It is so sad that this wonderful instrument has fallen so far out of popularity, and that practically nobody makes them anymore. I've been a musician all my life and I've yet to find one that was in playable condition. I'm only 31 though, so there's still time. Thank you Rolf for sharing this great piece of history with us! So glad you played _The Third Man_ theme 😊
Yes, there is time. and the news isn't so bad. I've been playing several instruments for many years but I didn't start to teach myself the zither until the age of 67 I'm now 69. I now have two new zithers by Horst Wunsche and a Perfekta zither by Anton Brauer that's over 100 years old. Horst Wunsche are excellent. They restored my Perfekta zither and I was able to purchase a new zither from them. You can ask them for a price list and choose the model you want and they will post it to you in any part of the world. You can then send them the payment after you receive the instrument. They are based in Markneukirchen, Germany. They have a website.
@@OoBIWIoO It used to be a thing in Slovenia too, now it's almost forgotten. The most famous Slovenian song on zither is "Cvetje v jeseni". It's still played on national radio every morning.
I play at home every day to keep my callas. Many play this zither in Germany, Swiss, Austria, Hungary, Slovenia Sud Tyrol, Sud Brasil, and about 100 in USA. ( Washington Mo, DC also Pa, Md. NY, NJ, Wisconsin, CO, Cali.
I tried playing one of these at a music store! It ain't easy! Listening to this guy jamming with himself makes me wanna get up and DANCE! I call it happy feet music!
Beautiful! I would love to both dance and later drift off to sleep as he plays his lovely music on the zither! It is joyful to the ears, balm for the heart and soul...and speaks to this German-American girl...thank you for sharing...🙏🏼💕💕💕
Wow...i love this.I hear. Band but I only see one man .Great playing sir the ladies happy happy happy...Gods continued blessings I enjoyed all this video...
I lived several times in Canada in Londen ontario calgary wild rosé country, i can imagine that many immigrants wil love your instrument and will remember and have their own story with the sound of this wonderful instrument.
Thankfully they make Zithers Again & China has em. Optima even makes Special Strings that allow you to use "Extended Vienna Tuning" going all the way down to a C#1 which is the same note you'd find on the 2nd fret of the 5th string on a 5 String Bass.
When I was a young boy I was fascinated by the sound of this instrument, I first heard it when it was used in the film Harry Lime, it became the main theme tune, I then heard Shirley Abicair playing it but she then seemed to concentrate on her singing career. This persons a very good player of this instrument. I loved the Harry Lime bit.
Dear Sir, from the Netherlands its now a write this 2021, a little story in 1966 a went with my father and mother on holidays to austria and we stop by a stand with fruit and a old man was setting by this stand and played the zither at that time a was 11 i never forgot it . What i like by your play is you are moderate with hands it seems to me, workt a lot, a Gentleman respect . Now i am 66 and immidiatly that feeling from then comes in a second back kind regards, tony
I loved this! I have a very old zither I'm going to do a little work to and put strings on. I'm a guitarist and I didn't know how this type zither was played exactly until now! I have something called "The Lion Brand" Thank you for posting this!
Sie sind ein wunderbarer Mensch. Mein Vater spielte wie Sie, und Sie können sich denken, wie es mir geht, wenn ich Sie spielen höre. Ich danke Ihnen und wünsche Ihnen alles alles Gute.
Wonderful playing, Rolf...I wish you could have attended the zither gathering in Washington, Missouri in April along with Tomy Temerson from Hanau, Germany...we had nearly 30 players at the workshops and concert.
I play guitar and this is next level. It’s like playing a guitar and harp at the same time. Thumb picking melody while fingers on the same hand articulating arpeggios? I don’t have that much coordination. Well done!
If you ever learned piano then tried the church organ with the foot pedal bass notes you might begin to understand why this instrument is so difficult to master. Right thumb plucks melody notes. Left fingers fret the melody notes. 3rd and 2nd rt. Fingers play rhythm chotds. Rt. 3rd finger plays bass notes. 4 seperate simultaneous tasks.
Would love to know the titles of the first two tunes, can anyone help please? As an update, the title of the second tune is “Romanze in A”, composed by Otto Erbes.
Rolf, du spielst sehr gut.. ich danke dir und wunsche dich daß du mich inspirien zither zu gelernen sein (es tut mir leid daß mein Deutsch ist schrecklich). My mother had mentioned wanting to learn, and since meine Oma und Opa had paid for paino then cello lessons growing up it would only be fitting for me to get her started. I had helped her with learning piano a little bit and akkordion as well. Cheers/Prost!! ...here is the translation von babelFish/Internet “Rolf, du spielst so gut. Ich danke Ihnen und wünsche Ihnen zu wissen, dass Sie mich inspiriert haben, Zither zu lernen” Ich weiß nicht welche sprache ist am rechtsten 🤷🏻♂️ weil ich die Deutsche lieder von Schumann gesungen Du Holder Künst ich danke dir ... auch du bist’s jaja
Thank you for your response. I am not that familiar with TH-cam however is there a way we can discuss off the community comments. I work with the American quiz show Jeopardy!. I wouldn’t be using your clip on a TH-cam vid.
hi! your playing is incredible! ive been learning to play for a couple months now, do you perhaps have sheet music for the second song you played or at least a name?
This instrument is not at all that simple to play : you need "three" hands : a left melody playing hand, a dumb-hand (a first right hand) to trigger the meldoy notes and a second right hand to play the accompanment notes (block chords or arpeggiated chords). : oops!
Muchas gracias por este regalo.
Toda mi admiración y cariño desde España 🇪🇸❤
I'm officially in love with this instrument
It sound much better in a pub next to the fire after snowboarding the Alps -with a strong beer in front of you 😁😁😁
Amazing! Great instrument that so difficult to play. That particular instrument is beautiful and Rolf's playing is so good.
His hands and fingers do a happy dance! Bravo!
It is so sad that this wonderful instrument has fallen so far out of popularity, and that practically nobody makes them anymore. I've been a musician all my life and I've yet to find one that was in playable condition. I'm only 31 though, so there's still time. Thank you Rolf for sharing this great piece of history with us! So glad you played _The Third Man_ theme 😊
Yes, there is time. and the news isn't so bad. I've been playing several instruments for many years but I didn't start to teach myself the zither until the age of 67 I'm now 69. I now have two new zithers by Horst Wunsche and a Perfekta zither by Anton Brauer that's over 100 years old. Horst Wunsche are excellent. They restored my Perfekta zither and I was able to purchase a new zither from them. You can ask them for a price list and choose the model you want and they will post it to you in any part of the world. You can then send them the payment after you receive the instrument. They are based in Markneukirchen, Germany. They have a website.
In Austria and Germany you find quite a few that are still playable. i got all my Zithers second hand in Austria.
I wonder if it's because it's so hard to learn. Melody and accompaniment on the same hand...
@@OoBIWIoO It used to be a thing in Slovenia too, now it's almost forgotten. The most famous Slovenian song on zither is "Cvetje v jeseni". It's still played on national radio every morning.
@@quincemothman you can get them here in slovenia easly. They're around 2thousand euro
It’s very sad that such a beautiful tradition has been abandoned. Hopefully we can revive this beauty for the future.
I play at home every day to keep my callas. Many play this zither in Germany, Swiss, Austria, Hungary, Slovenia Sud Tyrol, Sud Brasil, and about 100 in USA. ( Washington Mo, DC also Pa, Md. NY, NJ, Wisconsin, CO, Cali.
I tried playing one of these at a music store! It ain't easy! Listening to this guy jamming with himself makes me wanna get up and DANCE! I call it happy feet music!
One of the most beautiful instruments to listen to.
Absolutely beautiful. Made my day! Thank you Rolf!
Beautiful! I would love to both dance and later drift off to sleep as he plays his lovely music on the zither! It is joyful to the ears, balm for the heart and soul...and speaks to this German-American girl...thank you for sharing...🙏🏼💕💕💕
This was very enjoyable to listen to.Lovely instrument and a fine player Rolf is.
What a great experience! Thanks for sharing!
Wow...i love this.I hear. Band but I only see one man .Great playing sir the ladies happy happy happy...Gods continued blessings I enjoyed all this video...
Beautiful. Thank you so much.
I lived several times in Canada in Londen ontario calgary wild rosé country, i can imagine that many immigrants wil love your instrument and will remember and have their own story with the sound of this wonderful instrument.
Pleasure meeting you and listening to the zither here in Ecuador last night. Wasn´t expecting anything like it.
The Zither was used as the introductory theme music for the movie The Third Man.
Thankfully they make Zithers Again & China has em. Optima even makes Special Strings that allow you to use "Extended Vienna Tuning" going all the way down to a C#1 which is the same note you'd find on the 2nd fret of the 5th string on a 5 String Bass.
When I was a young boy I was fascinated by the sound of this instrument, I first heard it when it was used in the film Harry Lime, it became the main theme tune, I then heard Shirley Abicair playing it but she then seemed to concentrate on her singing career. This persons a very good player of this instrument. I loved the Harry Lime bit.
Ah the Third Man was a wonderful movie - that how I fell in love with the zither too!
I remember Shirley Abicair playing the zither back when I was young.
Dear Sir, from the Netherlands its now a write this 2021, a little story in 1966 a went with my father and mother on holidays to austria and we stop by a stand with fruit and a old man was setting by this stand and played the zither at that time a was 11 i never forgot it . What i like by your play is you are moderate with hands it seems to me, workt a lot, a Gentleman respect . Now i am 66 and immidiatly that feeling from then comes in a second back kind regards, tony
I loved this! I have a very old zither I'm going to do a little work to and put strings on. I'm a guitarist and I didn't know how this type zither was played exactly until now! I have something called "The Lion Brand"
Thank you for posting this!
Beautiful!!!
I'm also from Vancouver, Island! He's fantastic
Sie sind ein wunderbarer Mensch. Mein Vater spielte wie Sie, und Sie können sich denken, wie es mir geht, wenn ich Sie spielen höre. Ich danke Ihnen und wünsche Ihnen alles alles Gute.
Absolutely lovely! Thank you!~
It’s like a portable harp, which is insane.
How beautiful!
Impressive technique and timing 👏👏👏
Beautiful!
This is a wonderful vignette of a bygone world. Thanks.
They are hard to find! When I was a boy almost every town had a German restaurant and a zither player on weekends.
👏👏👏👏 Greetings from Austria.
Two talented musicians in one
Wonderful playing, Rolf...I wish you could have attended the zither gathering in Washington, Missouri in April along with Tomy Temerson from Hanau, Germany...we had nearly 30 players at the workshops and concert.
Beautyful people Beautyful instrument Beautyful played, kind regards from the Netherlands
I play guitar and this is next level. It’s like playing a guitar and harp at the same time. Thumb picking melody while fingers on the same hand articulating arpeggios? I don’t have that much coordination. Well done!
a beautiful player.
Hail Nimrod!!!! What an incredible instrument.
Very good - like playing two guitars at the same time.
God bless him
It sounds like a whole band in one! If I wasn't watching I would assume I'm hearing a ukulele, a guitar, and a mandolin
i was just talking to a buddy of mine with an electric ukelele, we could start a band lol
Sehr schön!! Bravo, Rolf
Klasse! :-)
Wenn man das so sieht, scheint es sooo einfach zu sein, die Begleitsaiten zu treffen ... *seufz*
- Respekt! :-)
lindo lindo lindo lindo lindo
maravilhoso , glorioso !!!!!!
Wunderschön ganz toll! Danke
This instrument awaked my death mother to live. wonder-full.....Tears in my eyes and also my heart say Thank you
Lovely..🎶🎶🎶❤🎶🎶
The technique is insane!
If you ever learned piano then tried the church organ with the foot pedal bass notes you might begin to understand why this instrument is so difficult to master. Right thumb plucks melody notes. Left fingers fret the melody notes. 3rd and 2nd rt. Fingers play rhythm chotds.
Rt. 3rd finger plays bass notes.
4 seperate simultaneous tasks.
Ins
Ein wunderbares Instrument, aber in Brasilien wenig bekannt, in dem Land, in dem ich lebe, in der Stadt Jales. Alles Gute, Eliel Pina-
Would love to know the titles of the first two tunes, can anyone help please?
As an update, the title of the second tune is “Romanze in A”, composed by Otto Erbes.
..... Das ist die schönste Zither welche ich je sah, und wunderschön gespielt! Frohe Weihnachten!
P.S. - Ich lebe in Nanaimo!
This is so awesome.
Was wünscht Ihr Euch: Einen neuen Mercedes in geiler Farbe oder diese Zither... für Zither thumps up, for Mercedes thumps down
Rolf, du spielst sehr gut.. ich danke dir und wunsche dich daß du mich inspirien zither zu gelernen sein (es tut mir leid daß mein Deutsch ist schrecklich). My mother had mentioned wanting to learn, and since meine Oma und Opa had paid for paino then cello lessons growing up it would only be fitting for me to get her started. I had helped her with learning piano a little bit and akkordion as well. Cheers/Prost!! ...here is the translation von babelFish/Internet “Rolf, du spielst so gut. Ich danke Ihnen und wünsche Ihnen zu wissen, dass Sie mich inspiriert haben, Zither zu lernen” Ich weiß nicht welche sprache ist am rechtsten 🤷🏻♂️ weil ich die Deutsche lieder von Schumann gesungen Du Holder Künst ich danke dir ... auch du bist’s jaja
perfect, sounds great :))
I have an Austrian zither with fingerboard and I want to replace the strings. Does anyone have any tips?
wunderschön!!!
I can't be the only one who thinks this sounds like music from spongebob especially speedup
Hugo Bernal don’t worry, some areas kind of does sound like it.
YEAH U GO ROLF!! 😤😎👏
Brilliant.
Sounds like a good polka song :)
Very nice
simplesmente magnifíco
Super good.
Lovely but I bet its hard to tune one of those beasts.
Seen this May 2021, did not comment...will now! Brilliant, good job, well done..nice to come back to a talent video, regards
good beautiful
FANTASTIC!!
Who is "Rolf"? I am seeking a zither teacher in the northwest. Thanks for posting this wonderful video.
anyone know the name of the first tune?
Virtuos. Dankeschön
very good
You made my day 😘❤️
rudy knabl zither from walter sandner in Erlangen de.
Bonita melodia
What was the first piece? A polka? Does it have a title?
Super!
Where in Canada?
British Columbia
Wow this is great
Could anyone tell me this is which country's instrument plz？
Germany
It is also played in Slovenia.
Name des ersten Walzers?
Que instrumento é este
is their any youngsters to carry the music on.
What tuning does Rolf use, Viennese or Munich? Sounds great.
Rolf uses the Munich tuning sounds very good. Klemens Holzer
@@klemensholzer1696 Thank you my friend Klemens.
😍😍🎶🎵😀😀😀👍👍👍👍
Hermoso👏
I would like to use a clip from this video, can you please send me your information.
No. I do not give you my permission to use any clips from this video.
Thank you for your response. I am not that familiar with TH-cam however is there a way we can discuss off the community comments. I work with the American quiz show Jeopardy!. I wouldn’t be using your clip on a TH-cam vid.
1a sehr gut
hi! your playing is incredible! ive been learning to play for a couple months now, do you perhaps have sheet music for the second song you played or at least a name?
The second tune is “Romanze in A-dur” composed by Otto Erbes, hope this helps
your very good
Would love to hear him play 'The Cafe Mozart Waltz" from the same film
Từ suy mình biến chữ ra từ tưởng...
juchz! juchz!! juhuuu juchuuu
hello! which is the name of the first song? Somebody knows?
Why don't they say what the music is called?
I'm sorry I don't know the name of the song, I will ask Rolf next time I see him and reply to your comment with the answer if I remember to do it.
What type of either us this
This instrument is not at all that simple to play : you need "three" hands : a left melody playing hand, a dumb-hand (a first right hand) to trigger the meldoy notes and a second right hand to play the accompanment notes (block chords or arpeggiated chords). : oops!
waaaaauuuuu
Geweldig
My cousin plays this in Manitoba