A zither is a stringed instrument consisting
of a single string or several strings stretched over a bar, board,
tube, half-tube, or box. It was invented long before our time
in the Far East. In general terminology, any type of stringed
instrument consisting of merely strings and a string bearer and
with or without some form of resonator, is termed a zither. It
is a folk instrument for the Austrian and Bavarian Alps consisting
of a rectangular board over which are strung a number of strings
(usually 4 melody strings and between 20 and 30 accompaniment
strings). The melody strings are stopped against frets on the
finger board while they are plucked with a plectrum.
References:
Baines, Anthony. European & American Musical Instruments.
Viking Press, New York, 1966.
Buchner, Dr. Alexander (translated by Iris
Urwin). Musical Instruments Through the Ages. Batchworth
Press Limited, London, England, 1961.
Haas, Karl. Inside Music: How to understand, listen to,
and enjoy good music. Doubleday, New York, 1984. ISBN:
0-385-18536-7
Hill, Jim. "Lark in the Morning". http://www.larkinam.com/ (20 June 1996)
Hindley, Geoffrey (ed.). The Larousse Encyclopedia of Music. Excalibur Books, New York, 1982.
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