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The kithara or cithara (Greek: κιθάρα, kithāra, Latin: cithara) was an ancient Greek musical instrument in the lyre or lyra family. In modern Greek the word kithara has come to mean "guitar" (a word whose origins are found in kithara).
The kithara was a professional version of the two-stringed lyre. As opposed to the simpler lyre, which was a folk-instrument, the kithara was primarily used by professional musicians, called kitharodes. The kithara's origins are likely Asiatic.[1] The barbiton was a bass version of the kithara[citation needed] popular in the eastern Aegean and ancient Asia Minor.
[edit] Construction
Jewish vase drawing depicting a man playing a kithara with eight strings.
The kithara had a deep, wooden sounding box composed of two resonating tables, either flat or slightly arched, connected by ribs or sides of equal width. At the top, its strings were knotted around the crossbar or yoke (zugon) or to rings threaded over the bar, or wound around pegs. The other end of the strings was secured to a tail-piece after passing over a flat bridge, or the tail-piece and bridge were combined. Most vase paintings show kitharas with seven strings, in agreement with ancient authors, but these also mention that occasionally a skillful kitharode would use more than the conventional seven strings.
It was played with a rigid plectrum (or more modernly called pick) held in the right hand, with elbow outstretched and palm bent inwards, while the strings with undesired notes were damped with the straightened fingers of the left hand.
The kithara was played primarily to accompany dances and epic recitations, rhapsodies, odes, and lyric songs. It was also played solo at the receptions, banquets, national games, and trials of skill. The music from this instrument was said to be the lyre for drinking parties and is considered an invention of Terpander. Aristotle said that these string instruments were not for educational purposes but for pleasure only.
The kithara was the virtuoso's instrument, generally known as taking a great deal of skill.[2]
Sappho is closely associated with music, especially string instruments like the kithara and the barbitos. She was a woman of high social standing and composed songs that focused on the emotions. A Greek mythology story goes that she ascended the steep slopes of Mount Parnassus where she was welcomed by the Muses. She wandered through the laurel grove and came upon the cave of Apollo, where she bathed in the Castalian Spring and took Phoebus' plectrum to play skillful music. The sacred nymphs danced while she stroked the strings with much talent to bring forth sweet musical melodies from the resonant kithara.
[edit] See also
- ^ Maas & Snyder (1989) pg. 185
- ^ Aristotle calls it an organon technikon Politics (1341a)
[edit] Sources
- Kithara in Ancient Greece, Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Bundrick, Sheramy D. Music and Image in Classical Athens. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2005.
- Maas, Martha, and Jane McIntosh Snyder. Stringed Instruments of Ancient Greece. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1989.
 Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Cithara". Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
[edit] External links
 KITHARA - To Move On (Official Music Video) For our supporters in SAIPAN who's been requesting our song at 100.3 KWAW and for those people who felt the pain and the real message of this song, we made this video for you!! THANK YOU SO MUCH!! This video is dedicated and inspired by our friend's brother "MARC SHEEN MESTIDIO" May you rest in peace bro!! Shot and Edited by Boogs San Juan Directed by Pato Location: Talisay, Batangas If you wish to contact KITHARA, you may call or text 0916 3838 777 or leave a message on their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/KitharaPage KITHARA is not under any record label. LYRICS: 1 i tried so hard to forget you but i wont move on i changed my ways, lived without you but it wont go on i find my heart still holding on and it wont let my feelings find their home 2 the more i try to ignore you my heart points to you and when i try to run from you my mind thinks of you i find myself crying at night and my tears wont stop falling coz my heart just stops beating until i say your name CHORUS but i will tell my mind. convince it i dont need you, i dont i will tell my heart , convince it i dont love you, i dont and i will tell myself that i can live without you oh no Though id be lying at least im trying to move on 3 I tried to spend all my time To find someone new Someone who could take this love That once was for you But I don't want to fool someone Just to make me feel alright I need to get you off my mind And so I will find a way **repeat CHORUS BRIDGE one day i know id come to understand ... |  Abba Father - Kithara Abba Father - Kithara www.kithara.nl Somebody feels hopeless Somebody despairs Somebody walks a path alone Watching others walk around in pairs Somebody's in the street now Somebody's in doubt Somebody has no place to go Somebody cries out, saying Abba Father take me higher Abba Father take me home Somebody is hungry Somebody's in pain Somebody sleeps alone in fear Somebody's in shame Somebody needs a friend to lean on Somebody's not there Somebody's looking at the end Somebody's in prayer, praying The Lord our Father will take us home Abba, Father The Lord our Father will take us home Abba, Father, take me home Take me home Original artist: Acappella Written by: Gary Moyers Arranged by: Batje Kanis |  In Your Arms - Kithara www.kithara.nl Through the storms of life Lead me into Your light Give my heart a new song When I'm weak, make me strong By Your word, lead me Into pastures of peace Hold me close, safely rest in Your arms You're my Redeemer Amazing grace My fortress and my hiding place You're my deliverer My solid rock My heart's desire is in You Through the storms of life Lead me into Your light Give my heart a new song When I'm weak, make me strong By Your word, lead me Into pastures of peace Hold me close, safely rest in Your arms Through all creation Your ways are known You are the God who's God alone Let every nation And every tongue Confess that You are Lord of all Through the storms of life Lead me into Your light Give my heart a new song When I'm weak, make me strong By Your word, lead me Into pastures of peace Hold me close, safely rest in Your arms Hold me close, safely rest In Your arms Hold me close, safely rest In Your arms Written by: Tore W. Aas Arranged by: Batje Kanis |  SALPHINX KITHARA and RHOMBOS SEAN FOLSOM SEAN demonstrates three instruments of ANCIENT GREECE: The Salphinx-Trumpet, the Greek Kithara or Lyre (Classical Latin:LYRA), and the Bull Roarer, originally in the shape of a elongated hexagon (Rhombus) in Ancient Greece, this one was made in Australia. Bull Roarers have a world-wide distribution.....(and yes, they are THAT OLD !!!) Sean's Chiton and Himation are by Sharon Devlin Folsom Sean made the Salphinx, his friend Hector Bezanis made the Kithara, and the Bull Roarer is from a Handicraft Shop for Tourists in Australia. |  TO MOVE ON - KITHARA LYRICS + MP3 DL i don't OWN anything :) DL:www.4shared.com |  giannis kithara o aderfos mou paizei kithara tin vradia ton aristouxon tou odeiou kalamatas |  Stilte Kithara |  Kithara o Kendeas kserei na paizei kithara... |  Dimitra Galani - Koutsi kithara |  Stin Ypoga - Dimitris Mystakidis - Rebetiko Kithara This song was released in the United States in 1935 by A. Kosti and Tetos Dimitriadis. Fingering method with open D tuning and Sabah scale. Tuning from bottom string to top string: DAFDAD. |
 Palisadian-Post |
Palisadian-Post
Tue, 01 May 2012 14:04:59 -0700
Timotheus (446-357), who dared to expand the scale on the Kithara by adding four strings to the eight approved by Pythagoras was driven out of Sparta forever. 'These days, when someone does something different, they ignore him to death.
|  hifi News.RU |
hifi News.RU
Wed, 16 May 2012 05:03:09 -0700
Теперь, для монтажа флагманской модели – напольной акустической системы Kithara, не нужно искать твердую точку опоры или искать возможные варианта установки на ковре с дополнительными плитами, для компенсации потерь динамики в области низких частот.
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Media related to Citharas at Wikimedia Commons