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Γιαρ γιαρ
An instrumental piece from Pontus, Black Sea, in a 2/4 rhythm. The Pontic lyra or kementzes has a bottle-shaped sound box, carved out of a single piece of wood (plum, ideally), just three strings and front-facing key’s. It is played with a bow. The strings are held down with the flat part of the finger, as on a violin.
Studio recording (2006). Based on Domna Samiou’s 1982 field recording of the tune in Nea Ionia, Attica, performed by the lyra player Yiorgos Kambouriannidis, a refugee from Inepolis, Pontus.
Pontic lyra
Bendir (frame drum)
Spoons
Informant (source of the song)
