Fraternity and Sorority Arms, Seals, Flags and other Insignia

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by catface123

@MysticCat From Sinfonian to Sinfonian just caught on your posts that you frequently use the term harp. I know it looks like one but in all of our text it is referred to as a lyre and should be referenced as one. Just giving some accuracy to your posts

Not in all of our texts. I think if you look around you'll find numerous sources that refer to it as a harp. That is what those who designed the coat of arms called it, that is what recent educational materials call it, and if you look at the article on the restored coat of arms in the December 2011 Sinfonian, you'll see that it is referred to there as a harp. And the reality is, it is shaped like a harp, not a lyre.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by Fraternityguru

Yeah, I agree it always looked like a harp to me as well, but why did they call our HQ LyreCrest if they call it a harp in written material?

Per the Centennial History (p. 6.3):

The naming of the national headquarters in Evansville resulted from a brainstorming session between [then Executive Director Alan] Adams and assocate secretary Gerald Bordner, Alpha Sigma, soon after the move was completed. The location of the estate at the crest of a hill reinforced the symbolism of Sinfonia's crest, and a search for a defining term to incorporate music in the name led naturally from "lyric" to "lyre," symbolizing both music and Sinfonia. The Exective Committee was not in official session at the time, but the members of the Committee were so pleased that they reached a virtually instantaneous consensus, and so the estate was christened "Lyrecrest."

When the coat of arms was designed, the crest was considered a harp. Over time that harp has become associated with the lyre.