During my correspondence with musician and educator Theodoros Koumartzis, I was struck by the closing quote in his email: “If we are to preserve culture we must continue to create it.” For Mr. Koumartzis, this quote by Dutch historian Johan Huizinga is what life is all about.
Mr. Koumartzis is the co-founder of Seikilo Museum in Thessaloniki, Greece, a museum dedicated to ancient instruments. A passionate lyre player, he teaches about the importance of Greek music, mythology, and culture.
The lyre is one of the world’s oldest instruments. It was popular in ancient Greece, where citizens learned how to play it as part of their education. The lyre accompanied poetry and singing and was used as a symbol of virtues. In ancient Greek texts, the lyre signified wisdom and moderation.
Mr. Koumartzis offered insight into its historic significance by discussing the lyre’s role in mythology:
A Family Endeavor
Mr. Theodoros Koumartzis and his family strive to continue the traditions of ancient Greece’s rich musical history. Born into an artistically gifted family, his father, Anastasios, is a “Master Luthier” and musician. Theodoros and his brothers, Nikolaos and Jordan, followed in their father’s footsteps. They channeled their different talents into several projects that kickstarted a bustling family business.
When asked about what it’s like working with family, Mr. Koumartzis called it a “blessing,” and said, “[Through] the years we realized that it is really important to focus on what we love the most. … The more trust we put into each other’s decisions, the bigger the achievements.”
Some of his fondest memories are from childhood, when he and his brothers played music with their father on the weekends. He said, “The memory that I had in my mind since I was really young is the image of my father playing the piano every weekend in our home in our village. This image was printed in my mind for years and still is there.”
An Immersive Museum
In 2016, the Koumartzis family embarked on a creative journey that has steadily grown. The Seikilo Museum of Ancient Music Instruments, where Mr. Koumartzis dedicates a significant portion of his time, is the first of its kind in Greece.
The museum is dedicated to displaying ancient instruments, including the lyre. It also acts as an immersive experience for visitors. Many of the instruments Anastasios and his luthiers create are displayed at Seikilo. Anastasios prefers to use the term “create” because “build” is “too industrial to capture an act of love that occurs within this family business of ancient Greek musical lyres.”
The museum offers guided tours focused on music and mythology for all ages. Workshops are also available. They offer lessons for the lyre and the frame drum, a single, handheld drum used in ancient times for important ceremonies.
In 2017, Mr. Koumartzis and musicians partnered to form the band Pausis. Their music is centered around the lyre, but it includes other ancient instruments to create a rich listening experience. Through their music, Pausis focuses on communicating “the grand ancient civilizations of the Mediterranean region.”
A Bright Future
Aside from creating music and running the Seikilo museum, Mr. Koumartzis is a passionate educator. He has showcased his hand-crafted lyres and taught about their riveting history throughout the UK, Italy, Germany, and Greece. One of those lessons included the mythological story that ties the instrument to ancient Greece: When the Greek God Hermes was a child, he created the first lyre that impressed Apollo so much, he bestowed Hermes with special gifts.
Mr. Koumartzis and his family believe that learning about Ancient Greek culture and the lyre is not just for the musically inclined. Everyone can experience spiritual healing and growth when spending time with ancient music and stories:
