Lira

Hurdy-Gurdy bu Olexander Kit
Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.

Lira (hurdy-gurdy) is an ancient string-plucked music instrument with a wooden body common in Ukraine. It has an unusual design, accounts for three 3-6 strings, and up to 24 keys on its body. Lira has a rich history; it dates back to the times of medieval Europe and has been used by Ukrainian musicians, enriching Ukrainian musical heritage.

The sound of the instrument largely depended on the quality of the wheel, the accuracy of its centering, and the smoothness of the surface. To make the melody sound and be clear, the surface of the wheel was smeared with rosin before playing, and the strings were wrapped with wool at the point of contact with the wheel. The standard sound of the wheel lyre is sad, a bit raspy, monotonous, but powerful.

The performer places the structure on his knees. Some instruments are equipped with straps for greater convenience - they are thrown over the shoulders. An important point is the position of the body: the ring box is located on the musician's left hand, slightly tilted to the side so that the keys do not press against the string. The performer slowly turns the handle with his right hand, setting the wheel in motion. The left hand works the keys.

Hurdy-gurdy. National Museum of the History of Ukraine.

Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.

Lira

Licensed under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication.

Hurdy-gurdy made by Stanisław Wyżykowski, exhibition at the Museum of Folk Architecture in Sanok Poland

Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license.

Oi u luzi chervona kalyna performed on lira

"Oi u luzi chervona kalyna" ("Oh, in the meadow a red guelder rose") is a Ukrainian folk song, the anthem of the Legion of Ukrainian Sich Riflemen. The song took on a different meaning after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, as it now symbolizes the unity and resilience of the Ukrainian people during challenging wartime.

New lira-playing · Ukraїner

Lira-playing appeared in Ukraine in the sixteenth century and gradually developed into a powerful artistic movement that existed until the early twentieth century. Then the Soviet government began mass repressions and arrests of lira players and the destruction of lira schools. Today, there are ethnomusicians who craft their own liras according to ancient drawings and perform old songs, often in modern arrangements. One of these performers and reconstructors is a musician, Andrii Liashuk, who studies the history of lira-crafting in his native Volyn, crafts liras and participates in lira festivals in Ukraine and abroad, popularizing the tradition.

Craftsman from Lviv Makes Rare Ancient Musical Instrument: Hurdy-Gurdy

A sculptor from Lviv used his skills to craft himself an otherwise unattainable musical instrument. It is called the hurdy-gurdy and it was a popular instrument in Ukraine in the 16th through 18th century.