The design of this Lira da braccio is largely based on the example by Giovanni Maria da Brescia in the Ashmolean museum in Oxford, but I have made adjustments to make this version suitable for a modern playing style. The neck has been lengthened so that the string length is that of a medium Viola and the fingerboard and bridge have a greater radius, allowing one to play single strings. There are five playing strings on the fingerboard and two bourdon strings which can be tuned as the player wishes.
I stayed faithful to the Brescian school of making in the construction of this Lira; I glued the ribs and neck directly onto the back plate as I wanted a lightly built instrument that displayed asymmetry in its outline.
The peg box is docorated with gold leaf, a technique of painting on oil size before laying on the leaf.
Body length: 39cm / String length: 36cm.
One-piece back and Neck made from Maple / Three-piece Spuce front with bent central stave.
Fingerboard and tailpiece made from Maple with ebony veneer.
Linseed oil / Pine resin varnish with madder pigment.
