The music tradition of Pontus is so unique that even the most ignorant recognize its typology from afar. And because the presence of the Pontian element in Greek society is strong, this tradition is almost familiar to everyone. However, its deeper identity remains essentially unknown, accessible only to the initiated, who persistently and devotedly adhere to it with the religious reverence that keeps them bound to the chariot of a long and painful historical memory. The place of Pontian music is therefore a country to be discovered, and this book was written in that direction.

It is a study on the most emblematic symbol of Pontian music, the lyra, which is explored here in all its aspects, from organology and technique to repertoire and its functional role within a still living tradition. Its writing does not follow the usual paths of detached scientific research, but comes from one of the most active carriers of the Pontian music tradition, lyra player Michalis Kaliontzidis, who presents in this volume his many years of multifaceted experiential knowledge.

Since 1987, he has been dedicated to the collection and composition of the volume published here under the care of the Department of Folk and Traditional Music of the TEI of Epirus. His art, as it was passed down to him and as he himself highlighted it through his work, concerns not only those who study the Pontian lyra, but all those who explore the unique paths of musical traditions in the Greek region.