Music for Alto and Soprano Lyre by Murray Wright

[Reviewed by Sheila Johns, Cuenca, Ecuador]

I am delighted to enthusiastically recommend this beautiful small collection of lyre music composed by Murray Wright, lyre builder, composer, and player from Melbourne, Australia.

Music for Alto and Soprano Lyre is a volume of eight early intermediate lyre pieces. Although only the first two pieces are written on a single staff, it is actually possible to play all of the first four pieces on one lyre. The third piece, “Lyre Song”, is written for two voices, but because the upper voice duplicates the first tone of each triad in the second voice, it is equally effective on one lyre if the melody is voiced out, and it is most satisfying to play in this way. The second four pieces are definitely composed for two lyres.

Murray’s music has a strong contemplative element with harmonies that are often reminiscent of Celtic music (especially the first three in this collection) or well-composed film score music (especially “Contemplation”, “Journey”, and “Ascension”) – rich with open fifths and major sevenths, and polyrhythms. Although I have played all of these pieces on lyre, I have discovered that the last five pieces are also very effective and beautiful played on the piano, and I have actually performed both “Contemplation” and “Ascension” as reflective piano interludes in church services when no lyre collaboration was possible!

Because Murray is both a lyrist and a builder, each of these eight pieces is composed with the strengths and limitations of the instrument in mind, so one feels like one is playing dedicated lyre music – which also happens to work well on the piano!

With most collections, a purchase may be justified by two or three pieces that stand out. In the case of this lovely collection, I find every one of the eight pieces to be worthy of the time to learn and enjoy – several alone, several with a lyre partner, and several even reframed as piano solos. A beautiful and versatile little collection, indeed!

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