anglo saxon lyre

[dylanholderman]

What strings did you use, as in notes?  Might have to try one of those, as well!
Hawkdancer

I tuned it G3 A3 B3 C4 D4 E4
That is just one potential tuning for it really from what I understand any records about how instruments would have been tuned are from a couple hundred years after these started to go out of fashion

[Hawkdancer]

Some data was never written down, I suppose.  If it sounded good, they used it.  Reading some of the info, it seems like lyres and hardship were sort of lumped together and the terms were interchangeable for a period of time. The minstrels all were fair and they were a bit concerned about their next meal and bed.  Guess we get to do more research!  Time to sharpen the chisels and carving tools!  Also, from the "Ballad of the White Horse" by C.K. Chesterton(?):

His harp was carved and cunning, as the Celtic craftsman makes,
Graven all over with twisting shapes, like many headless snakes.

His harp was carved and cunning, his sword was prompt and sharp!
He's was gay when he held the sword, and sad when he held the harp!

For the great Geals of Ireland are the men that God made mad,
For all their wars are merry and all their wars are sad!

I modernize the language a bit when I use this in our preformances.
Hawkdancer

[dylanholderman]

When was that written? And what do you perform it on?
It sounds like it was a poem first? 

[Yooper Bowyer]

Chesterton published The Ballad of The White Horse in 1911.  IMO he is one of the best English poets of the 20th century.

It's an epic poem about Alfred the Great fighting to protect England against invading Danes.  It is a very Christian work, but one doesn't need to be a Christian to appreciate it; just like anyone can appreciate the Odyssey. 

Chesterton also wrote a similar poem about the battle of Lepanto in the 16th century.  PA should have an article about that battle.  It is a very rich part of military history with plenty of horn bows, black powder, over 600 warships, and hundreds of thousands of men.

[Hawkdancer]

I do it as "spoken word" usually filling in a gap between either traditional or original Celtic tunes my wife, Jacie plays!  I sort of play the Celtic harp, but only have a floor model right now.  I hope to be able to play at our open mic the first Friday in February.  My singing is like an old melody - out of tune and out of time!  Got to find a suitable piece of maple or oak!
Hawkdancer

[Hawkdancer]

Trad,
Thanks for that info, I forgot the publication date.  I also like Rudyard Kipling's "Smuggler's Song".  There is a very nice recording by a Colorado group called "Pandora Celtica"
Hawkdancer

[dylanholderman]

That’s really cool, I don’t know as much as I feel that I should about poems especially ballad style music.

And if that is your style of music this is probably a good instrument to play around with because that’s probably the style of music/storytelling that it was made to accompany.

[WhistlingBadger]

Chesterton also wrote a similar poem about the battle of Lepanto in the 16th century.  PA should have an article about that battle.  It is a very rich part of military history with plenty of horn bows, black powder, over 600 warships, and hundreds of thousands of men.

Write it up and send it in!

Here's one of my favorite music poems:  The Fiddler of Dooney by W.B. Yeats

WHEN I play on my fiddle in Dooney,   
Folk dance like a wave of the sea;   
My cousin is priest in Kilvarnet,   
My brother in Moharabuiee.   
 
I passed my brother and cousin:        
They read in their books of prayer;   
I read in my book of songs   
I bought at the Sligo fair.   
 
When we come at the end of time,   
To Peter sitting in state,   
He will smile on the three old spirits,   
But call me first through the gate;   
 
For the good are always the merry,   
Save by an evil chance,   
And the merry love the fiddle    
And the merry love to dance:   
 
And when the folk there spy me,   
They will all come up to me,   
With ‘Here is the fiddler of Dooney!’   
And dance like a wave of the sea.