The musical tradition of Pontus is so distinctive that even the most uninformed can recognize its typology from a distance. And because the presence of the Pontic element in contemporary Greek society is strong, this tradition is almost familiar to all.

However, its deeper identity remains essentially unknown, accessible only to the initiated, who with persistence and dedication are devoted to it with the religious reverence that keeps them bound to the chariot of a long and painful historical memory.

Thus, the realm of Pontic music is a land to be discovered, and towards this direction, this book has been compiled. It is a study on the most emblematic symbol of Pontic music, the lyre, which is explored here in all aspects of its existence, from organology and technique to repertoire and its functional role within a still living tradition.

The writing does not follow the usual paths of distanced scientific research, but comes from one of the most active bearers of the Pontic music tradition, the lyre player Michalis Kalliontzidis, who shares in this volume all his long-standing and multifaceted experiential knowledge.

Since 1987, he has been engaged in the collection and composition of the volume published here with the care of the Department of Folk and Traditional Music of the Technological Educational Institute of Epirus. His art, as it was passed down and as he has highlighted through his work, concerns not only those studying the Pontic lyre but also all those exploring the unique pathways of the musical traditions of the Greek region.