How ancient musicians crafted chords on the lyre and the professional kithara
In short: Composer Michael Levy explores the mechanics and social history of ancient stringed instruments. By analyzing historical artwork, he reconstructs the techniques used to play the lyre and kithara, revealing how these instruments shaped the soundscape of the ancient world.
The lyre and kithara were central to ancient musical life, yet their physical survival is rare. While tortoiseshell chelys lyres and some Egyptian examples have endured, the wooden kithara has vanished entirely due to its fragile composition. Michael Levy bridges this gap by playing modern replicas, such as one modeled after the Leiden Lyre, which dates to approximately 1500 BCE.
Levy’s performance style is informed by depictions on Greek pottery, which show musicians using a plectrum to strike strings while simultaneously using the left hand to block unwanted notes. This technique allowed for chordal playing, distinct from the harp. Socially, the instruments served different roles: the kithara was a professional instrument with a deeper tone, while the lyre was a domestic staple for gatherings like symposia. Plato famously advocated for the lyre in the Republic, valuing its clarity for teaching musical theory to the youth.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: The Ancient Lyre and Kithara | Michael Levy | Podcast
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