The Zither

Jeff Strouse · Post by **Jeff Strouse** » 19 Nov 2005 12:43 am

I was watching the classic Orson Wells film "The Third Man" last week, and forgot how enchanting the background music is. I believe it was Anton Karas playing the Austrian Zither. I looked up a couple of his CDs on Amazon, and it looks as if the Zither is played flat on the lap (by the pics on the CD). Are there any video clips of someone playing this instrument? I'm very interested to see it played. It appears to be quite a rare instrument, but it has a unique and beautiful sound.

Bill Hatcher · Post by **Bill Hatcher** » 19 Nov 2005 3:18 am

If you rent the DVD at your video store there is a section in it on Karas and has him playing it. Amazing.

Ken Lang · Post by **Ken Lang** » 19 Nov 2005 8:01 am

I once heard a zither band in a resturant. About 6 or 8 guys playing zithers and violins.
The music was haunting as well as beautiful.

Howard Tate · Post by **Howard Tate** » 19 Nov 2005 8:28 am

It's on the "Instrumental Gold" two cd set from MCA.It's beautiful played on the Zither, if you hear it on steel by forumite Basil Hendricks you'll love it.

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Howard, 'Les Paul Recording, Zum SD12U, Carter D10 8/8, Vegas 400, Boss ME-5, Boss DM-3, DD-3, Fender Steel King, Understanding wife. http://www.Charmedmusic.com

[This message was edited by Howard Tate on 19 November 2005 at 08:29 AM.]

Lyle Clary · Post by **Lyle Clary** » 19 Nov 2005 10:31 am

I once saw a zither player at a cheese festival in Monroe Wisconsin. I heard him before I saw him. I thought it was a 3 piece band. Bass, rythym, and lead. But it was just him playing a zither with a pickup. Un- believable. I got an album which I have misplaced. His name was Dieter something or other.

Michael Johnstone · Post by **Michael Johnstone** » 19 Nov 2005 11:38 am

In concept it's like a fingerpicked harp guitar - a fretted neck adjacent to another group of un-fretted chromatic bass strings. Only it's laid flat and fretted overhand - Thumbs Carlille style. I get a cable channel where at night they play all kinds of old film clips of music,opera,ballet,etc and once in a while they'll play a live performance of Anton Karas playing "Third Man Theme". Chet Atkins has nothing on that guy. It's a facinating ax. -MJ-

Vern Wall · Post by **Vern Wall** » 19 Nov 2005 2:18 pm

If the strings are perpendicular to the sound box it's a harp, whether plucked, bowed, or hammered. If the strings are parallel to the sound box it's a zither, sitter, sitar, chitar, kitar, or guitar, but only if it's plucked. If it's bowed, it's a violin, and if it's hammered you can make up a name for it.

Among Bavarian zithers there are two types, the concert zither and the guitar zither. The concert zither has a fretboard just like a guitar, and the guitar zither does not. Is that clear?

The guitar zither is usually laid on the lap, but the concert zither has to be on a table to increase the volume to a useful level.

Paul Graupp · Post by **Paul Graupp** » 21 Nov 2005 1:17 pm

Years ago, Bobbe Seymour and I exchanged some e-mails. The subject was his recent album and the fact that my father played the Zither.

I liked the sounds of the instrument and played with it many, many times. He told me once that if you like this sound...."wait until you hear the Glochenspiel !"

Bobbe had told me that a certain sound he had used on the album was his lap steel with a Glochenspiel voicing selected. I had to wait almost 60 years but I finally heard and noticed the sound, even if I didn't recognize it.

Regards, Paul[This message was edited by Paul Graupp on 21 November 2005 at 01:19 PM.]

Skip Edwards · Post by **Skip Edwards** » 21 Nov 2005 2:18 pm

In Karas' hands it's an awesome instrument... and as I understand it, the entire Third Man soundtrack is Anton Karas solo and no overdubbing of any sort.

There's also a great recording of Strauss' "Tales From the Vienna Woods" with the Vienna Philharmonic, where Karas plays the bridge solo. It's a wonderful transition when the orchestra stops and the zither takes over.
Very cool.

I wonder if black zithers sound any better...

Steve Stallings · Post by **Steve Stallings** » 22 Nov 2005 4:23 pm

I wonder if black zithers sound any better...

They do! They do! The push-pull ones sound especially good!

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God Bless,
Steve Stallings
D10 9x7 Rains (On order)
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Brian Creamer · Post by **Brian Creamer** » 22 Nov 2005 5:52 pm

Jeff! When I lived in England back in the fifties there was a young lady from Australia by the name of Shirley Abicair.She played the Zither and was excellent,she was also a singer and also appeared in quite a few movies.She appeared with Frank Ifield,Norman Wisdom and many other comedians and singers through the 50,s and early 60,s.She also made a few childrens records playing the Zither and singing.Maybe you can find out more about her from the internet.

Jeff Strouse · Post by **Jeff Strouse** » 22 Nov 2005 6:07 pm

I'm fascinated by the soundtrack of the Third Man...but, the original. Amazon has a soundtrack of it, but from the sound clips, it's a remake (digitally enhanced and such). It totally ruins the authentic and romantic sound that the movie has...even with the scratchiness of the film, I think that scratchiness is part of the ambience...another place and moment in time. Anton Karas seemed to have a style and sound that some of the other Zither players don't have. I previewed some other CD clips, but nothing had the sound that grabbed me like his. I wonder if they still play Zithers in Austria? Or, is it basically (and sadly) a dead instrument?[This message was edited by Jeff Strouse on 22 November 2005 at 06:11 PM.]

Roy Thomson · Post by **Roy Thomson** » 22 Nov 2005 7:21 pm

I love the sound of the Zither also Jeff.
I have several cassettes somewhere of all the favourites.
There is an Austrian Tuning or set up and also a German set up apparently. A musician
by the name of Sabestion sent me the complete tuning guide and information 20 years ago and I still have that.
A German land owner in the Highlands of Nova Scotia loaned me his Zither for about 2 months and it was an interesting experience.
It had five fretted strings played with the thumb and 36 for the four fingers to pluck away at. It amazed me how they played these things. The one I had was electric with pick up built right in.
Like you the sound facinates me and I was tempted but decided otherwise.

Roy