A lyre is a very simple device, but it's very simplicity means it can take a variety of forms.
This one I made from the fork of a Norther Ti Tree, known locally as a weeping ti tree.
I call it David's Lyre.
You remember the David from the Old Testament. The first mention of him is when King Saul, who was having a few professional problems at the time, commanded his helpers to find someone who could play the lyre and thus cheer him up. David, a shepherd boy, was brought before him, and his playing cheered up the grumpy king. In fact Saul sent a message to David's father saying he had decided to keep him. Then, when Saul's kindom was invaded, David took on Goliath, and killed him with a stone from his sling. Ultimately of course, David became King in place of Saul. But he started as a shepherd boy, who played, and I have no doubt made, his lyre. And if he, a poor shepherd boy, made a lyre, what did he make it from?
He didn't have a luthier's shop available, probably not even a corner music store. So what more natural, given the shape of the lyre, than that he found a suitable tree fork, and worked from there.
I guess he didn't have bronze music strings available, as I have used, but then I couldn't get my hands on sheep or goat gut, nor the sinews of the lion or bear, as I'm sure David did.
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