Can we hear the haunting melodies of ancient Mesopotamia?
Following the 2003 looting of the Baghdad Museum, harpist Andy Lowings embarked on a mission to reconstruct a functional version of the famous Gold Lyre of Ur, bringing ancient sounds back to life.
The project, led by Andy Lowings and Jennifer Sturdy, serves as both a musical and archaeological endeavor. By collaborating with a diverse group of musicians, artisans, students, and academics, the team worked to build an instrument that is not merely a model, but a playable reconstruction of the original Mesopotamian lyre.
This reconstruction process has moved beyond the workshop and into the public sphere, resulting in a collection of radio broadcasts, concerts, and studio recordings that allow modern audiences to experience the evocative tones of this ancient instrument.
Source: The Lyre Ensemble, OI Video Podcast, Part 1 | Recreating the Gold Lyre of Ur
