In Classical Mythology, Hermes was the swift-footed messenger of the gods & the Olympian god of travellers. His voyages included rapid journeys to deliver messages for Zeus, aiding heroes & guiding the souls of the dead into the afterlife.

This melody features the distinctively poignant & dreamy ancient Greek Phrygian Mode - the conjunction of 2 terachords which form the equivalent intervals of D-D on the white notes of the piano & misnamed the ‘Dorian’ mode by scholars during the Middle Ages. To achieve a more authentic ancient tuning, I tuned my lyre using natural string harmonics, which on the narrow range of the lyre, results in far more focussed, pure intervals than those heard in modern equal temperament.

In this piece, I attempt to evoke the relentless voyages of Hermes by a constant feeling of movement in the left-hand accompaniment to the plectrum-plucked melodic lines.
The lyre featured in this video is "The Lyre of Thamyris" - recreated in modern Greece by Luthieros:

https://ww.luthieros.com

Appropriately, according to ancient Greek mythology, Hermes, as an infant, famously invented the lyre from a tortoise shell and used it to reconcile with his brother Apollo after stealing his cattle.

Hermes was born to Zeus and Maia in a cave on Mount Cyllene in Arcadia. Even as a new-born, he displayed remarkable cunning and agility, traits that would define his character. Shortly after his birth, Hermes stealthily left his cradle and embarked on a daring adventure: he stole a herd of cattle belonging to his brother Apollo.

During his escapade, Hermes encountered a tortoise. He killed the animal and ingeniously stretched seven strings across its empty shell, creating the first lyre. This instrument allowed him to play music with extraordinary skill, demonstrating both his creativity and cleverness.

When Apollo discovered the theft, he confronted Hermes. To appease his brother, Hermes offered the lyre as a gift. Enchanted by the music, Apollo forgave Hermes and, in return, gave him the caduceus - a staff symbolizing commerce and negotiation. This exchange highlights Hermes’ ingenuity and the lyre’s symbolic role as a bridge between mischief and harmony.