IMPROVING on the Kithara of Apollo?
30Can the recreated kithara of classical antiquity be IMPROVED upon? As this video attempts to demonstrate, YES IT CAN!
The kithara was the large wooden lyre played only by the elite, professional musicians of ancient Greece - the beautiful replica kithara I briefly demonstrate in the first half of this presention, was hand-made in modern Greece by Luthieros:
http://www.luthieros.com
As near as possible to the timbre of the original ancient Greek kithara may once have sounded, this beautiful replica features authentic gut strings and a carved tortoise shell plectrum. The tone is rich and deep - but the main problems with authentic gut strings, is the low tension; resulting in lack of power & lack of tuning stability. Gut is also notoriously sensitivity to changes in humidity.
By way of a contrast, the second half of this presentation features a demonstration of my Marini-Made 'Davidic Harp' - a beautifully hand-made lyre; which of all the lyres I have ever played, manages to capture the purity and power of a concert harp, but with the complete palette of ancient lyre playing techniques made possible by the limitless combination of plectrum plucked & strummed tones, alternating with harp-like finger plucked tones:
https://www.marinimadeharps.com/davidic.htm
The main improvements on this wonderful modern evocation of an ancient lyre, compared to more authentically recreated ancient lyres, are:
1. The use of a firm, solid base on this lyre; which prevents the instrument slipping and sliding on the lap whilst being played. Replica tortoise shell lyres are top-heavy, round-bottomed and tend to slide everywhere - this would not have been a problem in antiquity, since the round shell of the resonator would have snuggly nestled into the folds of the tunic or toga which the ancient musician was no doubt wearing 'back in the day'!
2. The much more ergonomic size of the arms compared to replica ancient Greek kithara or tortoise shell form lyres; enabing ease of access to the crossbar, which can be used as a pivot to rest the left hand fingers on, whilst using the knuckle of the thumb to act as a temporary fret on the strings to creating microtones!
3. The power, stability of tuning and wonderfully pure harp-like timbre; thanks to the use of high tension nylon harp strings - a real improvement to the low tension, low volume, unstable tuning of gut. These strings are also incredibly durable; my strings have lasted almost a decade, since I acquired this lovely lyre, way back in December 2011!
4. The high tension strings enable experimental playing techniques, such as hitting the strings like hammered dulcimer or producing portameno effects by using the edge plectrum as a slide.
5. The more resonant high tension strings enable vivid use of harmonics.
In my main musical mission to create a 'New Ancestral Music' for the 21st century, for me, new inspirational creations like the Marini 10-string lyre enable me to continue where the ancient musicians 'left off'; continuing the development of the lyre into modern times, with all the benefits which modern string technology bestows on the creative possibilites of the instrument!