Another traditional Irish tune on zither, this one is called “The South Wind.” I arranged it for a small zither with 15 strings, tuned in C. I hope you enjoy, and if you’d like a free tutorial to learn this tune by ear, just
contact me!
Category Archives: Zither
Believe Me, If All Those Endearing Young Charms #Music
Here is a beautiful, traditional Irish air, played on zither (also called a lap harp or plucked psaltery).
The melody was first published in 1775. In 1808, the poet Thomas Moore wrote the lyrics that give this tune its well-known title.
As the story goes, his young wife was afraid of losing her looks (Can you say vanity?), and he wrote the lyrics to reassure her that, even if all her “endearing young charms” faded, he would still love her.
The melody is also used for the alma mater of Harvard University, “Fair Harvard.” You can hear this below, and I hope you enjoy my zither arrangement as well!
“Drink to Me Only” #Love #Music #Mp3
“Drink to Me Only with Thine Eyes” is a
poem
written by English playwright Ben Johnson. First published in 1616, it is addressed “To Celia.” Johnson’s poem has been published in many poetry collections, as well as song books. The tune may have been a folk song, or may have been written to specifically set the poem to music–no one knows. We may never know who wrote the tune, or who Celia was, but we have a classic song in any case.
I first played this song as a young violinist (no, you don’t want to hear that!) and then on recorder (much better!) Here it is on zither, in a contemplative arrangement.
Enjoy, and share if you like!
Click here to download mp3.
“Daisy Bell” #Love #Music #Mp3
“Daisy Bell” was written in 1892 by Henry Dacre. It is better known as “Bicycle Built for Two.” This melody sounds particularly good on zither, because of the ringing wire strings. Enjoy, and feel free to download and share the mp3.
“Muss I Denn (Wooden Heart)” #Music
This traditional German folk song rose to worldwide recognition with Elvis Presley’s “Wooden Heart.”
I studied German for many years, from middle school through college, traveled to Germany and Austria, and taught German to younger students here in the U.S. I remember learning to sing the original German version of this song, and I also played it on recorder. I was one who chose to play recorder voluntarily. I.e. it wasn’t something required of me in elementary school, unlike my son, who had to learn recorder in third grade and wasn’t thrilled about it. 🙂
The song is about an apprentice/journeyman who must go away for training, leaving his sweetheart back in his hometown. He promises to be faithful, and I like to think he keeps his promise!
I hope you enjoy “Muss I Denn” on zither!
Download “Muss I Denn” Mp3.
“In the Bleak Midwinter” #Music
Several melodies have been written setting the poem,
“In the Bleak Midwinter” by Christina Rossetti
to music. Hear I play the music by Gustav Holst on zither. Reading the poem, you’ll notice it has a Christmas/Nativity theme. But the other stanzas are a great reminder of God’s power at any time of year, and of the truest gift we can give Him – our heart.
Where I live Winter is still in full swing, so I thought I would share this beautiful piece.
I hope you enjoy this arrangement. If you like, feel free to download and share the mp3:
“In the Bleak Midwinter” Mp3
“Aura Lee” #Love #Music
This song became well-known with Elvis Presley’s version entitled “Love Me Tender.” But the melody was composed by George R. Poulton and published in 1861. The song was popularized during the Civil War and is still beloved today. Its modern recognition is proof that this song is a timeless classic. Here I play it on zither for your enjoyment. Feel free to download the mp3 and share it with someone you love!
“Die Forelle” by Schubert #Music #Mp3
Today is the 223rd birthday of Franz Schubert. I did not find this out until yesterday and wanted to record a Schubert piece on zither. Well, the “Ave Maria” I know and love so well would not fly, with accidentals I don’t quickly have access to on this instrument. So I searched for easy piano pieces and found this one, called “Die Forelle” (“The Trout”). Yesterday was the first time I heard this, so I spent many periods during the day arranging and practicing it. I’m pleased with how it turned out and hope you enjoy it, too!
Good Burns Night #Music #Mp3
Tonight is Burns Night, a celebration of Scotland’s National Poet, Robert Burns. Though he died in 1796, his work is still recited and sung by the everyday people of Scotland, over 220 years later. Now that’s a legacy!
Here I share two Burns songs on zither, “Ye Banks and Braes” and the original tune of
“Auld Lang Syne.”
They are not happy tunes, and the lyrics of “Ye Banks and Braes” lament a false love. However, that one is my favorite Burns melody. While I didn’t like the original tune of “Auld Lang Syne” the first time I heard it, it has grown on me now, and I enjoyed arranging it for zither.
Click the links below to download the mp3’s.
“Ye Banks and Braes”
“Auld Lang Syne” Original Tune
Slàinte mhath! (Slanj-uh va!) Good health to ye!
Ode to Joy #Music
If you’ve ever been to a student piano recital, or even if you haven’t, you’ve heard this piece by Ludwig van Beethoven. Adapted from his Ninth Symphony, it is often called “Ode to Joy.” But have you ever heard it played on zither? Now you will and I hope you enjoy it!
Want to learn this piece?
You can learn this and 9 other tunes on zither in my new beginner course! The price is $85 and includes the instrument, accessories, and audio-only lessons. There’s no need to read music, no print, and no Braille. I designed the lessons for anyone who is blind or visually impaired, and anyone who wants to learn to play an instrument by ear.
Course Contents
* Introduction and how to hold the instrument
* Tuning, with reference pitches
* Playing glissandos, the signature harp sound
* How to hold the pick
* Hand and finger position, for playing melodies and chords
* 10 folk songs, teaching melody and harmony for each one
* Tuning in different keys
* Christmas and hymns lessons are available separately
Zither Advantages
Not just a children’s instrument! Many people use the zither to teach children the basics of playing a musical instrument, as well as the concepts of melody, rhythm, and harmony. But it’s not just for kids.
If you’re looking for a lightweight, portable instrument, here it is. At 13″ long, 8″ high, and about 2″ thick, the zither is small. And weighing in at 2 pounds, it’s also very portable.
If you have arthritis or carpal tunnel, you can still play the zither easily. You can use the included guitar pick, or your fingers to create lovely melodies and harmonies.
Since the zither is played on your lap, those with back, neck or shoulder pain can play it comfortably.
As you can hear, the sound is bright, and offers a lot of sustain. This means you can play beautiful pieces without needing complex chords or many notes at a time.
The zither is so easy to pick up and play. After the first few tunings, it will stay in tune for some time. How long depends on the environment, but you can hear when it goes out of tune.
Looking for a way to relax? Playing this insstrument is very relaxing, and is also great for composing your own music, improvising, and meditation.
For More Information
If you have any questions, or you’d like to purchase the zither package and mp3 lessons using PayPal, please fill out the form below. This is not a payment form. Also, ask me about an installment payment plan if you need one.
Alternatively, you can email me directly at:
crystal (@) mysticalstrings.com
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I look forward to sharing the joy of zither with you!
Mystical Strings 
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