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History of the lyre

in a new spirit of the times.

The lyre – or "lyra", as it was formerly called – is one of the most ancient stringed musical instruments known. Its roots go back over 5000 years to the Babylonian period.

The "modern lyre", however, is a very young instrument created only 92 years ago.

In 1926, thanks to their joint effort, the musician Edmund Pracht and the artist W. Lothar Gärtner redesigned the classical lyre, creating the "modern lyre", which fit well into the new, open-minded, spiritual dimension.

Our workshop was established in 1980 and I daresay that the development of the "modern lyre" is now coming into full bloom.

Horst Leopold Nieder
(lyre builder)