Category Archives: Zither

The Arran Boat #Music #WDIIA

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Yesterday I had every intention of creating and submitting a (hopefully musical) entry for the Weekly Photo Prompt from Sue at
Sue Vincent’s Daily Echo.
It’s become such an inspiration and positive routine for me that I start looking forward to it on Tuesday!

Well, as the saying goes, “Crystal plans, God laughs!” I was hit with a migraine last night that did not let up, didn’t sleep well, and then awoke to find the migraine turned to a full-blown thing, nausea and all. I’ll spare you the details, except to say that even walking and eating were extremely difficult. I do have chronic pain of other kinds, every day, but don’t get migraines like that very often. Suffice it to say that when I do, it is not fun! In fact, it’s debilitating!

This ruined my day and other things I had planned, ruined my husband’s plans, and had us worried for a while. I can still feel dull pounding (Is there really such a thing?) in my temples, but I bring you “The Arran Boat (Song)” for a reason.

The reason is harp therapy, or zither therapy, in this case. This traditional Scottish tune, first published in the 1880s, is often used as a calming, grounding piece. I’d been meaning to learn it for some time, and started practicing and arranging it a few days ago. This evening, after the pain subsided enough to think, I picked up little
Ripply,
my 2-3 LB. zither/lap harp, and played this piece while I was laying down. On my back with my head propped on pillows and my knees up, I propped the zither against my thighs. I played the piece a few times before recording it and was surprised, though I shouldn’t have been, to find how comforting it was.

I share “The Arran Boat” or “Highland Boat Song” with you now in hopes that it will calm, comfort, and ground you as well!

—
For Linda G. Hill’s
What Day Is It Anyway? #WDIIA

Brahms “Lullaby” Double Strung Experiment #Music

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“Wiegenlied” (Lullaby or Cradle Song) was written by Johannes Brahms and first published in 1868. You probably know the melody, but stay tuned!

This arrangement is an experiment, in which I play the lyre and zither at the same time, in real-time. My left hand plays the bass notes, or accompaniment, on lyre, and my right hand plays the melody on zither.

Why 2 instruments?

Because I’m proving that if and when I’m able to acquire a double strung harp, I will indeed be able to play it!

A double strung harp has 2 parallel rows of strings that are typically (but not always) tuned the same. Having 2 rows of strings gives each hand more options for accompaniment. The hands don’t run into each other in more wide-spread arrangements, because each hand has its own separate row of strings.

Double strung harps also open up a world of effects that cannot be played on a single strung (regular) harp, lyre, or zither. You can double the melody, or, as I do here, play melody and accompaniment in the same octave. This is much easier heard than explained!

In this arrangement, I first play a standard accompaniment on lyre. I.e. the left hand plays bass notes below the right hand.

The second time through, I play the lyre accompaniment up an octave, with my right hand on zither, playing the melody in the same octave. Essentially this means the melody and accompaniment overlap and sometimes play the same notes at the same time. You can understand why this cannot be done on only one set of strings.

Finally, you’ll hear the zither arrangement with bass and melody.

If you’ve read this far, I thank you! If your head is spinning, I apologize and simply ask that you listen to the music and hear just a little of what can be done on a double strung instrument. It’s fascinating!

“The Nightingale” by Deborah Henson-Conant #Music

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“The Nightingale” is a very popular piece by harpist and composer
Deborah Henson-Conant.
Written in memory of her mother, this piece is included in Deborah’s symphonic theater experience, “Invention and Alchemy.” You can find many beautiful solo harp, harp and vocal, and chamber music performances on Youtube. As far as I know, this is the first performance of “The Nightingale” on zither. I hope you enjoy it, and also take some time to click over and enjoy Deborah Henson-Conant’s many wonderful videos as well!

What a Friend We Have in Jesus #Music

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Joseph M. Scriven, a minister, wrote this poem in 1855. He wrote it to comfort his mother, who lived in Canada while he lived in Ireland. Scriven originally published the poem anonymously, but he received full credit in the 1880s. Though the hymn has other musical settings, Charles Crozat Converse composed this one in 1868. I hope you enjoy “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” on zither!

It Is Well with My Soul #Music

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“When peace like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say
It is well, it is well, with my soul.”

Horatio G. Spafford’s realization is as timely today as when he wrote this text in 1873. He wrote this poem after the devastating loss of his four daughters. Traveling to Europe with their mother, ahead of Spafford, their ship collided with another vessel and sank rapidly. Of Spafford’s family, only his wife, Anna, survived. This hardship came soon after the death of their 4-year-old son in the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, along with the economic and property loss the family suffered due to the fire.

Philip Bliss, a friend of Spafford’s, originally named the melody “Ville du Havre,” after the lost vessel. This is possibly one of the most popular pieces Bliss composed.

If Spafford, at such a despairing time in his life, could look beyond it to the peace and safety of his own soul, then what an encouragement it is that we can choose to do the same!

I hope this zither arrangement allows the peace of your soul to flow from within you!

Silver Reflection #Writephoto #Song #Poem

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Enjoy the silvery sound of the zither (plucked psaltery or lap harp).

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Lyrics

1. Water reflecting the twilight,
Silvery blessings unfold.
Nature is Life,
Day into night,
Look for the Light they hold.

2. You are a silver reflection,
Shining your state of mind.
The Spirit in you
Knows every Truth.
Seek It and you will find.

3. You’re the Creator’s reflection,
Prism of peace and love.
Already here,
Nothing to fear,
For as below, so above.

4. Water reflecting the twilight,
Silvery blessings unfold.
Nature is Life,
Day into night,
You are the Light they hold.

Nature is Life,
Day into night,
You are the Light they hold.
You are the Light they hold.

Poem

Silver reflection
As below mirrors above
Truth of your being.

—
Written for
Sue Vincent’s #Writephoto Prompt, Silver.

Remember (The LOA Song)

On Ukulele, from the album
And so it Is! Vol. 1

Great Is Thy Faithfulness #Music

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Today we celebrate Father’s Day in the United States. The hymn, “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” reminds us that no matter what kind of relationship we experience with our father on earth, our Father in Heaven is ultimately our provider, our protector, and our strength throughout this lifetime and all others.

This is usually a hymn for the harvest and Thanksgiving season, but the more we give our Father-God thanks, the more we find to be thankful for!

This hymn was first published in 1923, with lyrics by Thomas Chisholm and music by William M. Runyan. It entered the public domain in the United States just last year, which means we may freely produce things like this zither arrangement. I hope you enjoy it!

Wishing all of you a blessed, happy, and peaceful Father’s Day! And dads, remember to look to the Great Provider for your own needs as well as your children’s!

More Father’s Day Blessings

The Father’s Child

Father of All (Prayer Treatment)

Rock of Ages #Music

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Here is another traditional hymn played on zither (also called a lap harp or plucked psaltery). “Rock of Ages” was written by Rev. Augustus Toplady in 1763. The lyrics are based on Psalm 94:22, which reads, “But the Lord is my defence; and my God is the rock of my refuge.”

Though the account is unverified, it is said that Toplady was caught in a storm in the gorge of Burrington Combe, located in England’s Mendip Hills. It is believed he found shelter in the cleft of a rock and wrote the lyrics in gratitude for the Rock (the Almighty) that saved him.

I hope you enjoy this arrangement, which has rolled chords most often heard on harp.

In the Garden #Music

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“In the Garden” is a much loved hymn, as I know from personal experience. It seems like one of those songs, hymns and Christmas carols in particular, that I was born knowing. I must have been so young when I first heard it, that the song is woven into the fiber of my childhood memory.

Although it’s a mystery when I learned the words, I vividly remember learning to play “In the Garden” on piano. It was a request from my uncle, Al, near the end of his battle with cancer. I not only learned the hymn, but recorded a cassette tape of myself playing it, along with other hymns. On our last trip to Connecticut from Pennsylvania, I was able to sing and play the song for uncle Al. It was a precious gift to him and is still a precious memory to me.

I hope you enjoy my zither arrangement of “In the Garden.” It was written by American songwriter C. Austin Miles in 1912 and is still very popular today.

All Creatures/Doxology #Music #Mp3

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Here is a medley of two hymns, “All Creatures of Our God and King” and “Doxology” played on zither.

The melody of “All Creatures of Our God and King” was written by William Henry Draper and first published in 1919. It’s typically an Easter hymn, but any time is good to appreciate the wonders of nature and the thought that they, too, might praise their Creator.

Thomas Ken wrote “Doxology” in 1674. It was actually the final verse of two hymns, “Awake, my soul, and with the sun,” for worship in the morning; and “Glory to thee, my God, this night,” for evening worship. I have never heard these hymns, as far as I know. But I learned “Doxology” as a child, then played it on piano and recorder long before I played harp or zither.

I hope you enjoy my alternating arrangement of these two beautiful hymns!