Cretan Lyra from Sir Arthur John Evans’s Diaries

Idea

Concept & Vision — The Classical Cretan Lyra
The Classical Cretan Lyra is Yiorgos Kaloudis’s creative reimagining of the traditional Cretan lyra, designed to interpret Western classical repertoire. By adding a low-C string and adapting playing techniques, he bridges centuries-old Greek musical heritage with the spirit of Western classical tradition.

The Inspirational Journey
Rooted in both Cretan and Corfu lineage—fourth-generation lyra performer and third-generation cellist—Kaloudis draws from a deep musical heritage. Since 2004, he has pursued an intensive journey of research, experimentation, and innovation, culminating in the 2016 release of J.S. Bach: Cello Suites on the Cretan Lyra, the world’s first performance of this repertoire on the instrument.

 

Ellipse

Bridging an Ancient Instrument with Classical Polyphony

The classic three-string Cretan lyra lacked the range and technique to fully embrace Western European polyphony. Kaloudis addressed two key limitations:

  • Range Expansion — Added the cello’s low-C string, extending the tonal spectrum.

  • Technique Development — Refined bowing and left-hand methods to meet the demands of Western polyphonic textures.

These innovations enabled the lyra to retain its heritage while embracing the complexity of classical music.

BIRTH

The Evolution of the Classical Cretan Lyra

  • Structural Transformations — Added a fourth string (low C), expanded the fingerboard, adjusted bridge and soundpost, and redesigned the body to support deeper frequencies, extending the range to about five octaves.

  • Sympathetic Strings — Incorporated twenty sympathetic, (8 bass strings above the low C included) for richer resonance.

  • Bow Technique — Using a specially crafted Viola d’Amore Baroque bow by Sylvie Masson, Kaloudis blends modern and early-music approaches, enabling détaché, legato, spiccato, martelé, tremolo, col legno, and more.

  • Fingerboard Technique — Building on the lyra’s fingernail-based tradition, he integrates cello-inspired wrist positions and a thumb technique for advanced passages, expanding expressive capacity through trills, vibrato, harmonics, double stops, and slurs. He also codified an eneadic positioning system to ensure precise intonation and a well-tempered sonority.

Through these modifications, the Classical Cretan Lyra has become a versatile voice for a broad spectrum of classical repertoire.

Cultural Impact

Expanding the Horizons of the Classical Cretan Lyra

Expanding the Horizons

  • Repertoire Expansion — Over two decades, Kaloudis has curated, transcribed, and composed works for the Classical Cretan Lyra, spanning Medieval to Contemporary periods.

  • Landmark Album — J.S. Bach: Cello Suites on the Cretan Lyra (2016–17) marked the first interpretation of major classical works on a traditional Greek instrument, receiving international critical acclaim, including in Gramophone magazine.

  • Research & Publications — Author of The Classical Cretan Lyra Method and scholarly editions of Bach and Early Music, providing resources for musicians and educators.

  • Contemporary Reach — Featured at the Athens’s Megaron 2021, musicAeterna’s Dom Radio in Saint Petersbourg, Diaghilev Festival 2023 in Perm, Russia, Oslo Concert Hall 2023, with reinterpretations of Purcell, Marin Marais, Monteverdi, and others, placing the Classical Cretan Lyra within both historical and modern concert settings.