant support of the SEIKILO artists, Mira! We are very excited about our next premiere on November 25! Moreover, we are currently working on 4 more video series for our channel that will begin premiering on January 1st, covering art, culture, history, lyre lessons, and an animated series about myths! So, stay tuned!

[@SEIKILO]

Merci d'avoir regardé et d'avoir fait ce beau commentaire, Christine ! Nous sommes très enthousiastes à l'idée de la première du 25 novembre, alors restez à l'écoute ! :)