Violinzither
 Violinzither with five sets of accompianing strings | |
| Other names | Violinharp |
|---|---|
| Hornbostel–Sachs classification | 314.122-71 |
| Inventor | Clemens Neuber |
| Developed | Early 20th century |
| Related instruments | |
| Ukelin | |
The violinzither or violinharp is a string instrument of the zither family, invented in 1925 by Clemens Neuber in Klingenthal.[1] The instrument is a cross between the fretlesschord zither and a concert zither.[2]
History
The instrument normally has eighteen melodicstrings arranged in two vertical rows, with the scale alternating between rows. The instrument has a diatonic tuning in C major, with a range of two and a half octaves, from c' to f'' (C4 to F5). Some models of the instrument were also created with semichromatic or chromatictunings.[3] with five or six sets of strings serving as an accompaniment, which are plucked with the left hand. A violin bow (about 55cm long) held by the right hand is used to play the melodic strings.[4]
A variant of the violin zither, the concert violin harp, was created by Max Lausmann. Many violin zithers were sold under the name "Kalliope" by the company C. A. Wunderlich.[5] Violinzithers have been manufactured luthier C. Robert Hopf since the 1920s.[6]