LYRE HARP 8-STRING ROSEWOOD

The elegant body of the Lyre Harp is crafted from solid Rosewood, featuring gentle curves and accommodating eight metal strings. These strings produce a classical sound that is further enhanced by the lacewood soundboard. When not in use, the harp can be displayed as a stunning piece of art due to its aesthetic appeal. A tuning tool is included for your convenience. The harp can be held upright on your lap or while walking, allowing you to pluck both sides of the strings. Alternatively, it can be laid flat for plucking. It measures 10 inches wide, 17 inches long, and 2.75 inches deep. Various tuning options are suggested for your consideration.

One authentic tuning style is derived from Judaic worship music, where the lyre harp was used to accompany the singing of the Chazzan or Cantor. This tuning follows the Chazzanut mode and starts with the bass strings tuned as follows: E F G# A B C D E (Ahava Raba mode).

During the early Middle Ages in Eastern Europe, Jewish worship music became secularized, giving rise to Klezmer music. Klezmer music found its place in weddings and other joyous events, blending with Slavonic, Greek, Turkish, Gypsy, and even American jazz tempos and rhythms. For Klezmer music, the suggested tuning is the Misheberakh mode: E F# G A# B C# D E.

Two alternative tunings that work well for singers comfortable in the Key of G are as follows (bass to treble): E F# G A B C D E (Natural minor) and D E F# G A B C D (with E as the tonic). In the second tuning, all the notes remain the same, but the starting note is shifted to D instead of E. A tuning tool is included for these tunings as well.