Tigris Psarantonis

http://stigmes.gr/br/brpages/articles/PSARANTONIS_LYRE.htm

PSARANTONIS: THE LYRE IS THE INSTRUMENT OF GOD 

For many years Psarantonis, one of the greatest Greek traditional music artists, has expressed the desire to give a concert at Herodus Atticus Theatre but some short-sighted bureaucrats wouldn't give him the permission. He finally managed to perform there this summer, and the magic notes of his lyre flooded the ancient theatre. Psarantonis shares with STIGMES readers his thoughts about contemporary Cretan music, the concerts he has given abroad, his childhood in his hometown of Anogia, the lyre, which he characterizes "the instrument of God" and also the current critical situation of our country.

Just when I felt that the interview of Psaradonis was over, he insisted of telling me the story of how the very first lyre was created, stressing out that this is history and not a tale. ”As Zeus was getting down from Psiloritis and the Idaion Cave, a shepherd saw him and invited him to get into his “mitato” (=stone construction used by Cretan shepherds) to get some rest. He gave him fresh water, sheep milk and cheese. Then Zeus says to the shepherd that he will make an instrument for him, in return for his hospitality, a very special instrument with which he would be able to enchant animals, birds and humans alike. Zeus then took out of his “vourgia” (=backpack) a turtle shell, some leather strips, a goat horn, some chords made of sheep intestines and a fiddle made of goat hair and made the first lyre. As the God walked away, the shepherd sounded his new instrument to honor his new friend. From then on he traveled all over Crete, showing to Cretans how to play it. The lyre was created in Crete and not in the East as I have heard some say...”