Greek Essentials Bows

The Essentials series by Gio Israel is designed to elevate traditional music of the ancient world via state of the art recording process, featuring some of the world’s foremost musicians.

The roots of Greek music can be dated back to the Byzantine period, where each region of Greece (main land, islands, mountains etc… ) has its own unique style of playing, distinguished songs, and even specific musical instruments.

The Lyra is the special bow instrument of the Island of Crete. Similar in quality to its neighboring Persian instrument, the Kamanche (the Balkans, Iran, Turkey), the Lyra is played vertically on the musician’s knee.

The soft, yet powerful sound of the Lyra, holds the essence of Cretan Music.

Played here by Yaron Cherniak.