Quo usque tandemSince 2009, or 2010, the operation of the zither exhibition has unfortunately been ensured completely without subsidies, i.e. from previous subsidies from the KÚ MSk, the Landek Foundation and once even the Ostrava City Hall. Nevertheless, the exhibition, albeit with considerable costs, is still successfully operated in its original scope, as evidenced by the entries in the visitors' book. The introductory Latin quote: "quo usque tandem?" fully applies to this situation. For more details, see the text of the letter on the tenth anniversary of the exhibition (or the Jubilee Annual Report...), which unfortunately remained "unheard" by the relevant cultural institutions of the city and region. |
 |
What do we actually know about the zither?Last year, a seminar and concert of the Vienna Zither Quartet, led by Mrs. Hannelore Laister, took place at the Janáček Conservatory in Ostrava. More link |
History of the Zither in Bohemia, Moravia and SilesiaAround the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, zithers were very widespread in Bohemia and Moravia and numerous zither clubs were established. The "First Prague Zither Club" was established in Prague in 1875. More link |
Some advice for beginning zither players The text is compiled for those who are starting today or are interested in learning something about the zither. It is not a comprehensive theory or school of play, but a collection of advice and knowledge. More link |
We inform:International Zither Seminar in PelhřimovCITERÁRIUM - new exhibition in the ground floor hall "Compendium" (download PDF file) "Catalog of the Citerarium Depository or 555 Zithers" "Citer in Bohemia, Moravia and Silesia" in the Czech Republic is available for those interested Visiting days in CITERARIUM: ONLY BY PRIOR ARRANGEMENT! |
 |
Reference
Live recordings of zither club members
Zither Playing School - C. Brožovský (download PDF file)
Catalogue of the Citerarium depository or 555 zithers
Book - Zithers in Bohemia, Moravia and Silesia
Book - Zither in Böhmen, Mähren und Schlesien
Book - Memoirs of a Zither Player
Zither CD
Viennese and normal tuning - what is it really like?
Citrium - women's zither trio
Announcement of winners and presentation of prizes
I HAVE TURNED MY ZITER AS DEEPLY AS POSSIBLE ...
I have tuned my zither as deeply as possible
and I sing a quiet accompaniment to it late in the evening.
A player of rosy, melancholy, sultry moods,
I want the strange magic of old poetic ballads.
And on my inherited zither I play only to those, only to those,
who listen to the morning in uncertain nights into the distance..
My melodies want to have the sadness of all that
that grew, blossomed and matured in vain for no one.
And to have that hope and indefinite tenderness,
which wants to sprout in the heavy soil of the distant shore,
and to have a sound that tempts timid, yet delicate senses,
the vibration of strong strings muffled by muters,
and they want to have intimacy in the silence of prolonged staccatos,
when in the lowest positions they are about to cry through the darkness...
I play my inherited zither only then,
when the moon is just about to rise and darkness is still in the region,
my fingers always tremble nervously on the strings,
when I sing my silent accompaniment late in the evening.
I tuned my zither as deeply as possible...
/ Vladimír Vorel based on a poem by Karel Hlaváček/
