The Lyre Ornament
is about 4 inches tall and 2½ inches wide. The Lyre Unique Christmas Ornaments are made of ivory colored resin with gold fleur de lis trim. The bottom of the Lyre is decorated with an ivory resin bow with gold on the edges. Select to see a complete listing of our Christmas Decorations Ideas.

The Lyre.
A classical lyre has a hollow body also known as sound box or resonator. Extending from this sound chest are two raised arms, which are sometimes hollow and are curved both outward and forward. They are connected near the top by a crossbar or yoke. An additional crossbar, fixed to the sound chest, forms the bridge which transmits the vibrations of the strings. The deepest note was that farthest from the player's body. The strings were of gut. They were stretched between the yoke and bridge, or to a tailpiece below the bridge. There were two ways of tuning: one was to fasten the strings to pegs which might be turned; the other was to change the place of the string upon the crossbar; probably both expedients were used simultaneously.
According to ancient Greek mythology, the young god Hermes created the lyre from a large tortoise shell which he covered with animal hide and antelope horns. Lyres were associated with Apollonian virtues of moderation and equilibrium, contrasting with the Dionysian pipes and aulos, both of which represented ecstasy and celebration. Select this link to view our Violin Ornament.

Christmas Music.
Music was an early feature of the Christmas season and its celebrations. But the first chants, litanies, and hymns were in Latin and too theological for popular use. The 13th century found the rise of the carol written in the vernacular under the influence of Francis of Assisi. Select this link to view our Mandolin Ornament.
In the Middle Ages, the English combined circle dances with singing and called them carols.
Later, the word carol came to mean a song in which a religious topic is treated in a style that is familiar or festive. From Italy, it passed to France and Germany, and later to England. Music in itself soon became one of the greatest tributes to Christmas, and Christmas music includes some of the noblest compositions of the great musicians. Select this link to view our Silver Metal Ornament Trees.

Trumpet
The trumpet is a musical instrument in the brass family. The trumpet has the highest register in the brass section. A standard B flat trumpet has a range comparable to the B flat cornet, a piccolo trumpet is an octave higher. A musician who plays the trumpet is called a trumpet player or trumpeter. The most common trumpet by far is a transposing instrument pitched in B flat, the note read as middle C sounds as the B flat 2 semitones below, but there are many other trumpets in this family of instruments. Select this link to view our Old Gold Ornament Trees.