Product Code Database
Yoke lutes, commonly called lyres, are a class of string instruments, subfamily of lutes, indicated with the codes and in the Hornbostel–Sachs classification.
The sound box can be either bowl-shaped (321.21) or box-shaped (321.22). In the first case, the resonator is often a turtle shell, while the sound board is made of leather. In the second case, usually both the body and the sound board are made of wood.
Africa has continuous living traditions of yoke lutes, most of which are plucked, among them the begena, endongo, kissar, krar, litungu, nyatiti, obokano, simsimiyya, and tanbūra. Scandinavia Finland/Karelia and England also have a bowed yoke-luke tradition in the Crwth, Jouhikko and Talharpa.
Examples
Examples of yoke lutes are the lyre, the kithara, the barbiton, and the phorminx from Ancient Greece, and the biblical kinnor, all of which were strummed instruments, with the fingers dampening the unwanted notes in the chord.
Contrary examples
However, there are other instruments called "lyra" or "lira" which, from an Organology point of view, do not belong to this family; they are instead handle lutes. For example: The Byzantine lyra, the Calabrian lira, the Cretan lyra, the lira da braccio, and the lyra viol.
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