Dictionary of Music - Birding America

lyric soprano 223Lyres were played throughout northern Europeuntil the eleventh or twelfth century, and they are stillused as folk instruments in Baltic countries (Finland,Estonia), in Asia (mainly Siberia), and East Africa.The illustration on page 222 shows an African lyre.lyric 1 A word meaning “songlike”—that is,melodic—and used in the title of such works asGrieg’s Lyric Pieces, short, expressive instrumentalworks. 2 A term used to describe a voice with alight, sweet, flexible quality. 3 Usually lyrics. TheTEXT of a song.lyrics See LYRIC, def. 3.lyric soprano See SOPRANO, def. 1.