The album's program was conceived for the Festtage Alter Musik in Basel in 2013 and developed in collaboration between the five musicians and musicologist Martin Kirnbauer.
Cultural Impact
The lyra became a symbol of poetic expression, and its legacy continues today in the word 'lyrics' for pop songs.
Instruments
The lira da braccio, a bowed instrument, was analogous to the ancient lyre with seven strings, two of which served as drones, and a flat bridge for playing chords.
Performer Biography
Le Miroir de Musique is an ensemble based in Basel, Switzerland, specializing in music from the late Middle Ages and Renaissance.
Historical Context
The expression 'al modo d'Orfeo' refers to an ancient practice of solo singing with self-accompaniment on a lira, dating back to the 15th century.
Composer's Artistic Vision
The ensemble Le Miroir de Musique aims to paint a vivid picture of medieval and Renaissance music, staying faithful to original sources, drawing inspiration from Jacques de Liège's treatise, Speculum Musicae.
Instruments
The lirone, or lira da gamba, was an important development of the lira da braccio, featuring a wider, fretted neck and played between the legs, allowing for rich harmonies with pure thirds.
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