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January 12, 2011

Z is for Zither

A zither is any stringed musical instrument whose strings are the same length as its soundboard. There are many styles of zithers. Typically it is composed of a flat sound box with 30 to 40 strings stretched over it and played horizontally with the fingertips, a plectrum, or a bow.

The yatga is a traditional Mongolian plucked half-tube zither and can have 10-21 strings with movable bridges. When I was in Ulaanbaatar, I heard this woman play a 12-string yatga.


Ulaanbaatar, 2007

If you'd like to hear the sound, here is a 23-second video taken in the same small theatre you see in my photo. This tune sounds to me like a pleasant traditional folk song. For a more sophisticated sound, listen to this award-winning player on what looks to be a 21-string yatga.

This is my Z contribution to ABC Wednesday. Check out how others fared with this challenging letter.

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To my regular blogger friends, tomorrow I will slip behind the Great Firewall of China, so I may be unable to post or visit any blogs for the next 10-12 days. See you when I return!

31 comments:

  1. Sylvia KJanuary 12, 2011 at 1:21 AM

    Great post for the Z Day, Francisca! Love the Zither and what interesting information! Hope your week is going well! Enjoy!

    Sylvia

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  2. Roger Owen GreenJanuary 12, 2011 at 1:48 AM

    yatga - great SCRABBLE word. never heard of a half-zither. Nice picture.
    ROG, ABC Wednesday team

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  3. NankaJanuary 12, 2011 at 1:50 AM

    It sounds so similar to the Indian Sitar...loved the sounds and beautiful pictures that accompanied.

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  4. photowannabeJanuary 12, 2011 at 1:52 AM

    The zither sounded quite lovely. Thanks for sharing the exotic sounds with us.
    Enjoy your time in China. Looking forward to hearing all about it when you return.

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  5. Richard LawryJanuary 12, 2011 at 1:56 AM

    I learn something new every week on ABC Wednesday. I enjoyed the videos. I would love to hear a yatga being played in person.

    An Arkies Musings

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  6. RajeshJanuary 12, 2011 at 1:56 AM

    This instrument is very new to me.

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  7. WandaJanuary 12, 2011 at 2:01 AM

    How clever ~~ I've heard of this but didn't enter my mind to use it for Z. Good job, and lovely pictures.

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  8. jabblogJanuary 12, 2011 at 2:41 AM

    I enjoyed both the clips. The prize-winner was justly rewarded. What skill!

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  9. Kay L. DaviesJanuary 12, 2011 at 2:45 AM

    I've used "zither" in Scrabble, but never "yatga" so I'll have to remember that one, Francisca.
    I played both videos and I think I like the first one best.
    What a wonderful post for the letter Z.
    -- K

    Kay, Alberta, Canada
    An Unfittie's Guide to Adventurous Travel

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  10. EG CameraGirlJanuary 12, 2011 at 3:02 AM

    I enjoyed listening to both players but I found the Yatga player the most amazing! Incredible what different sounds and feeling she can coax out of her instrument!

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  11. VPJanuary 12, 2011 at 3:39 AM

    Wonderful, elegant and exotic!

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  12. Leslie:January 12, 2011 at 3:49 AM

    Love the sound of a zither! Good one for today. Hope to see you in Round 8! :D

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  13. DinaJanuary 12, 2011 at 4:52 AM

    Nimble fingers. Beautiful sound.

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  14. LowellJanuary 12, 2011 at 6:38 AM

    I always like zithers...when I was a kid I knew people who played them...but they were small ones.

    Quite nice sounding instruments!

    Does a zither get you in a dither?

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  15. tapirgalJanuary 12, 2011 at 7:33 AM

    You came up with a perfect Z. Gorgeous and interesting as always.

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  16. UnknownJanuary 12, 2011 at 8:11 AM

    Interesting. And nice snaps!

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  17. UnknownJanuary 12, 2011 at 8:15 AM

    Will you look at that beautiful lady jam on that thing??? :-)

    Nice one, Francisca!

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  18. VioletSkyJanuary 12, 2011 at 9:03 AM

    That is lovely sound (in small doses for me).

    Have an enjoyable time in China

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  19. KaoriJanuary 12, 2011 at 9:25 AM

    It kind of looks like the Japanses Koto! The sound is lovely :-D

    And Oh Wow! You're going to the great wall of China! That must be some experience...can't wait till you get back and tell us all about it! Safe travels, Fransisca :-)

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  20. T. BecqueJanuary 12, 2011 at 11:04 AM

    These are lovely. It's beautiful to see the traditional dress too.

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  21. UnknownJanuary 12, 2011 at 12:03 PM

    Have a good trip.

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  22. Anita JohnsonJanuary 12, 2011 at 12:06 PM

    That was great to listen to...a new instrument for me! Beautiful. Havea safe trip!

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  23. FranciscaJanuary 12, 2011 at 1:55 PM

    @Kaori, I'm not going to the Great Wall, I'm going behind the Great Firewall! :-D China blocks all blogs and social media sites! :-D

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  24. Greensboro Daily PhotoJanuary 12, 2011 at 8:48 PM

    Z from Mongolia. This photo and the sound clips are so informative, cultural, enjoyable. My favorite kind of post, one that is situated in a city or country.

    Z is turning out to be a GREAT week!

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  25. Misfit in ParadiseJanuary 12, 2011 at 11:14 PM

    Thanks for the photo and the sound clip. Have a great visit to China.
    Donna

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  26. fredamansJanuary 12, 2011 at 11:26 PM

    Beautiful clothing and instrument. Such colorful photos!!

    http://fredamans.blogspot.com/2011/01/abc-wednesday-z-is-for.html

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  27. UnknownJanuary 13, 2011 at 2:53 AM

    Awesome portraits, Francisca!

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  28. JamesJanuary 14, 2011 at 2:45 AM

    I've heard of Zithers but I don't think I heard one played. Excellent choice and great shots!

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  29. greg urbanoJanuary 14, 2011 at 12:03 PM

    crazy amount of letters in some of those words!

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  30. KaoriJanuary 16, 2011 at 11:48 PM

    Oh my goodness, Fransisca! I just read your comment! haha. I can't stop laughing ;D

    Hope you're having a wonderful trip, with or without the internet!

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  31. London CallerJanuary 18, 2011 at 6:57 AM

    Very interesting!
    This yatga looks very similar to Chinese guzheng!

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