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[[Nyota Uhura]] was able to play it, singing while playing ''[[Beyond Antares]]'' for [[Kevin Riley]] shortly before an assassination attempt in engineering. ({{TOS|The Conscience of the King}})
 
[[Nyota Uhura]] was able to play it, singing while playing ''[[Beyond Antares]]'' for [[Kevin Riley]] shortly before an assassination attempt in engineering. ({{TOS|The Conscience of the King}})
   
[[Tuvok]] was also a proficient Vulcan lute player. He would often play his lute while reciting ''[[Falor's Journey]]'' to his youngest son. ({{VOY|Persistence of Vision|Innocence|Riddles}})
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[[Tuvok]] was also a proficient Vulcan lute player. He would often play his lute while reciting "[[Falor's Journey]]" to his youngest son. ({{VOY|Persistence of Vision|Innocence|Riddles}})
   
[[Melian]], an [[Aldean]] [[musician]] also owned a Vulcan lute. ({{TNG|When The Bough Breaks}})
+
[[Melian]], an [[Aldean]] [[musician]], also owned a Vulcan lute. ({{TNG|When The Bough Breaks}})
   
 
One of [[Intendant]] {{mu|Kira Nerys}}' Vulcan eunuchs played a Vulcan harp for her while a second eunuch gave her a [[massage]]. ({{DS9|Through the Looking Glass}})
 
One of [[Intendant]] {{mu|Kira Nerys}}' Vulcan eunuchs played a Vulcan harp for her while a second eunuch gave her a [[massage]]. ({{DS9|Through the Looking Glass}})

Revision as of 20:51, 13 October 2015

File:VulcanLute.jpg

A Vulcan lute

File:Constitution class original recreation.jpg

Spock playing the Vulcan lute

Vulcan lute on Aldea

A Vulcan lute on Aldea

The Vulcan lute (sometimes referred to as Vulcan harp, Vulcan lyre, or Vulcan Lyrette) was a twelve-stringed instrument, played on the planet Vulcan, that was tuned on a diatonic scale and noted to be very soothing. (VOY: "Innocence")

Spock was proficient at playing the Vulcan lute and was known to play it often during his off-duty hours. (TOS: "Charlie X", "The Conscience of the King", "Amok Time", "The Way to Eden"; Star Trek V: The Final Frontier)

Nyota Uhura was able to play it, singing while playing Beyond Antares for Kevin Riley shortly before an assassination attempt in engineering. (TOS: "The Conscience of the King")

Tuvok was also a proficient Vulcan lute player. He would often play his lute while reciting "Falor's Journey" to his youngest son. (VOY: "Persistence of Vision", "Innocence", "Riddles")

Melian, an Aldean musician, also owned a Vulcan lute. (TNG: "When The Bough Breaks")

One of Intendant Kira Nerys' Vulcan eunuchs played a Vulcan harp for her while a second eunuch gave her a massage. (DS9: "Through the Looking Glass")

Appendices

Background

The Vulcan lute seen in "Charlie X" was designed by Wah Chang.

The Vulcan lute has been described as a five-stringed instrument tuned in a diatonic scale in "Innocence", but is seen to have twelve strings. It is strongly suggested that the lute is instead tuned in a twelve-tone chromatic scale, since a seven-tone diatonic scale can fit in neither 5 nor 12 strings.

Lieutenant Uhura also demonstrated a proficiency for playing a lute somewhat different from Spock's, suggesting that she has an instrument of her own and was presumably taught by Spock. She is the only non-Vulcan shown doing so.

In a deleted scene from "Elaan of Troyius", Spock revealed that he took second place in the All-Vulcan Music Competition, and that his father had taken first place.

The description of the Vulcan Lyrette from the original Star Fleet Technical Manual reads that this is "An unusually harmonious and melodic accompaniment or solo instrument, whose origin is lost in Vulcan antiquity. It combines the tonal qualities of a harp, lute, sitar, and to some extent, violin." They were usually made of Li'Pon and Sher Skah woods, with a Bahun'ahb inlay. The lowest pitch it can reach is 60 cps, and the highest is an astounding 3180 cps.

External links