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| Shirley Abicair playing her Zither. |
When I was little I clearly remember a rather talented lady called Shirley Abicair who played the Zither and sang lots of jolly songs on the TV.
She had a crystal clear voice and her Zither accom paniment was truly lovely.
She discovered the Zither at the back of a cupboard when she was quite small and virtually taught herself to play, She lived in Adelaide in Australia before she came over to the UK and presented some childrens' TV programmes.
The Zither and Shirley were made for each other.
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| This is a concert Zither, it has a fret and not quite so basic as the one Shirley found in a cupboard many years ago. |
The Austrian Zither also known as a Landleute and was very popular in Austria and Bavaria. It was also a popular folk music instrument called a Volkzither, this was around the beginning of the 19th century.
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Austrian lady playing the concert zither.
The highly acclaimed painter Franz vonDefregger (1835-1921). he is well known for his peasant genre and narrative painting..
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| Austrian peasant playing the ZITHER . |
As I've run out of
Z's I shall ZIP off for a quick zzzzz ( siesta time) but before I go i would like to thank the wonderful
ZANY Denise who devised abcw all those years ago and the ever
ZEALOUS Roger and his
ZESTFUL assistant
Leslie for doing what they do in keeping us writing our memes, Last but not least thanks to the team of assistants who help with the visits.
Best wishes to you all for 2017..... Happy New Year. Di, xxx
Hi Trubes,
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year to you - it'll be a goodun!
I easily remember Shirley Abicair. Her zither was so new to us kids, and I spent many a happy hour winding elastic bands around cigar boxes to get the same effect!
The Matron at our school also had an autoharp, which was similar, and had quite a nice sound too!
I didn't get my first guitar until 1962, and since then have changed them around, but what with Ipad apps doing the same thing without the finger agony, I tend to stick to that nowadays...
Must get onto Youtube some day!
Its not played that often for people who don't live in Austria I guess but it always sounds lovely to me
ReplyDeleteAnd a nice couple of z's to go along with it.
ave a nice ABC-Wednesday / _ Week
♫ M e l ☺ d y ♫ (abc=w=team)
http://melodymusic.nl/abc-wednesday-19z/
I sure hope you will continue to be part of whatever comes next! You've been a wonderful team member with so many great posts for Us!
ReplyDeleteLeslie
abcw team
Gee! Thanks for your kind words Leslie, I've really enjoyed participating in Abcw and dearly hope it continues. I would like to take a wider part but i'm really not up to it, such a responsibility... it really has opened up new horizons for me.
DeleteLove Di xx
Well, would you be able to continue in your current capacity? That would be awesome!
DeleteYes Leslie of course. You are so kind, thank you,
Deletelove from one of your lovely friends,
Di xxx
A lovely instrument when played well. I recall a wonderful rendition of zither playing on an Andre Rieu program. Must dig out that VHS and listen again.
ReplyDeleteHildred i just adore Andre Rieu...I shall too look for his rendition of Zither playing,
DeleteBest wishes for 2017,
Di xx
ABCW team.
Great post for Z ~ zither ~ and lovely photos too. thanks
ReplyDeleteWishing you a Happy and Healthy New Year ~ ^_^
thank you Carol for your kind words.. alll the pics are by courtesy of google ,
DeleteVery many Happy New Year wishes to you too,
Di,
ABCW team. xx
Wow Shirley Abicair was a blast from the past I'd forgotten about. I love the zither in The Third Man movie theme.
ReplyDeleteHi Joy, I was going to mention The Third man theme but as per usual I wandered off on another point, I barely ever know exactly what
DeleteI'm going to write until I start typing !
bet wishes,
Di.
ABCW team.
Am surprised at the similarity between some Western and Eastern musical instruments like Zither..we have one like this in our Northern state Kashmir (regret I can't recall its name right now):(
ReplyDeleteAmit, If you click on my side bar on 'A great honour and a wonderful experience', you can read about our trip to Konya in Turkey to see The Whirring Dervishes...Di. xx
DeleteYou're quite right Amit, we once visited Konya in central Turkey to watch the Whirring Dervishes accompanied by a traditional Turkish ensemble and they played sitars and zithers amongst a few instruments that I've never seen. It was a wonderful and most uplifting experience, something I shall never forget,
ReplyDeleteBest wishes,
Di.
ABCW team.
Zither you go, so shall I.
ReplyDeleteCome zither.
I have no idea why I think zither belongs in each phrase. I ought to look up what the real words are. And also to remind me how a zither sounds....I'm listening to someone play "Let it Be" on the zither. It reminds me of a combination of bells and a harp. Guess what I want to learn to play now? Hugs to you, Di.
I'd heard of the landleute but never knew it was a zither!
ReplyDeleteROG, ABCW
Whereas Roger, I had long since heard of a zither but never
Deletea landleute, until I started checking it's origins out!
best wishes,
Di.
ABCW team.
I can't help thinking of the Book of Ruth in the Bible
ReplyDeletewhen you say 'Zither you go, so shall I'
I don't know why,
Because there isn't a definition in my Chambers dictionary
of zither meaning nothing other than it being a stringed instrument,
I often wonder what goes on in my head full of trivia methinks!
Hugs back at you Susie,
Di,
ABCW team.
I don't think I've ever heard a zither. I has a similar look to the hammered dulcimer, which a friend of mine plays. They're both stringed instruments, but have a different sound based on a recording I found on the web. The zither sounds more like a guitar, right? Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteHi Arnoldo I think it sounds like a piano / harp/ Hawaian guitar/ I'll check it out again. I've heard a traditional Turkish folk band use it but it was such a mish mash of sounds I couldn't make it out. it is used a lot in Austria but there it has a rather sweet sound.
DeleteBest wishes,
Di,
Abcw team.
I know the Zither only from Austria. It's a very special instrument !
ReplyDeleteHi Gatina,
DeleteWe stayed at an hotel in Seefeld owned by a very talented Austrian family, Not only did they manage the hotel and serve us with delicious Austrian fare, they would entertain us most evening by singing Austrian folk song, they accompanied their wonderful music with accordians and two concert zithers. i've been trying to trace the hotel but it no longer exists as such,it has been reconverted into a smart family home, I am planning to return to Seefeld, just after my husband has recovered from some forthcomming surgery,
Best wishes,
Di,
ABCW team.
I'm very familiar with the the dulcimer played her in blue grass and folk but it wit the zither, perfect z word. On the subject of genealogy, I joined ancestry. Com helped me get most of what I learned!! Ann
ReplyDeleteHi Ann, lovely to hear from you again. yes I;m a blue grass fan, or rather was, i once accomodated two guys called Brian Golby and Pete Stanley who were playing at our local folk club, long time ago !
DeleteBest wishes,
Di,
ABCW team.
Hi Trubes. Such a cleverly written post. Your posts are amazing, Well done to you. I have heard of a Zither but never seen one. I like Andre Rieu too. Watched a programme of his a few months ago. Take care and Happy New Year xx
ReplyDeleteHello Anne,
Deleteso good to hear from you again and thank you for kind comments.
I do try hard to make each piece I write interesting but do struggle some times with difficult letters. I too like Andre Rieu and would love to see him in concert.....One day perhaps !
best wishes,
Di.
Abcw team.
there is a Chinese Zither too.
ReplyDeleteHi Ann,
DeleteI didn't know that for sure, but then,
I'm not surprised,
Thanks for stopping by,
Best wishes,
Di.
ABCW team.
And what about Zanadu?! Happy new year XXX
ReplyDeleteI've covered Zanadu in a previous post,
DeleteBest wishes,
Di xx
ABCW team.
It must be hard to learn playing zither. Have a good weekend.
ReplyDeleteIndeed Klara,
DeleteThanks for deopping by,
Best wishesm
Di.
ABCW team.
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