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The Instrument Uses Teaching and Repertory Zither and Culture Partner PagesGeneral Characteristics
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The chord zither is a musical stringed instrument: the strings are generally plucked, but sometimes struck,
(exceptionally played with a bow).
The principle of the instrument...
The strings (which are always played as they are) form two distinct groups:
- on the right side , the melody strings, about two octaves, a note by string;
-on the left side, the accompanying strings, grouped in chords; the "harmonic" side.
However, there are several models to the chord zither depending on the length of each side. (See Principal models to the right).
For more details on instrumental techniques, look up Playing techniques in the link Teaching and repertory.
Tone...
Soft, delightfu...
Melodious, harmonious,
at the same time crystal-like and deep,
pure, heavenly...
The first time you hear a chord zither you are enchanted!
Whatever be the model, the tone has the same characteristics. The resonance may differ according to the wood that has been used and the number of strings in each chord, producing a greater proportion of metal in the whole body. Thus, chord zithers with four strings to a chord resonate more than chord zithers with seven strings to a chord. These have more "brightness".
In spite of the last improvement, the tone remains discreet giving pleasure to a sensitive person...
In concrete terms...
The chord zither has three resounding characteristics, principally because it lacks a damper:
- A prolonged and super imposable resonance of strings and chords; the "overlapping" of sounds in the melody line, as well as their toning down, certainly contribute to the charm of the instrument.
- Superimpostion on two distinct resounding levels of the melody notes and the accompaniment notes.
- The «harmonics» and the many vibrations enrich the tone by sympathy
The chord zither is also distinguished from other instruments by the predominance of triad chords next to the melody strings, thus giving a sensation of deep consonance or harmony.
A new conception...
At the end of the 70 years, several compositions already manifested a more modern conception of the instrument (today often developed through improvising).
Using this idea, the zither no longer has two parts, the chromatic part on one side and the chords on the other...but rather strings which are disposed chromatically, and others harmonically. Neither melody nor chords are looked for, only "sound": the sound of dispersed notes, long or short; the sound of chords, alone or together, played quickly, or arpeggiated, sometimes enriched with a note, high or low, played softly, with the mallet, etc...; quick alternation of two notes or two chords, one note and a chord; the tone of plucked strings in harmonic; glissando, ornaments, trills; tapping the soundboard to make to the harmonics resound; contrasting low and high notes, piano and forte; prolonged or even accumulated resonances, then suppressing the discordant elements; and finally silences by dampening all the strings(melody and chords) in the course of the score which gives more impact to the following notes.
More and more, it appears that the specificity of the zither resides not so much in its crystal like tone or in its polyphonic character as much as in the assembling of prolonged sounds, melodic when it is only notes or harmonic when it is mixed with chords.
These daring techniques give the zither magnificent perspectives for its repertory or improvising, and in its association with poesy, stories or even the movie world...
Principal models History General Characteristics Installation and accessories