DeeDee Tibbits plays What Child Is This on Austrian Zither

From her collection of unique antique instruments, DeeDee Tibbits gives a little background on the Austrian Zither and demonstrates What Child Is This.
To download DeeDee's music: deedeetibbits....

[@corjp]

It amazes me where and how you get those instruments and learn to play them..... MY UTMOST RESPECT FOR MY DEAR LADY!!!! 🙏🙏❤❤

[@selahs3110]

Another lovely rendition of a hymn. God has clearly gifted you with musical talent! Thank you so much for sharing it with all of us

[@ctrotter5447]

A very pretty song! Thank you.

[@jacquilayton2557]

It’s Green Sleeves written in 1580 for Anne Boleyn. This is blatant appropriation.

[@andreaalfonzo7525]

I have and play the Viennese Zither. Am from Austria. And just FYI, we call "B" an "H" in German and the B flat is what we call "B". You are right!

[@deedeetibbits]

Thank you! This is so interesting!

[@wendyloo1159]

Yes, Bach used the Natural sign to show the key of B and in his penmanship it looked like an H on his scores. I learned that in music history class!

[@NiclasAsp]

Same in Sweden too. But we have mostly adopted the B now instead.

[@laceandribbonsviolin]

@@wendyloo1159i think that’s how he was able to write music or a fugue with his name in it B A C H

[@Saforra99]

@@laceandribbonsviolin hahaha 😄

[@janicecole2722]

Absolutely BEAUTIFUL!!! One of my favorite Christmas carrols! I love your arrangement and you sang so sweetly!

[@CNder77]

I just came across your videos, man are you talented! So cool you have all these instruments and play so great! I subscribed.

[@hyselwatchandclockrepair1874]

Thank you for sharing this beautiful instrument with us! You have an awesome singing voice that is so smooth and gentle!

[@christineramsey5572]

I found your channel by accident and it has been like a Christmas gift to me! You are so talented and charming, thank you for sharing your talent and all the unusual instruments!

[@MichelleAbiyaghi]

I came to write the exact same thing! My entire family, including 3 kiddos under 7 years old, have loved watching all of these videos!

[@karencollins7340]

Please allow me to be added to the list of listeners who accidentally found this channel. What a beautiful, magical gift. Thank you!

[@bodensee-horn6127]

In German B is called "H" whilst Bb (B flat) is called "B". This regularly confuses Germans when playing with English speaking people vice versa. Flats are called "Bs" or B-chen" (little Bs), sharps are called "Kreuz" (oder Kreuzchen). Nice video!

[@GreggESchneeman]

Harpeliekas are also well known in Latvia, which had a large German population and Sweden, which ruled Latvia for over a hundred years, seem to have introduced them to the Latvians who make and play a larger version. What brand name is on the label? Hopf is the German manufacturer - called Musima during the Russian occupation of East Germany.

[@AngelaKgswifeGorda011482]

Stumbled upon you today and soooo blessed am i to get to not only hear your beautiful playing but very pretty singing! Being from a very German and musical family, this touched my heart deeply! Literally brought tears to my eyes! Well done ❤ Thank you for sharing with the world!

[@mtlicq]

@AngelaKgswifeGorda011482 - Hallo, you _"being from a very German and musical family"_ -- I have a question for you. Can Zither be played with a little hammer thing? instead of being plucked, and is that what a hammer dulcimer is? or completely different?

[@ruthlewis6678]

Thank you. My Dad loved the zither. He's been gone a long time. Memories.

[@musicalmilieu]

Absolutely beautiful and lovely!

[@deedeetibbits]

Thank you so much!

[@jdoesmath2065]

I'm thinking how cool it would be if she were my Grandmother and I got to visit her at Christmas time. I think it would be a fond memory for a lifetime.

[@kathleenborsch1312]

Hi, DeeDee. What a beautiful instrument and performance! I share your interest in various folk type instruments. I can answer some of your questions, though I realize this comes almost a year late. The langeleik is a Swedish member of the rather large zither family. I think the label must be in Swedish. And here is the answer to the "H note" mystery: I read that in Germany, Scandinavia, and Slavic countries, the B note is called H and b-flat is called B. Huh? I hope you understand this better than I can. I never did well with music theory! I also remember reading long ago about J.S. Bach composing something partly based on the letters of his last name. B A C H A question, please: What is that triangular stringed instrument hanging on your wall to your left? I acquired something similar a few years back and have found no info (not Russian balalaika, not Asian, nothing), leading me to think that it is purely decorative, but yours looks playable. I hope to hear more of the langeleik on your channel, as well as other instruments. Thanks!

[@jamesa.rodriguez8598]

Bravo! Your love of music, instruments, and song comes through in your performance. Well played and sung. Your natural beauty is a pleasantry as well. Thank you for sharing.

[@janebishop5885]

That was so beautiful! You are very talented. ... can't wait to tell my nephew to check out your Austrian Zither.

[@tric5122]

My son is in music theory, and said they had learned about this. They sometimes use G or H, but he didn't remember specifically for what, it was a very old way of music thinking.

[@danielj9042]

H is the note B natural in German. Cool instrument.

[@bevfitzsimmonds3382]

Beautiful, DeeDee! Thankyou. Happy Christmas! ❤🎄☃️🎶😊

[@joebeeler990]

Oh how wonderful. I love this ancient melody. Beautifully played.

[@deedeetibbits]

Thank you 🎶

[@brendastajkowski502]

I have just found your video and was so happy to hear zither music. When I was young probably in the late fifties my parents had a LP record of Anton Caras who played on the zither. It brought memories back to me of my childhood.

[@calarch78]

I’m recalling album/track titles like “J.S. Bach H-Moll Messe” which of course is “Mass in B Minor.” I’m curious how that nomenclature developed.

[@hotice8885]

I would DEFINITELY have been begging my parents to visit your house every day after school, had I grown up on your neighborhood! Thanks so much for sharing all of this music AND all the information. Merry Christmas!!

[@robertlangley258]

Wow sounds very nice. You did a good job tuning the instrument and played it quite well. Thank you for a beautiful song you sing very nicely too. God bless and Merry Christmas miss.

[@patriciamartinez5836]

Just lovely. Thank you. That’s my favorite. Happy Holidays to all. May it be blessed with joy and love.♥️💚☃️🌟❄️🎄🎄⭐️

[@mantistoboggan2676]

Ive heard of that H thing before. I think thats how bach allegedly wrote a song involving the chords of his name? BACH.

[@InLawsAttic]

In german H is b and B is Bflat- you are right- love these instruments- your microphone doesn’t do you justice!!

[@jhandle4196]

Weird that "Greensleeves" is a song of utter heartbreak but became a hymn for Christians who aspire glorify sorrow, and suffering..

[@bodensee-horn6127]

But it even gets more complicated: half tones do not just get a "sharp" or "flat" added, but get the ending "-is" for sharps or "-es" for flats. So a G flat is "Ges", G sharp is "Gis" and so on.

[@heldforeverbygod]

So beautiful. I love "What Child is This". Thank you for sharing.

[@jack002tuber]

Wonderful. Big props to you learning to play this. Well done. I hear there is an H in german music. I read once that BACH wrote a song once with his name in it. Must have been german so to get the H there. Keep going with this. 🎶🎶🎶🎶

[@mikesoule1352]

Beautiful, and Sooo unique! 🥰 🎶🎵🎶

[@angrycatowner]

You could add some electric guitar pickups and it would make an awesome electric zither.

[@northernbettygirl]

That was absolutely beautiful! My eyes immediately teared as the music touched my soul. What an exquisite talent God had bestowed upon you. The gift of music. May God bless you! Merry Christmas

[@AmyAndThePup]

One of my favorite Christmas carols. Thank you so much for the fascinating story of how you got this beautiful instrument. Your singing and playing were beautiful.

[@ittybittykittymama7582]

Simply beautiful! Do you know "Bring the Torch, Jeanette Isabella?" I love all the old European carols. Your voice is so rich and lovely, perfectly suited to these carols of yesteryear which tell of the Babe in the manger, not Santa or reindeer or any other modern holiday cheer! Thank you!

[@hollyharps]

So beautiful! And an amazing find. I was thrilled to find a five-chord guitar zither, but this is ten! Your zither is also called a chord zither. You should check out Etienne de LaVaulx. He does chord zither videos. I think he would love to see your instrument.

[@bobvecchi304]

Antique Roadshow may be able to shed some light on the history of the instrument as well as possibly its value.

[@kurtremislettmyr7108]

whst a beautiful instrument! The word "harpeleik" is Norwegian, but they were produced in Germany.

[@deedeetibbits]

Thanks for that info….im always learning more about these wonderful instruments!🎹

[@robinmarks5638]

What a beautiful instrument!! Lucky you! Girl you are so talented! Playing all those instruments! So enjoy your channel!

[@omatina6234]

You are right tymmiara5967. I learned, in former times, they wrote a square b for B, and a round b for B flat. One of the copyists left out the lower part of the square, so it looked like an h - unfortunately this cought on and we have the idiotic row A-H-C-D-E-F-G unless we have F-major/d-minor, then it's A-B-C-D-E-F-G 🤓 . Very nice Version of this song 🤗 - I never saw this Zither in Germany, but a similar one, that has a few chords on the left side, and either chromatic or diatonic melodystrings on the right side, like the Mandolin-Zither, but with only one string per note. It's called Gitarr-Zither, Harp-Zither or Chord-Zither.

[@deedeetibbits]

Yes… I have a couple of those others…but this one is quite different!

[@rachel5736]

Enjoy your Christmas video’s♥️

[@caroleadams5050]

That's is awesome!!!

[@majie_mj]

I love your videos!!! Thank you for sharing music to and with us!! I wish you a very merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!❤🎉😊

[@genea.p8578]

You absolutely are amazing. I'm so glad that I found your channel. What a niche gift you have to learn and play so many different types of 2:45 unusual instruments. Thank you for sharing your talents with us. Merry Christmas and God bless.

[@c.t.murray3632]

What a beautiful instrument has a wonderful sound and you did a great restoration.

[@stevenkaskus6173]

Very beautiful clear and "Brite" sound, can hear every note ❤

[@the1_grammy503]

Incredible!!! And thank you for singing it as well! AMAZING!!!

[@richardbedard1245]

What a beautiful sound that instrument has. Thank you for bringing it back to life. And thank you for sharing your wonderful talent with us!

[@gaelstrarai]

Never heard of this instrument before,I love how bright the tone sounds!

[@KayElayempea]

It is a beautiful instrument for this song too!

[@margaretjaeger2064]

It does have a decidedly different sound than our American mountain zithers..and this is fuller and quire lovely.

[@bathbedbook]

Before you began playing I was expecting you to play with a pair of sticks like the Dulcimer. So my question is could this be played like a Dulcimer? Beautiful hymn by the way ❤

[@deedeetibbits]

I have played it with a drum brush… kinda cool too… but a hammer doesn’t seem to do the job!

[@Mystik-Kitty]

Great Job!❤

[@jonathanbethards3689]

what a beautiful instrument, and you played it beautifully as well. thanks for sharing.

[@patriciaemeigh4370]

Another eye opener. Beautiful song, beautifully played. Thank you!

[@kathleensmithcreations2082]

Such a gift and a blessing! You are an amazing woman. Your instruments are amazing and have a spirit of passion, through you.

[@amyjervis6819]

Fascinating instrument, and an exquisite experience to hear you play it and sing. Thank you for this. 0:15

[@SherryStclair-o5q]

You are very talented, love the fact that you are not a show off! Just very talented and sweet

[@karloarsch1579]

You are the first Zither player that I see, holding the instrument like this. Every Zither player turns it 45°, the strings should be parallel to your body.

[@deedeetibbits]

I found out that it was easier to get to all the chords this way! Then damping them before the next chord.

[@randygreen007]

It’s always such a blessing to hear you play and sing! Merry Christmas to you. ❤️❤️

[@tamipeden2864]

Beautiful, thank you for sharing❤

[@IDCrish]

Awesome! did you ahve to replace strings? Im having a dificult time understanding about this strings.

[@deedeetibbits]

No… all but 2 of the strings were still on, and tunable! If I decide to replace the missing strings, I’ll use autoharp strings… after measuring them. Thanks for watching!

[@GreatDayEveryone]

You say I tuned it up like it's no big deal, but I bet that was a huge job

[@middler5212]

You’re a treasure!

[@elizabethrichards2085]

I learned to play this song on the piano as a teenager. I'd love to learn all the amazing instruments you have played, one day. Fabulous sounds.

[@Janescheekychickens]

Wow! I've only just came across you this evening. You have a lovely voice and your talent for these old instruments is amazing. I love Christmas music and what child is this is one of my favourites. I Found an old hymn book in a charity shop here in UK where I live and it actually has this song in it and it has three verses...I've heard many different choir and singers performe it. And it is a rarety that they sing all three verses sadly.. But it's still one of my favourites.👌 Thankyou for performing it.💝

[@dianestephenson7639]

This is the 3rd video i have come across. i sm very impressed, God has gave you a beautiful voice & a rare talent for being able to learn a lot of instruments,,,thank you for sharing your wonderful gift ❤

[@EmeraldAngelEyes]

A fascinating instrument, making for a beautiful rendition of a classic carol. Thank you for sharing these rare gems with us. Also, I wondered if you would share more about the triangular instrument on the wall next to your piano? Is it a balalaika?

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

Greensleeves is the same tune but different words.

[@lisapully9274]

This was so beautiful, ❤️ WOW!

[@DaisyTea1]

What a magically beautiful instrument! ❤ Thank you so much!

[@ГалинаМартынова-ч1е]

КАК БУДТО БЫ В 14 ВЕКЕ ПОБЫВАЛИ БЛАГОДАРЯ ВАМ!!! УДИВИТЕЛЬНАЯ СПОСОБНОСТЬ МУЗЫКАЛЬНЫХ ИНСТРУМЕНТОВ ПЕРЕНОСИТЬ СЛУШАТЕЛЯ ЧЕРЕЗ ГЛУБИНУ ВЕКОВ!!! СПАСИБО ВАМ, ТАЛАНТЛИВАЯ И ТРУДОЛЮБИВАЯ ЖЕНЩИНА!!!

[@deedeetibbits]

I LOVE that these instruments can DO THAT!!! And… I love how people have learned and created music with them! Thanks for expressing that 😊

[@leonardallen7380]

Absolutely amazing 🎶 🎵 ❤

[@LJ-rn1kz]

That was wonderful! Thank you so much for sharing this. I really enjoyed it. :)

[@leandawhittington7239]

Beautiful.... thank you for sharing your talent. ❤ .

[@Rattleox]

Brought tears to my eyes. Thank You.

[@crystalclearwindowcleaning3458]

What a beautiful arrangement for zither and voice. Very worshipful.

[@wayland76]

Would love to see a collab with Rob Scallon!

[@cecile862]

My heart is stilled, my thoughts softened. Your singing while playing is simply beautiful. An unexpected blessing this Christmas Eve morning. Thank you!! All grace and joy for you this coming year.

[@pmac4779]

What a beautiful zither. I remember vaguely hearing you of them when I was a child.

[@SuzanneStutzle]

That was beautiful and what a lovely instrument. I am not musical at all but I love music but not all music. LOL

[@deedeetibbits]

Glad you liked that one🎶

[@lizsummers6818]

I can't LOVE this enough!! I have a feeling that the maker of that beautiful zither is extremely pleased you are playing it!

[@SwirlingSoul]

Absolutely lovely to listen to! 🥰

[@redwoods7370]

First read the title as "Australian Zither" and just had to know what in the world that would be. Ha ha ha. This is beautiful!

[@deedeetibbits]

The sticker inside the instrument also says Harplieke Zither.

[@VintageToysASMR]

What an interesting history, and perfect choice of song for that amazing instrument. So rich sounding.

[@padreevandrocalvoso1958]

Magnífico!!!! Eu amei... é muito bonito.

[@jaspercain1691]

Jus wanted to hear the instrument 🎸😔

[@Lauren-vd4qe]

I thought the strings wd b tuned like a piano, with the higher notes on the right hand side, and lower notes on the lefft hand side.

[@deedeetibbits]

No… the chords are all separate. Each one tuned to the 1-3&5 of each chord from low to high.

[@kenwebster5053]

Fantastic, thank you so much.

[@josephriley8346]

Have you released an album containing the Christmas carols, using all these unique Zimers as the theme?

[@deedeetibbits]

Yes, I sure do! You can check out my album/digital downloads: deedeetibbits.com/product/in-the-still-of-winter/

[@tymmiara5967]

Hahaha, yes, I grew up in Poland and I also grew up thinking that after A comes H and the flat version is B. I don't know what the history behind this is, but from what I read, it had something to do with medieval music

[@deedeetibbits]

Thanks for your feedback!

[@liuyushi18]

Thank you for sharing these cool instruments with us! I'm also stunned by how beautiful your singing is, goes wonderfully with the instrument 🎉🎉

[@chromedome2378]

WOW! You are so talented. Thank you for sharing it with us

[@vijayarao5823]

Thanks for showing new musical instruments and entertaining us with melodious music

[@johnwhite6005]

You have a beautiful voice.

[@kristenfrosch]

My daughters and I have been listening to your Christmas music on antique instruments all morning. We're so happy to have found your channel, your music and voice is wonderful and the passion you bring to these unique instruments is heart warming. We're also passionate about music and unique instruments, although not quite antique - so we really appreciate your channel!

[@charlesdolphinboy]

beautiful deedee! * thank you for your rendition * so soothing 🙏 🕯 🌙 🏵 🎶

[@donnagavin4825]

Beautiful! You make it look so easy and I know it's not. Thank you.

[@beauty.of.the.struggle]

Do you have any instruments that are traditional to Norway?

[@deedeetibbits]

No I don’t… what would I look for?

[@ArchFundy]

Nicely done. Tks. I'm curious. Which came first... this song or Greensleeves?

[@deedeetibbits]

Lyrics for What Child Is This were written in 1865, then added to the tune of Greensleeves in 1871. Greensleeves came well before.