Unique Artifacts
to cherish for a lifetime
Tzouras – traditional Greek instrument with distinctive and unique soundbox
690.00 €
This is a premium musical instrument, a replica of the rebetika genre tzouras. It arrived in Greece in the 1900s by Asia Minor immigrants and soon became one of the most popular traditional string musical instruments.
LUTHIEROS Tzouras can be considered as the middle brother of bouzouki and baglamas, as its fretboard’s length is similar to the first but its soundbox’s dimension is somewhere between the two of them. It is also called “μεσομπούζουκο”, meaning half bouzouki.
If bouzouki is preferred for the ease of playing it and baglamas for the ease of moving it around, tzouras is positioned directly in the middle. All these three instruments are descendants of the Byzantine’s pandouras and tambouras. The also known Irish bouzouki is a more recent development that emerged after the introduction of the Greek instrument into Irish music by J. Moynihan in 1965.
This is a unique top-quality instrument with beautiful and rich sound, with beautiful inlaid wooden decoration. This is why it is a quite rare musical artifact.
Manufactured at the premises of the village Europos (Northern Greece) by a family of musicians and luthiers that came to Greece from Asia Minor as immigrants at the dawn of the 20th century. LUTHIEROS Tzouras is made using natural materials available during the antiquity. Every kind of wood that is used for each part of the instrument is carefully chosen, taking into account its musicality and durability, but also staying close to the instrument’s tradition.
This part of Greek history was evolved to become a modern musical instrument ready to be used by both amateur and professional musicians. For all the minor (but very important) alterations, top-notch technologies were used during the prototyping phase (such as 3d Modeling and rapid prototyping) as part of University-based research by members of LUTHIEROS family. Key collaborations include the International Hellenic University and the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.
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There is no benefit when music stands secret and hidden.
— Lucian, 2nd c. CE
SEIKILO Museum offers a fine selection of premium products closely related to our ancient world's musical heritage. Whether a replica of a lyre or another ancient musical instrument, sheet music of ancient surviving melodies, books about the history & myths of music in ancient Greece, or pristine quality recordings of ancient-inspired melodies, you can take with you a unique piece of history that you will cherish for a lifetime and even pass on to the next generation of your family.
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