Lira da braccio facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Lira da braccio

"Italianische lyra de bracio" as illustrated by Michael Praetorius
Classification	String instrument

The lira da braccio was a special string instrument from Europe. People played it with a bow, much like a modern violin. It was very popular during the Renaissance, a time of great art and new ideas.

In Italy, poets and musicians often used this instrument. They played it in courts while reading their poems. The lira da braccio was quite similar to the medieval fiddle. People kept making changes to how it was built until the end of the 16th century. You can often see it in old paintings, being played by gods like Orpheus and Apollo. Sometimes, it was even played in groups with other instruments.

What it Looked Like

The lira da braccio looked a lot like a violin. However, it had a wider fingerboard where you press the strings. It also had a flatter bridge, which is the part that holds the strings up.

It usually had seven strings. Five of these strings were tuned like a violin, but with an extra low D string at the bottom. The other two strings were called drones. These drone strings played a continuous, unchanging note.

How it Was Played

Players likely played the main tune on the top strings. They would then play chords on the lower strings. This allowed them to create a rich sound with both melody and harmony.

Its History and Decline

The lira da braccio was very popular in royal courts. But later in the 16th century, new types of music became popular. The madrigal, a type of vocal song, grew very famous. Also, the violin started to become more common.

Because of this, the lira da braccio was used less and less. It continued to appear in plays, especially when the story involved the god Apollo. By the middle of the 17th century, people had stopped playing the lira da braccio almost entirely.

Images for kids

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  Lira da braccio player by Bartolomeo Montagna, around 1500.

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  Lira da braccio by Giovanni d'Andrea, from 1511. You can see this at the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna.