Written by Alexandros Avramidis
Evropos, Greece – In the northern Greek village of Evropos, Danis Koumartzis carves the wooden sound box of a traditional lyre, then covers it with animal skin and produces nine strings that, when plucked, resemble the sound of a modern guitar. Installed it.
Koumartzis, 41, continues a family tradition focused on creating replicas of ancient Greek musical instruments based on old paintings on frescoes and vases from centuries ago.
“It all started with our father. He started it as a hobby at first. He was making other types of instruments, mainly Greek traditional instruments,” Koumartzis said. He spoke in his workshop, which is covered with photographs of modern and contemporary musical instruments. A replica of the day.
“At some point about 12 years ago, we took the plunge and created our first replica musical instrument, an ancient Greek instrument, the Harp of Hermes,” he said, adding that legend has it that the instrument was invented by the Greek god who invented it. Mentioned. .
These instruments are purchased by professional musicians, composers, academics, and collectors, and have even been used in movies, including the recent remake of the classic Hollywood film Ben-Hur.
Those who play instruments today see them as windows to the past.
Giorgos Tsmeidis, 22, who studies the ancient Greek lyre in Thessaloniki, says, “The lyre as an emotion creates a feeling that is out of this world, in a sense.”
“For me, ancient Greek music is a means of encounter, an initiation, with the past, and through it we can open the door to the future.”
This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to the text.
