strings. But in organological classification it is a term covering a substantial proportion of the world’s stringed instruments. The technical definition is a little convoluted, but in effect a zither is one or more stretched strings, usually with a resonating board, box or other vessel. Those instruments with necks – such as lutes – aren’t classified as zithers ...
The dulcimer is a type of box zither whose name derives from dulce melos or ‘sweet sound’. Usually with four sides, none of them running parallel to each other (though as this is an instrument to be found under various names in practically every country on earth, it is difficult to be definite), it has several strings but no ...
play a more subdued role in country music’s overall mix than in rock’n’roll. Other Instruments Though less central to the overall sound, the accordion, dulcimer, autoharp, zither and harmonica are among the other instruments often featured in country music for artists in search of a more exotic or old-timey musical feel. ...
popularity. Nevertheless, the Dobro’s characteristic sound became an important component of both the bluegrass and blues traditions, and remains in use today. Introduction | Stringed Instruments Instruments | Zither | Stringed ...
Zither The zither is part of a group of instruments which are linked by the fact that sets of strings run parallel to their main body, and that – unlike the lute, lyre or harp – they can still be played even without a resonating device. In the concept’s least advanced state, native instruments exist which are little ...
or steel guitar, and unlike the saraswati vina it has sympathetic strings. Other Indian Lutes The rudra vina or bin of northern India is actually closer to a stick zither than a lute, having a hollow soundboard with a large gourd resonator near each end. But in playing terms it fits with the other Indian lutes, having four ...
1810–93, Hungarian Ferenc Erkel, known as the ‘father’ of Hungarian national opera, was principally a pianist and conductor. In 1838, he became chief conductor of the National Theatre in Pest, and in 1853 founded the Budapest Philharmonic. He was also active as a composer, and his first opera, Bátori Mária (1840), was successfully staged ...
decline. Madagascar The island of Madagascar is African, but only just. The people look more Asian, the instruments are unique (the most famous is the valiha, a zither featuring strings around the outside of a bamboo tube) and the music is at once incomparable and reminiscent of everything. On their album Son Egal, Tarika, the island’s ...
from inside is very different. Classical music – orchestral, theatrical and Buddhist – all retain strong followings, and the three paradigm instruments are the shakuhachi flute, koto zither and the shamisen lute, all of which have centuries of history and feature in contemporary music. Folk music (minyo) differs from the Western form, in that it is ...
millennium bc. Stone reliefs from the Christian era show panpipes, drums, bells, stone chimes and zithers. The pre-eminent classical Chinese instrument is the ch’in, a long zither with seven silk strings. Other classical string instruments include the sê, a zither with 25 strings, the cheng, a plucked zither used for personal and popular entertainment, ...
two drone, and additional sympathetic strings. South Indians play the vina, a long-necked lute with four melody and three drone strings. Also important are the bin, a zither, and the European violin. The classical drums are tuned to the main pitch of the raga. The main Karnatic drum is the double-headed mrdangam. The Hindustani tabla is a ...
The vast Southeast Asian region includes the island republics of Indonesia and the Philippines, and the mainland states of Burma, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia and Singapore. The mainland countries, particularly Vietnam, have been greatly influenced by Chinese culture and Buddhism. Indonesia has been influenced by Hinduism and Islam, and the Philippines ...
Since classical antiquity, the varied cultures of Africa have fascinated Europeans, but it was only in the twentieth century that musicologists overcame the traditional concepts of ‘primitivism’ to discover the richness of the continent’s music. African performing arts are intimately bound to life – the music is woven into the fabric of society and culture. It is inseparable from ...
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