Zitherist International

Zitherist International

Share your passion for the music of the Zither

Die Zither is' a Zauberin,
Sie hat mir g'fangen,
Herz und Sinn.

The Zither is an Enchantress,
Who has charmed me,
heart and senses.

Franz von Kobell (link)

The music of the Zither is spreading throughout the world. Young musicians in countries like Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, or even Japan play this instrument. Zither music is enjoying a renaissance even in the USA.

The universal love for this instrument, the Zither, links diverse musicians across the various countries around the globe; simultaneously, new audiences are beginning to discover the special sound of this "Enchantress." May she enchant you!

Die Zither is a' Zauberinn

Thursday, 05 April 2007 06:05 Donald Tsusaki

Kobellite: (Pb₂₂Cu₄Bi₂₅Sb₅S₆₉)

See a sample of Kobellite from the webmineral.com database.

What does a rock, or more precisely a mineral, have to do with music?

Normally, not much. That is, until we make the connection with the man who wrote the oft-quoted encomium, the poem of raptured praise about the music of the Zither.

Normal Tuning of the Zither

Friday, 30 March 2007 16:54 Donald Tsusaki

The first time one tries a Zither, the natual inclination is to strum the "harp" strings. Whoa! What a dissonance! Plucking each string in sequence reveals another surprise -- the strings are not tuned chromatically, rather, the pitches all seem to be random, even assuming the strings are in tune. What's going on here?

Have Zither, will Travel

Saturday, 24 March 2007 13:51 Donald Tsusaki

Folder Zither (Klappzither) made by Kurt Hartwig in Munich, Germany (click image to enlarge)

Wouldn't it be great to always have your Zither with you? But how? A full-sized Zither is sometimes awkward to manage. Kurt Hartwig has come up with a slick solution: a Zither that folds in half.

Philadelphia Zither Ensemble: Performances

Wednesday, 28 March 2007 17:15 Donald Tsusaki

The Philadelphia Zither Ensemble (PZE) has been a cultural mainstay in the music scene of Pennsylvania and surrounding States. The PZE has also taken the show on the road, performing as a guest group. Kurt Maute, a Zitherist in the PZE and the group's secretary has diligently cataloged the ensemble's activities. An index of the PZE's activities follows. Contact Kurt Maute regarding details and to obtain copies of original documents.

See also the history of the Philadelphia Zither Ensemble by Dr. George Beichl.

The Zapf's: Leonard and Lenny play Zither and Bass music

Saturday, 24 March 2007 18:57 Donald Tsusaki

The Zapf's
Leonard and Lenny play Zither and Bass music

Leonard (father) and Lenny (son) Zapf have a strong bond through their music. They have been playing as a Zither / Bass duo for more than 20 years. This CD contains a selection of their favorites, pieces that also are representative of the traditional repertoire for the Zither.

The Zapf's CD is available on the CD Baby website.

Audio Selections from the CD

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