The larger zither family includes such instruments as the Aeolian harp, autoharp, cimbalom, dulcimer, koto, and even the clavichord, harpsichord, and piano.
The part calls for a solo violin, two oboes, two flutes, one English horn, E-flat clarinet, bass clarinet, bassoon, contrabassoon, horn, percussion, two harps and strings.
At thirty he married an English girl, daughter of Jerome Dunn, the alpinist, and granddaughter of two Dorset parsons, experts in obscure subjects — paleopedology and Aeolian harps, respectively.