| Violinzither | |
| Names: | Violinharp |
| Hornbostel Sachs: | 314.122-71 |
| Inventors: | Clemens Neuber |
| Developed: | Early 20th century |
| Pitch: | medium |
| Related: | 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 fretless chord zither and a concert zither. [2]
The instrument normally has eighteen melodic strings 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 chromatic tunings. [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]