Today's lyre
The
lyre is a "string instrument" very similar to the harp.
It is placed on the lap and played both-handed.
However, its strings are not plucked at or struck but
glide over gently with the fingers.
Historical lyres used to have only four strings and
were made symmetrically.
Nowadays, the lyre looks asymmetrical, has up to
40 strings, and is tuned chromatically.
The creation of the modern lyre, as you
can see it in
the picture above, has been a joint work of E. Pracht,
a musician, and W.L. Gaertner, a sculptor.
In 1926 Pracht realised that a modernisation had
become necessary and he therefore asked his friend
to reshape the instrument.
This act of creation can be seen as the establishment
of a cultural contrast to the continuous electrification
of music in the 20th century.
The beauty of the lyre's tune has proven
to be
favourable to relaxation and to pedagogic and
therapeutic use.