Michael Levy: Blogs

MAKERS OF BIBLICAL LYRES
Below are some links to the sites of specialist musical instrument makers who manufacture quality replicas of the Biblical Kinnor and Nevel.
For the beginner, I personally reccomend the incredibly affordable models by Mid East Ethnic Instruments. For the more accomplished player, nothing beats the outstanding quality of the hand-made Marini Made Davidic Harp

MID EAST ETHNIC INSTRUMENTS
Both the best value & the most affordable manufacturer, from which I purchased my own replica Kinnor. The retail price of their replica Biblical Kinnor, direct from the manufacturer is presently just $269!
These lyres are ideal for beginners, thanks to sheer affordability... 
For the absolute beginner, they make a mini version of their full size Kinnor, for a mere $72.90!!!
Buy This Kinnor From Mid East Ethnic Instruments!

Mid East Ethnic Instruments manufacture a replica Biblical Kinnor based on the illustrations of the Kinnor based upon contemporary illustrations [...]

 
INTRODUCTION
In attempting to demonstrate a variety of ancient tunings for my 10 string lyre to the layman with an interest in ancient music, I have decided to compromise and use modern equal temperament terminology ie. a 12 note chromatic scale, with alphabetic representation of specific pitch(eg. A,B,C,D,G,F,G) & modern musical terms such as sharps & flats to indicate the respective placement of whole-tone & half-tone steps) 
However, in antiquity, lyres were tuned either cyclically, in perfect 5ths, the 3rds & 6ths then being fine-tuned by ear(Pythagorean tuning) or divisively (using exact mathematical ratios to precisely divide a musical string into specific pitch ratios) to achieve what is called "Just Intonation".  
 The modern tuning system of equal temperament was devised to enable music to be performed in any of the 12 keys of the chromatic scale whilst keeping exactly the same equal ratio of pitch between each of the 12 notes of the chromatic [...]

INTRODUCTION
What follows is a list of tunings which I have researched & used in all my albums of ancient lyre music. These tunings include ancient Middle Eastern scales derived from my experience as a Klezmer musician, and which according to the work of the late Suzanne Haik Vantoura, also appear in the original 3000 year old music of the Bible! The tunings also include the original ancient Greek modes, as described in the writings of Plato & Aristotle, some 2400 years ago...I have used modes starting on E - this is the key which the Mid East Kinnor I used for most of my albums is naturally tuned to and also, which is the most logical key to use to describe the ancient modes, as there are only sharps entailed in raising the necessary pitches for each mode, instead of a confusing mixture of sharps & flats. Suzanne Haik Vantoura also used E as the tonic for the ancient Biblical modes she discovered, for the same reasons described.For the Marini Made Davidic Harp, to avoid snapping [...]

THE INCREDIBLE SURVIVAL OF THE HARPS AND LYRES OF ANTIQUITY IN AFRICA TODAY! 

Of all the continents in the world, Africa is unique, as in many parts of this incredible continent, the actual lyres, harps & lutes of the ancient world are still being made & played...



THE MESOLITHIC MUSICAL BOW

The Mesolithic ancestor of both the harp & lyre, was the basic musical bow. This is basically the archaic archery bow, on which musical tones can be produced, either by plucking or striking the string of the bow, using either the ground or a gourd held against the chest as a resonator. From the first pictorical evidence so far discovered, the musical bow has been played since at least 15,000 BCE, but could date back to the Mesolithic Era, around 60,000 BCE, when the archery bow was probably first invented! Below is a delightful video I recently found, which demonstrates how the the musical bow was played:







The very earliest cave etching of a musican dates back to about [...]

THE ANCIENT LYRE-PLAYING TECHNIQUES USED IN MY ALBUMS 

The diverse range of lyre-playing techniques I have used in the creation of my albums, are all authentically based upon ancient lyre playing techniques which have amazingly survived to the present day, and which can still be heard in parts Egypt and East Africa. These techniques includes alternating between guitar-like, plectrum-plucked tones in the right hand and harp-like, finger-plucked tones in the left hand; which also sometimes includes providing basic harmony below the melodic line.
 I have also experimented with the ancient lyre-playing technique of “finger blocking” in “Odessa Bulgar” and also in the final section of “The Music of Moses”; this is where rhythm can be strummed on the lyre with a plectrum in the right hand, just as on a guitar - notes not required in the chords are blocked by fingers of the left hand.
This particular ancient lyre-playing technique can actually [...]