Lyre

Background

The Nomads who live in The Forests of The Wilds are known to have a love of music and use it in many of their festivals (such as Hustankåmmar) and traditions (such as Nomad Marriage).
There are many different types of instruments which are used by the Nomads, from the Drum to horns and flutes, to a range of vocal techniques, and even stringed instruments such as the lute, or in this instance the lyre.

Construction

The lyre (in Old Tongue as liræ) is a popular stringed instrument which can be found in many clans throughout The Wilds. It is usually carved from wood, firstly shaping a large piece to create a smooth and symmetrical 'U' which will be the body, and secondly attaching across the top an arm for holding the strings, either a smooth, straight one or one with similar arching shape to the body. Pegs are used in the body to attach the strings to and to allow them to be tightened and adjusted as necessary. The strings are made from dried animal sinew.

Customisation

Every lyre is different and is created based on the wants, desires and whims of the person making it. This makes them very personal items and some are passed down through the generations.
The design of the body and the carvings on the lyre may change from instrument to instrument, but so too do the fundamentals.

For example, they vary greatly in size, from 41cm (16 inches) to 90cm (35 inches) in length. There is also no set number of strings a lyre must have. Some have as few as five strings, while others have as many as twenty.
This makes not only the design but the sound of each lyre as unique as the person who plays it.

Social Impact

Due to the many differences between lyres, those who play them learn songs by ear or create their own, with a lot of the music passing down from one generation to the next in an oral rather than written tradition. Each player must figure out how to make the song work on their particular instrument. This means that songs spread by word of mouth and there may be great variation in the performances.
Lyres are often heard at Nomad traditions such as Nomad Funerals and Nomad Marriages where their songs are part of the tradition.

They may also be found Around the Campfire accompanying stories and poems which are being shared.

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