A Mantle Of Time And Sound by Christian Giersch

Many thanks to Christian for sending us another piece of music that we will play together during our summer conference in preparation for its presentation at our 2026 international Lyre Conference in Switzerland!  In what follows, Christian describes the inspiration behind his piece and how it is to be played.

A Mantle Of Time And Sound

All people share the experience of the earth’s daily passage from day to night. This cycle unites us as humanity and, at the same time, allows us to witness the relationship that the different cities, countries, and continents in which we reside have to one other. Every location is at the same time eastern, western and central, depending on which direction it is seen from. The conference in Dornach is intended to bring together people from all parts of the world under the signature of the new sound of the lyre. It is as if all times of the day will meet in one place at the same time to search for a great harmony of the future. 

Based on this image, the composition, “A Mantle of Time and Sound” was created. Its four parts are dedicated to the four divisions of the day: morning to midday, afternoon to evening, night to midnight and midnight to dawn. The middle voice represents the path of human beings. It can be played on soprano and alto lyres and can also be sung. The upper voice is only for soprano lyres (and advanced players) and was composed with the air and light-beings of our atmosphere in mind. The lower part (alto and bass lyres) gives voice to those beings who accompany us on and beneath the earth. The capital letters indicate individual tones (not chords). They can be played “ad libitum” by beginner lyre players or they can also be played with bells and other metal instruments. After several repetitions, the last tone “a” concludes the piece. An asterisk (*) underneath a tone is a damping indication: Please mute when the next tone sounds. 

This music is part of the Plenum-Gesamtkunstwerk that is to be created in Dornach in 2026.

Christian Giersch, February 2025

Follow the link below to download the music: