The musical tradition of Pontus is so distinctive that even the most uninitiated can recognize its typology from afar. And because the presence of the Pontic element in modern Greek society is strong, this tradition is almost familiar to everyone. However, its deeper identity remains essentially unknown, accessible only to the initiated, who with persistence and dedication focus on it with the religious devotion that keeps them tied to the chariot of a long and painful historical memory. The realm of Pontic music is thus a land to be discovered, and this book was compiled in that direction. It is a study on the most emblematic of the symbols of Pontic music, the lyre, which is explored here in all its aspects, from organology and technique to repertoire and its functional role within a still vibrant tradition. Its writing does not follow the usual paths of detached scientific research but comes from one of the most active exponents of the Pontic musical tradition, the lyre player Michalis Kaliontzidis, who contributes his extensive and multifaceted experiential knowledge to this volume. Since 1987, he has been engaged in the collection and composition of the volume, which is published here with the care of the Department of Folk and Traditional Music of the TEI of Epirus. His art, as it was handed down to him and as he himself highlighted through his work, concerns not only those who study the Pontic lyre but all those who explore the unique paths of the musical traditions of the Greek area. [Excerpt from the text on the back cover of the edition]