Station VII: The Power of the Lyre

Animals are not insensitive to human music making. Almost all musicians can tell stories of their interactions with animals. The sound of a violin or hurdygurdy can send a dog into paroxysms of pain. Cows are attracted to the sound of bagpipes. Deer can be calmed by the sound of a song. Shepherds throughout history have been pictured with flutes or bagpipes. Herders in Scandinavia use a special type of vocalizing called kulokk in Norway and kulning in Sweden to lure cows back to the barn. Gaelic songs of endearment to calm a cow while milking are common in Scotland and similar songs are probably found throughout the world. Scottish fishermen used seal songs to attract and kill the seals threatening their fish.

There are many stories of lyre or harp players, who used their music to calm or attract animals. Of these, the story of Orpheus from Greek mythology is probably the most well-known. Orpheus had a musical parentage, the son of either the god Apollo or of the Muse Calliope and Oaegrus, King of Thrace. The lyre was invented by Hermes, who gave it to his brother Apollo as recompense for stealing Apollo’s cattle. Orpheus received his golden lyre from Apollo, who also taught him to play. Orpheus is most famous for his descent into the Underworld to retrieve his wife Eurydice. There, he melted the heart of Hades with his lyre playing. Hades was willing to release Eurydice on the condition that Orpheus not turn to look at his wife before leaving the Underworld. Tragically, Orpheus was not able to resist turning for a glimpse, so Eurydice was lost to him forever. Not only could Orpheus cause the rocks and trees to dance and the rivers to change their courses, he could also calm the wild beasts with the music of his lyre.