Collecting Instruments

It is rare for musicians to own just one instrument. No two are alike, each has its own personality, its  own attributes. Of course, this isn't very practical with larger instruments, like keyboards. Even there, I have a friend with four harpsichords, each unique.

I think most of us start off thinking the first instrument is everything we want: sufficient in itself. Then we spot another that is somehow different, special in its own way. Desire turns into obsession, and we find ourselves with a new family member.

Of course, professional musicians have good cause. There are, for example, different sizes of instruments and any serious musician needs each. Or, there are different styles; in the case of my harpsichord-owning friend, there are many different styles, or flavors, each with a distinctive sound and touch.

So, I found myself staring at a new zither near Munich just this week. I knew instantly that I had to have it. It was sufficiently different from my more traditional instrument, with a magnificent sound and a nicer touch. It is what is referred to as a "Psalterzither," a modern design first developed by Ernst Volkmann. It is bigger, more clear and resonant than my "Luftresonanz-Concert Zither." In 60-second interval I considered whether I could afford to spend the money and take it home with me; I quickly decided "yes" and "I'll do whatever it takes." There really was no hesitation.

Was this a practical decision? No. Did I need another zither? No. Yet, like others I find myself strangely energized: simply owning a new instrument evokes new possibilities, renewed commitments to practice more, an increased sense of investment. The instrument is a thing of beauty in itself.

I'm not the first to buy an instrument I really don't need (nor is this my first time!), nor am I the last. Man is naturally a collector. Of course, I have to be wary: while I have the two major different styles of the zither in this size (diskant), there are at least three other sizes: bass, alto, and quint. Indeed, I considered an alto zither, but it is just too big for me, and would have been a nightmare to get home. I know of few lutenists with just one lute, no serious recorder player has just one recorder, and even guitarists often have multiple instruments, perhaps each more similar than different.

I point this out to convince myself that I'm not crazy. At least not crazier than others.