Magic of the Kithara, by Michael Levy

Magic of the Kithara

by Michael Levy

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1.	Hymn to Nemesis (Mesomedes of Crete) 01:51	info	buy track
2.	The Feast of Poseidon 03:49	info	buy track
3.	The River of Alpheus 04:40	info	buy track
4.	The Eternal Yearning of Himeros 05:05	info	buy track
5.	Hymn to Gaia 02:33	info	buy track
6.	The Gentle Breeze of Zephyrus 02:17	info	buy track
7.	The Inner Peace of Pasithea 03:25	info	buy track
8.	Ode to Aphrodite 02:49	info	buy track
9.	Glory of the Parthenon 03:42	info	buy track
10.	Hymn to Zeus 06:01	info	buy track
11.	Orpheus's Lyre 04:38	info	buy track
12.	The Contemplations of Coeus 03:16	info	buy track
13.	The Golden Age of Pericles 03:49	info	buy track
14.	Apollo's Lyre 04:11	info	buy track
15.	Magic of the Kithara 05:02	info	buy track

about

This album (also due for general digital release across all the usual platforms on 1st January, 2025), was inspired by my collaboration in the soundscape to the exhibitions of the new Jeff Koons sculpture, "Apollo Kithara" on the Greek island of Hydra in 2022 & Frankfurt during 2023. Featuring my arrangement of an actual suriving ancient Greek melody by Mesomedes of Crete, a complementary set of completely new melodies and a selection of some of my personal favourite older original compositions for lyre, the album hopefully demonstrates how the kithara was the only magnificent lyre worthy of Apollo himself!

The kithara was the highly advanced, large wooden lyre of the professional musicians of Classical Greece, which reached its pinnacle of perfection during the “Golden Age” of Classical Antiquity, circa 5th century BCE. In this album, I attempt to demonstrate through new compositions conjured forth in a selection of some of the original ancient Greek musical modes, how the magic of the kithara once cast some of its captivating spells.

The instrument featured in this recording was recreated in modern Greece, by Luthieros, whom I have had the pleasure of collaborating with since 2014:

www.luthieros.com

credits

releases January 1, 2025

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about

Michael Levy UK

Michael Levy is a composer for the recreated lyres of antiquity,

Michael has collaborated with the Rufus Wainwright - Rufus Orchestrated Michael's "Hymn to Zeus" in 2 scenes of his second opera, "Hadrian".

In 2022 - 2023, Michael collaborated with the iconic American artist, Jeff Koons – his music for ancient Greek kithara was the soundscape of Koon’s sculpture, “Apollo Kithara”. ... more

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