1987-03, Dulcimer Players News Vol. 13 No. 3 by Dulcimer Players News

Summer 1987

NEWS

THE QUARTERLY JO URNAL FOR DULCIMER ENTHUSIASTS

$3.00

Inside: Robert Force · Song O/The Sea · Th e Sociable Dillcimer · Club News flints For Til e Pctrified Performer · Questions· and Answers ' TUII CS, Reviews. and more..

Dulcimer Players News Vol. 13, No.3 路 Summer 1987 芦) 1987 路 All rights resen 'cd The D~ P~'I NtwS is pJblishrd four times eacb year. Issues ~ malkd (via 3rd class) 10 ~bers m J3J'Wf)'. April, July and October. Suh5cnptions in !he Uniled SI3It:S an: 512 per year, $21 for two years.. One year 1st cb1s subsair,tion is SIS. Canatb: 5 14 per )tlr.

Cllhcr countnes (surface mall): $ 14, (8Ir mail - Europe): $ 16,

(au mall 路 Asia); S18. In the UmlCd StaleS a rt:duced price of 582S is available for people who are unable 10 lXIY !he filII 5ubscriptioo price bC'caWle ol financial difrlcullics. Recent b:lcl: mues are usually available. Cost per rtCCflt issue is 53.73 in the USA (1l'IC1udes po5I3gC).

Madeline M:u:J'Icil, EdilOr P.O. Dox 2164 Winchester, VA 2260 1

703/"65-4955 Columnists Hammer and Fretted Dulcimer Bui lding: Sam Ri ....zclla

Dulcimer Clubs: Jud, Ireton Fretted Dulcimer Playmg: Lorraine Lee Hammer Dulc imer Pl3ying: Linda Thompson Underst:l.nding Music: l'aul Furnas What's New and Reviews: Ca rrie C rompton

Cover Design: J eff UtliO\\ liz Cover Photo; Dale lJIindhcim Subscriptions: Joan Nauer

Table of Corrtmts

Music EKhangc Song of the Sea b, Mjt:i~ ColliM APfX\I:Ichian Ml "Scanlin" byM~,...R(1M.~eJ Evtnts CaIcndar The Answer Column by Sam Rjll~flD Duk:imer Playcr5 NOICbook by WriliM f~t Jonah's Dream by Wraiu Lu The Sociable Dulcimer by Puul FurltlU

J S 7 10 II 13

WI1;J.\'S New Reviews

14 16 18 19

Hammer Dulcimer Column by Lifllid 7'htJmpstJ,.

Bobby Cuey'!

25 27

hllerview with Roben Forte by MudtliM MacNrif Jubilee arT. Sally Ro~rs Duk:imc:r Oubs Column by Jildy IrtfOll Classified Ads

Please do not reprint or redistribute without permission. Contact dpn@dpnews.com

30 31

Each time I ....Tile a !clIO'" from the editor for Dulcimer Players News. there seems 10 be some sctllenec like, "This is an exceptionally busy time for me." Finall y I realize that things am I1II'ely quiet III'OUnd hcte, that I will always be juggling this event 10 handle !hat event. :u.I that I p-oOObly 'NOUldn't liave it any other way! However, some major projecl generally IlliTcrs 10 some degJte. This time it is the planning of a year of Dulcimer PlayeB News, and perhaps beyond that. By the time you're reading !his, I hope 10 have CQnIllCICd everyone who lias sent in articles, inlCtVicws and IlfT2I1gemcnts and 10 have given them some idea of wll:at is happening here. ThislJ an ClIceptionally busy time. (I didn't promise: 10 Slop saying iLl I began reconing a new album in April and in a few days will go do session work on sort'II:One elsc:'s project. Then comes a trip 10 Wisoonsin for some pedOOlling/leaching. want 10 finish the DPN, or at least gel 10 a comfortable spot, befm the Wi.Iconsin trip. So, this week is yours! Your ideas have been coming in. and!hm is woodcrful. Each 0{ the columnists solicits your questions and responses and I want 10 hear from )'00 wi!h Ieuers 10 the edilCl' and questions :u.I answers for the Music Exchange coIwnn. Also, something new has come 10 mind. So rmny of)'OO am doing sprx;ial things and arc receiving awards. Perhaps the cotwnn cou1d be titkd Pin A Rose: On My NoliC or, Good For Me! We want 10 share your COI1gr&1U1alory news with the wlcimer world. Read !his issue's column and see the kind of matcriaI we wanllO roceive, Ihcn tell us wllat has been happening 10 you. I enjoyed the letters we rteeivtd on the ropic of volunlOCring and music. Youll find man: lenas in this issue. The tOpic is not closc:d, 001 rd like 10 open atIOI.her. Wben you read Linda Thompson路. oolwnn concerning perl"onnanee jitters. you'll see her discussion of memornbIe moments in music. As a pctformer, I've had them. Let's hear aboua 50fTIe of)'OUtS. To lead off the SlIXy lleS:Sion, 111 1e1l )'00 thai some years ago I played for an ouldoor wedding where the best m:lll was a tw:Jrsc. The hooe actually oonduelCd i:self in exempbry fashion; IlOl quite.so with a few of the ushO'S. I set up my fretlCd dulcimer and guilar in the spOllO which I was diteclCd. Then a couple of the ushen informed another usIIer thai I was siuing whenl the twJrse was planning 10 SUlnd. While Ihis discussion (read disagrcemelll) ccntinued, I lOOt no cllm:es. I went and sat with the flowers. The horse did wtU; I did well; !he: wedding was lovely. This is no horror SIOf)'. I have a couple 0( I~m 111 share sometime. In 1982 Seth and I moved 10 Hillsboro, Virginia, a channing vilLage in Loudoun County. This pasl September we moved 10 !he country near Strasburg, Vilginia. During our stay in Hillsboro, I mentioned the (IOSl offICe and CMrlolie James ;n my editor's 1e\ll:2" a few times. I don'l ClIpect you 10 remember what I wrote, bul I wanlCd 10 share this special bely with you. Even though our 路Orrl(:iaI" post o/Tocc is in Winchester, I made a

---.

spocial point of Ulking !hings home 10 Hillsboro 10 disp:ltch Trom there. Not only did Ch3rIouc's face light up wlalrd bring in dozens of subsl::ription renewal reminder postCaJds.. pacl:llgcs and SlaCks of DPNs, ~'d help me stick sumps and we路d discuss all kinds of things. She IOld me (lI'ICe tMl Dulcimer Players News helped keep (with the revenue) !he post orfice open. In February Scih went through Hillsboro 10 pick up a Iasl minult DPN ad that II:Id arrived !here. I sent along a little heart filled With ./CUy beans for her, as it .",-as close 10 Valentine's Day. Seth IOId me she looked tirtd, but sh: was sweel as always. In April I happened 10 drive through Hillsboro and stoAlCd 10 soc her. My post o/T" friend had died a few days befon:. She helped me be in !OUCh wi!h you on maIly occasions, .so I just wanted you 10 know. When Dale lJIindhcim visited wi!h Sc!h and me in M:lrt:h, 1986. he lOOk D. piclum of our post orrICe and mc. Don't you agree that ii'S an inviting place? Here's 10 you, Charlouc. My gmlefu l thanks go 10 Jeer Lefkowitz woo not only did the COVO" for this issue, bul helped .",ith the layout of ads as well. Have a good. musical swnmcr. I'll chal with )'00 again in

"'_.

Please do not reprint or redistribute without permission. Contact dpn@dpnews.com

Letters SELF STICK Return Address LABELS

DcarDPN: I thought that readall might be intcrnsted in knowing WI L Allen Smilh's CmaID,~ Of Prt!-Revivol ApptJ1ac/lian Dulci_r$ is avaibbie from

DESIGNED WITH YOU IN MIND . O.. lgn colon : blue , gr•• n, red, black or gold . Add, . . . II In bllck . Up 10 20 lell.,. lind SpIIC •• per

Columbia University Press, ]36 S. Broadway, lrvinglOl1, NY 10533. The book: lists for S2.S, but is on sale for 514.95 plus $311and]ing. The cnIl number is YM -3760. Tony Pino

line, up 104 IIn •• . Speclfy d •• lgn, color end quentlty . Pl •••• S1 pu lIem I •• 11 rs' c l ••• pollsge ,

•••

22S(ellke) $1. 95 450 (silk.) $10. 50 1,000 (slike) $1'.50

Dear DPN: [ would like 10 receive the addresses: of any subscribers 10 your magru:irte in Ofdtr 10 get in touch with them.

Mr. Cladisson Barbosa t Sih·a Pmca Perc:ira de Ar.!ujo, 14 SSSIS - Amlll"llji

Pemamburo, Brazil VoI Unlefl" in land Musk

I~ _,.,. ~~l .. _•.n"•• , _e".t ..... .:- ~

......

A- Hammered Dulcl mer

ill'

NI'n.; ,\It! Y '1',>111'"

:.:k:"~ :0' No-.. ,'.tlw" ,,"

B- Fretted

ftJ

,r.:...

Dulcimer

N01lt-"'~ '. Y

VOl/HI!

.« _1,._

: : : ;Ho .. •1'.01

_c..._ .O H~

C- Folk Herp

~_~'W" :;Z .. ~~-

""'" CatIWo, 0I0i0 ~

D' Treble

e 'et

NOTE -ABLY

•.,S

Sc.,"

YOURS Aoed

Capl.e Ne. Culls'., OH 45344

ljyouYe ~r Ilwwghl aboUilakillg your mlUic 10 a sc/wxJl, a lIursillg ~ or OIMr simillu pkJce and If you jUJI Med a 1/11/4 ''''",,,,as'''_ItI, ,eod all. Do YOII haw: ldeos and/or suggeSliOIlS /01' Olher

DPN readers? IVrile 10

lIS.

Dear DPN: We have a Ronald McDonald House in Roanoke, Virginia which houses fwnilies of hospital patients, and oflC:ll cllemolhc:rupy ptltienu as well. I have become an informal chaplain to the house. and every olIlct Tuesday I join with anyone interested for h:lIf an hour of scripwte. shanxi experieoces, and music/song. or course, I take my duleimer! Ifs a gn:at ice-breaJcer as I SCt it up, play with nne.. tuning, and tall: about what this funny string-plucker is, anyway. We begin and eM with song from one of my popular .!Ony11ymn books. I usually chord the song. rmnsposing to "CO chords if need be (although the instrument usually is tuned to itself). I do Imow by heatt the not.cs 10 "AmWng Grace" and "Shabn My Friends", and I usually aooompany them with strummed notes

""'" "'" """"'-

These worshi~ times are always moving. The people are thenl uOOer great stress of illness, penonaI or of I loved one. The House has become

thcir home and family. The seripturo, their sh:aring, and the music help them move OUt of themselves into a new dimension d life. I am always docpIy touched by the suength and the depth that crisis can bring forth in a1ll:inds of

""""".

Bill O~i""r

Roanoke, VA

DearDPN: Teaching foil: music all community college has led me 10 a relDtionship with a group 0( very special "former students." These people, aged 30 10 almost SO, ItJd taken cla$o;cs in dulcimer and Autohatp from me in previous years, and we aU have somehow fonned a bond of close friendship Lh3l has lingered on. We still meel once a month for music and p>lIocl: and, although it is over 100 miles tOUnd trip for me. these monthly meeting.! have become: an enriching highlight of my life. Branching OUI from what they had originally learned, our group has added hatmonica, accodion, guiw, pc:miSSion and musical saw, the music rnnging (ron Cajun to German waltzes.. t.iany of the folks, from all walks ol life, have been through severe physical illnesses or hardships previously. but die spirit of love and music has brought us all together aIlI given something unique and exciting 10 all of our lives. We luve had problems, like any other groups, and here ate some of the ways we solved them. Number one was gcu.ing the folks 10 gain enough self.. confidence 10 play .... ith enough volwne for the rest of the croup 10 hear, and nnally 10 "do a licl:" by themselves. Gmdually, through friendship and mll1U:ll lUullirtg. even the lillie mice in our group have comeout of the wood\lo'Olk and blommed!

Our repertOire is oomplttely open. We found that each person has unique abilities an:! song favorites, and we all ·show and teU" when we fecI ready (I" have SOfTICIhing new we're excilc:d about The new mau::riaI i5 usually copied and handed out 10 the group. Patien::e in teaching basic timing and 00s;c iIMxI<y $IlouId definitely be D prerequisite in swUng any group of people who are new 10 the an of playing music. But il cenairtly pays off with new friendship. new growth and vitaliI)'. and a positive ou:Jook 00 life. Judy Dfts FaytUtville, Arfcansas

' ..... Please do not reprint or redistribute without permission. Contact dpn@dpnews.com

Music Exchange 1bc Music Exc:h3nae column is fot' pcclIHc ~ 10 fl!ld arrangemenu d favmlC IOIlp and tunes. and toWCCS of old music remcmbaal from dilldhood. abo bw:1ude

"tin

rcqueslS for OUI.a·prilll albums. musical iUXSSOiies. and ..,ylhinl eIx tppIicabk II IlIis jownaL Tbere Is no c:harze for

"""""-

PI~

Nott: II is very

impooanllh3t readers respcntina 10 these mjUCSIS xnd copies d the information 10 Dulcimer Players News ., ~ CIWI sh3It: wilh other n:adm. Answer1 and questions ~ always welcome.

I wonder if it would be possible for you 10 ftnd and publish a COUI'IICd cross stiJch pnut.m for. mountain dulcima. The hammeted dulcimer pwcm in the fall 1986 issue was great but needs COn1pllny. IUImJ Cuotn)O &liWI N~: l.btow 1/wlJ II poIlt',. [or II moWUaill dulcilM., cross SltlCit pic/we u:isu. C/lII)\:I1I MtdJework: people ~lp lIS 01111

When

visiLina the Hall d Presidents Last spring.

in Amc:rd's tahibU .. Epcu

I heard • .sonc durin& the Civil W. pan d the show that I'd Iikc 10 fll¥llhe wM1s and music for. I can only rcnember '",,'0 lines, flOrn diffcn:nt VeneI: "One 1W)fe blue. one wore iflY.~ "One was ,cruJc, O'IC was kind." The JUt 01 the lOI'II is Ih:lI. two brothers 'NCnt 10 the Civil W. 00 opposilC sides, and only a.e carne Ixlck. l\oe been IOId that the I0Il& m:I.)' be an old Weaver( tune, but I'm unable 10 rUid any "in print" boob or~. Can )'011

help?

Kat hl«n G. Wa gntr 601 Railroad SL Danville, PA 1782 1 blow of lIIl)'UllC i.1 !he Saaamcnrc(Davis, California IrU who Ir)'Q\l

plays the dulcimer, I would rt.aIly like 10 get in 1OUCh. Saaamenul has not povcd

10 be the heart and touI of dulcimer playcn. I fed Mll'l'lCwhat like the Lone

...""

Susan McDonald

I "WOUld like 10 know if anyore has the music and words 10 the aospcl song

"Man In The MitkiIe." Th.1n1:)'OII. Dayid Gilmore 537 Raven Road Valpairaiso. IN 46383

We'vc had I request from I DPN reader abouI. abc wondo1"uI Wlcimcr pll>tt/sinFr DcIOIby <:arteJ-. Has she InIdc artuns rcocnlly? Is she peri"onninj? Re Ldgh Ann Hardcasllc's spring 1987 Music ElIchange requcst,1 have abc following information (but no sheet music) far '"The Teddy Bear's PIcnic." The lyrics are by Jimmy Kennedy, music by BratIon. GrtCI Tiger Prt:ss (La JoIb, CA 92028 and 131 Trafalgar Rd., London. England SE IO-9'ru) piblished. book (still in print) in 1983 with the lyrics and !iOmt woodcrful iIIustnltiom by Alu.andra Day. II comes with a recording of the song on • 4S-rpm I"tCttd. 'Tbe D'lg is copyright 1907 by M. Witm3l"k .t. Sons and is used in the book by permission of WI6fI(;S BI'05. Music. Pcuibly sheet music can be obtained from me of these SQR'CCL Jack Suillinll!'

Route 2. Box 66- 14 Frildl, TX 79036

I was vet)' inIm:sted in Len MacEachron's Ieuer aboul Acdian Harps as thete is I fellow here who makes them. rd never actually IIeatd me until I ran

.:ross IIis. I can only describe abc music they make as eerily pkasunt. Appltenlly he did • kM of re.sean:h on the h3rps 10 make sure that he was reprodllCing abc correct sounds. ete. Since he is a musician, he makes wre they are COfTOCtly "tuned.· AND they are 001. ~

A ham.'QCf dukimcf made by ikbbif VCNI BoktrQ in Covinaton, Kentuclty was Ihe focus of I beautiful ~ un I Oib:lun OtOelinp c.d b s~ Pabick's o.y. A speciallCIUtb_1bc nowion on Ihe bck of the cad tIl3Ilhe ckalcimCl" " ' built by Debbie. fono..ood by a few words aboIa the instrument in gencnl. We hope that many of you n:ceivcd InNor JCIlt this card on SL Pa!rick's Day. Be 5UnI1O look for itllt1t year. in case ills qain IvaibNe.

Lilah Gilltll, hammer dukimer player from Overland Park, Kansas. was named MasItf FoUt Anist for the State of Kansas in 1984 Md in 1986 received the same honor from the State of MWouri. The purpose: of this program, funded by the National Endowment for the Am InI the SIIIt AIls Commission and Historir:aJ

Society, is b provide individuals rolk an with the opportunilY 10 study with I master foil: artist.. Mauer artisa ror the progmm wen: seleclCd on the basis cl artistic excellence, ability 10 teaCh. and !he traditionalit1 of the ~ and the art tlIperienced in I

,=.

Repeat requc:sa: Do any DPN readers know of any dukimel" aud:io-visua1s I can use as part of • c:cune 111 be seachin£? Kf. W. Lon,rlfld P.O. Box 531 Reedville. PA IJOW

tlIpcnsive! His name and

Congratulations To You!

is Michael

Copley. Garden on abc Moon. P.O. Box 1658. Mendocino. CA 95460. 1ff1fJ312002. He's also J rme..us. who worts in many kinds of moclia, plays cl.as*al banjo and would love 10 hear from lIIIybody who w:tn1S 10 COfIIaCt him. J . Cobtn

Lilah's love. cl the Iwnmcr dulcimer began when she reached for her f2the(s insIrument &om I cradle and IOCIbed on his hammers. l-b" radler. EJgia Hickok, founded tbeOriginai Dulcimer Pbyer"s Cub in Michipn in 1963 and is crcdiIed with great ruponsibilil1 in the ~ dukimer n:¥ival. Lilah's third book, DId~,. IIJUrtdiJtgus. was published in

19... Dulcimer Maker Pt lt Kappa: of Indianapolis. Indlana was the subjecl of an article wrillCll by I 5th grader InItwo 6th gradeB in the PtanUI Buuer Press sc:clion of !he Indianapolis New$. Robcn Frosl School students visited Pete. whcte they were ueatcd 10 a lour through his workshop ItId I3lcr taught, one by one, 10 pby a tune on a dukimer. "Mr. Kappes geu llis v.1Xld from specialty stores or from calalop Bul he said tIw he uies not 10 buy lI1y wood from the rUI fort:5lS of South America. He is very coneemed about the envUonmtrl and said that there are JlT.CCIy people in Braz.iI who are culling 00.11 the

Please do not reprint or redistribute without permission. Contact dpn@dpnews.com

.... '

'-. .APPALACHIAN

,W~n U M(NTSO Hili HA"" U" , "

111."

i~D~U~L~C=IM=E:RS~d ;

walnut. diUfJ

c ~

Louisville. Kentucky

' 160

dukime#Autaharp player Sally G~ WM featured in I recent issue of the

'185

rain (crests and selling the 'N'OOd and he doesn't want \0 support 1haL' f't(e has made Ovtl" 260 dukimc:rs and shows !hem at folk festivals in IndillR3. QILio, KenlllC.ky and 0Ihcr states.

I...ouisvillc Tunes. A locus oC the article was Sally's -...uk in nursing homes and libraries. in the JeITerson County public

•

~Is. and willi the f.iayor'S SummcrScerle and WinlcrSccne

P "" 31 liS,

"CicclfJc said her inlCrCSl in uaditiooal music stems from her childhood in Orayson County. 'At" child, I 5pCll a lot of time aIonc wilt! my ITlCIlher and I heard her .sina: old fon: songs: she mid. Then I would CO and sing Ihe JOI1&S 10 my dolls. Perfooning is just an t¢nSion of tha...' Sally h:Is an album of her singing and p1ayina, J/odgtpod~. By {Aorgt.

• ~

•!

. r-'=

,i1 •

· •

KEN HAM8LIN

p. o. &ox &94 SaJem. Va

IlnllS ~ JIiL , ,,",,-,uJ'

Pete Kappes in his shop ""ilb lldianapolis Cily school children demonstrating bow dulcimers an: made

FREE CATALOG Mall Order Folk MusIc Center • TUNE.nd IN STRUCTION BOOKS to< ....""",1>_ _ _ ""1>_ loddll doJ-' '- po_

l1li ."

..aIfdlf conc«l'1II1 _

"" RECORDS ~F.T~~y:~Ti'oNALI 80 FOLK MUSIC DooonetIa 00i'\CI _

Co/rIplele

c.tolO\l_ .... I . . . . . . .

* SELECTED

INSTRUMENTS' KITS

Personal. dependable, last service

DMkiJr"rPIa,tI's N~wskno ... ln iLs 13th )·rarorpublkallon. Thank you ror lxinK a part of our past - and or our rulur~.

SIZ (I y, .). S21 (2 ynJ

Umtal Slale!; . Rale for lhose

e~penel1Cmg

rinaoclal

dlfficulue~

(USA)

Canada. Mn lco . ......... . OIhe, Counlnes (surface) Ollie, Counlnes (air - Europe) Other Counlriu (air - ASia) OULC IM EM PUVERS Nt;w S P.O. So}; 2164 Winche:Uer . VA 2260 1

..... Please do not reprint or redistribute without permission. Contact dpn@dpnews.com

. S 8.25 $ \4 .00 .. $ \4 .00

S \6.00 . S 18.00

A visit with

Song of the Sea's Eddie and Anne Damm by Mitzie Collins

Rochester, New York SOIlS of !he Sea nestles on the harbor front SInlCt in !he midst of Bur Harbor, Maine, a picturesque village visited by some four million IO.Irists each year. The sOOp. which annources lIS I\'lIteS on the oul5idc with large green cutout sh:lpcs ~ dulcimers and harps, is filled with music and friendliness on the inside. The SUlre is II SOrt of cross between II museum and classroom. Eddie, 36, and Anne:, 34, have ICaCliing de~ and find that helping people learn about the instrumcnlS is an imporWll part of their SlCre'S activities. Tourisl5, storPing by on their way 10 a seafood resUlunlllI or waiting for II sailboat ride or using up time on II foggy day wander in and immediately start asking, 'What is lhat? "How do you play it?" Soft.spoken and gcnlk in movement, Eddie and Anne ACveT tire of playing II wne or explaining the bfcl:ground of the kantcles. psalteries, 1Iarps, and dulcimers that hang from their stoo: wal ls. Anne remarks, "We tlljoy the: stories we hear from our cllSlOOlCtS, roo. Ii brings back mclllOric$ of !he old zither thai's in the attic, or !he gnnImothcr who played the Auldlarp." Eddie: and Anne make bcIween 80 and 120 instruments a year, ranging from mouth bows 10 hammM:d dukimers. CUSIOOI designed sound·holes artl their speciality. and they have risen 10 moe! challenges presented by their DJstomen. A nurse from Bangor was an ootdoorswornan, and she wanLed her soundboard 10 picture Mount Katahdin,

some moose, some Canadian geese, lillypads and a lake. • And she got il", says Eddie proudly. One Bar Harbor native said, "can you give me Lhe view £run the summit of Cadil13c Mountain IICI'OS'l Frenchman's Bay with i/Ie Porcupine Wands?" Cetuinly. Fa the past six years, Lhe Damms have organitcd. dulciJne, fCSlival on the village green in Bar Harbor. "We wanted

an open gale festival. People can JUSt come by and join in." Anne charactcri1.es it as a "family picnic with music." Though Lhe festival site never seems crowded, in the course of a day about 2,00) people cross the grten. The Chamber of Commcn:c lislS the Downeast Dulcimer Festival in ilS brochure and many people plan their vllCalions around il Anne says that local reaction 10 the festival is very po$itive. "We've kind ol become. LrIIdilion around 1Iere..' Workshops 8le held during the day and • conccn and COf1Lra daIlce life hcld in the evenings. The festival is s::heduled for the second weekend in July. With

regular store 00urs ol9:3O 10 5:00 and 7:00 10 9:00. the D:unms rind themselyes very busy in the summer. At festival Lime, friends and relmi'lCll somehow "magically appear", and lend a welcome helping lland. A tourist might accidently happen upon the Sof1[ olthe Sea sun and suddenly have her life changed by mooting up with an irresistJ.bIe insl1\ll1letll A cnaoce OCCUfTCrce in 1973 is actua1Jy the basis of Song of the Sea's exisIcnee.. Eddie, havinS JUSt graduated from Michigan state University with a degl"Qe in health cdocmion, had applied 10 the

Please do not reprint or redistribute without permission. Contact dpn@dpnews.com

..... '

Peace Corps, hoping 10 gain rleld experience. While waiting for his application 10 be pnxcssed, he visited

some friends in AM Artu, and, 10 fill in

Linda Russell The Good Old Colony Days ba ll ads , broad sides a nd dance tu nes of early America album 59,50 ppd, Prai rie S moke Records, 250

w, 991h St , .ec

New YotlI, NY l002S

a frt.e evening, MOpped by 1he University of Michigan library, He happened 10 pick oot a book called Violin MaUrs and Viol/nisl1 by Franz Farga and his life was $Uddcnly InUlSfOl'm«l Anne >=>arks, "It was kind or a StOry or 1he light shining down from the heavens and a voice saying, 'You are going to be an instrument makcr'," Eddie, who had previously done some woodworking and played the fiddle, gWmr, mandolin and pennywhistle, became so completely immctSCd in instrument making th.:lt he never go! around 10 being in 1he Peace Corps. He says, "It was like my quesl for 1he Holy Grail; I didn't know I was looting for something, but all of a sudden, 'bam', thete it v.m.' Not finding anyooe 10 apprentice 10, Eddie SCI: oot 10 teach himself. It was at the MI, View, Arkansas fcstivaJlMl Eddie saw his rlI'St mountain dulcimet. When he saw how quickly people could make music on it, he decided to Ulke some of the violin techniques and apply them to the mountain dulcimer,

"I'm not a music ~er: Eddie says. "so I was atlTllCted to this d iatoniC inSuumenL

If you can hum, yQ!J can play it' Soon aftet !Iw. Eddie mel up with the hammered dulitmer, and in 1974 he began the Grua Lakc:s Dulcimers Company and sold his dulcimers at craft fairs, Anne mel Eddie when he came 10 perform at ttIe school where she was a studcnL Anne quickly plunged inlO the world of dulcirnet$ and inSIJ'Umem making. "' had also been !ie3l'Ching for my life's work. I was in~tcd in many areas. Meeting Eddie and making instnunents together rekindled my love of music and just whal l was looking for." After Anne and Eddie ICaI1lcd up, they made the decision 10 move from Michigan, They ITlveicd throogll the South and 10 the Southeast and to the North. A nne recalls, "Every place we wenl 10, I would say, This is nice. Let's seuJc here.' Eddie would say, 'LeI'S wail until \!/C've seen Bar Harbor': A 0netime visiI as I child had kil an indelible

P.O. Box 228 IHam,pt"n, T ennessee ]7,65,SI impression on him. The decision was made. and in 1979 they 1IlOYed. They (6 [ 5) 725·) [9 [ joined a aaft coopenItive and again sold

......

!heir instruments at craft fairs. It wasn't until 1983 tbat they decided 10 open a store, "'We still feci like instrumenl makers, not business majors." They live

over their mre, and "C3l1 SCI1 of roll OUI of bed 10 work in the morning." The shop has J:XOved very sucoessful; in FcOOwy of 1987. Song oC 11M: Sea doubled its display space. They sell other makers' insrruments in addition 10 their own and offer a large selection oC records, casselte! and inslruCtionai books. They

send insuumcnts, which h;)ve bun

ordcml flUlll their catalog, aU DI'OlIfd the world. With a phiklsophy that's consistent with their self-dc:scription as "chiklren of the sixties· , Eddie says, "We've tried 10 work the direction oC our lives to achlcve a vocation thai will sUppM lIS and still give lIS time 10 enjoy what's imponanL' In addition 10 the creative satisfaction or making il\SlJlllT\Cllts and of sharing informa1ion, what's imponanl also includes early morning kayak rides, visits from friends, and a third·floor living room addition with a pma:lI11ic view of the h:ubc:.', 'We don', wanllO get 100 big", says Anne, 'We're going 10 contint)C in the direction we've been going.' That direction includes providing thousands of people with tl'leir rust glimpse and sound of dulcimen, A link of tI'Ie influenceof the Darnms' shop can be ul1!bstood by noting tbat wherever duk:imers ~ played tn the UnHOO stales. usually someone comes up and says, "I saw one of those in Bar Harllor, Maine!"

SonK of the Sea 47 West SL Bat Harbor, ME 04609 207/288·5653

""".Qmc

Miu:ie CoIliru. • 0DIIIribu10r d artidoo II) Oukior- P\oyorI N--. ;, • ~

p"tI'_ ... ~.,.j r.aJal dul......... SI>< hOI oevetaI o1Nms 10 her ....tit, """"'" Ihrm c..... "betc od\cn". N-U ond 0...-.._

Jun. Ap pI' RKOrdt""': Write or caU for free coWoc feantrin& Malcolm DaIJlish, Jdm McCuccho:::IP. Jim Mitlei', Guy CuawlII InIi Jerry Re.I Smilh an Iummcr dukimcr: I. D. Slfmper, Jean RitdUe...d W-rno: Se:ynmur Oft mountain dulcimer InIi much rno:ml June Awol: Box 743, Whicabllf&, KY 41858. 6061633-0108

or 1.8IlOJS4S.7467 (outside Kmtucky ooly)

Please do not reprint or redistribute without permission. Contact dpn@dpnews.com

The Appalachian Mt. "Scattlin" by Merv Rowley Roselle, Illinois E~ since rll'$( reading Mich3tl Murphy' AppoJachiM DuJcimtr Book (FoIk$IIy Press). I llave been irwigucd by

one at his commenl$ reprding Ihe folkkn ollhe instr\ll'l'ltl'lt

"'Throu&h the years, 'dulcimer' has been the most widely JCCqMed name f« this iDstrumcnt. ~ it has abo been knoMI as I has rddle or SCII11in. It was SM'IClIn1CS referred 10 as I scaalin since !his was Ihc name &ivm 10 two by the rrwcriaI QUt at ... hich ,,;me dukimcrs were c:onstnJCIt.d. ••• The W(I"d "lC8llIin" is I 0DI'TUpti0n tile word "!C8Illling", in

dulcimer for pcrsorWll.'le, accordina 10 !he folk tradition. Actually, quite. number or!he pre1940 dulcimers now in privare ooUcclions f t rqmt.d 10 be made of pine, lllhou&h in nwly cases !he type or wood is not idcnlirlCd. This is particularly to fOl"!he many instruments 9o'tuch have been suincd. painted ( r tJllCnSively decoraItd.. Quite. few of these f t Icnotto"ll 10 be of yellow poplar, but we can only wonder whctbct !OII1C might have been made from x:anllinp of 0IttinIry pine. lir 01" cedar. Certainly it is hard 10 imagine anyooe painlina bcaulifully-ligured hardwoods such as walnut. eheny or

learn that this grade is actually kiln-tined

10 minimiu ....:arpage (a must when used in buildings ....hlch tnIcrgo lempertllure and humidity changes throughoutlhe

year). Now rm sure our Appalachian 1Jl00000s"s didn't enjoy Ihe luxury 0( such a cboicc"llllhen scrounging their lumber from an old thicken coop. or wh:Ue\"er, ho'IICver I didn't want 10

Apparently, it was <bin&: !be early deadI::s oIlhis oenrury !hal tc3Itlings were tomCtimcs used for IhiI prpose. We must roc:aIllh3t this was an era which ircltdodlhe years ollht grt:a1 Depression. a period of oc:onomic strite and matcriaI shMage throughOUt the USA, and CCtlainly no less so in the regia! of the Southern AppUai;:hians. The II3e of .scrup nweriaIs was commonplace al thai. time. as ~ by the "ham-<:an" banjos.

privatt: coIJcctions 1I"OUI1d!he country,l have yet 10 read of any which have bccn rcSlOft.d ID playing rondition to thai. !heir IOMI cpIitics coold be CVlluaacd. For this ftaDI _ really doo't know how good ( r b3d these early dulcimers m:ly have JOUndcd, either in terms of theit design or Ihe wood used. WCRlIho!Ie built from hardwoods distinctly Illpcrior in ~ or mel"ely ~ Wue pine dulcimers simply crude substitulCS for the real thina , simibr 10 !he "ham<lllbanjo&. Certainly among lOday's builders /IIId pbyers. al1lOUlllllin dulcimer COI\SItIICIOCI from a t~ by fOLl"....-ould not likely be COII:Sidc:rnd, good choke l1li, lOp-qIIIIity iMtrumcnt. In fxt, many would lftbIbIcdIy fed COOlCmptUOUS of I -lCIl1Iin- dukimer. as somethins suitable only as, ~ pieI::e. Facl ( r fancy? The ~ I IhougIM about this.1he more curiouJ I became, finally deciding that I had to r~ OUI for myself. My shopping for lumber led me 10 the local Handy Andy home impro\lf:mc.nt SIOrC, where CIlSlOrl1t:rS can SOIt tIvough and hand-pick the lumber directly from s&ocked shelves. I quickly learned !hat

tuIlplicase my project unnca:ssanly. Consequently (wilh' silent apology 10 Ed Thomas. WiD 5inglclOO. kWo Amburgey, ct II), I stleclCd an Clght·fOOl. coostruetion-grad while pine tWO by four which was not only straighl but WIllI also nearly free of knots! For Ihis prime piece of lumber I Jrid the princely SlIc price of 51.47. So r:ll" as instrument design WIllI concerned, I Iud previously doeldocl not 10 build a ~tar soun:IlxllI:. nor e.....n 10 tJlpcrimcnt wi:/! this factor. R.aIher. I pbnned 10 IIlilUc Ihe idcnLical construCtion feaUlft:S ana dimensions of my =wbrd..1eartIrop modeJ ~ insuurnenl. This is a design of ~ quality. verified by many s:lusflcd oYo'ncn over the past scveraI years. For the bOOy of Ihe instrument. it was necessary 10 reo 53W and plane sections of the tWO by four 10 Clbuin 1}1I" thickness Ill3IC!Ul for the SOUI'Idboard, botlOO\ and sides. Pieces 10 be used for the boItI;n were "bc:dmau;hed" by cdgc--gluing 10 obt:un Ihe ro;:asa y..-idth. Tho5e DCl famillll' wilh tuIlmcroallumbcr dimc:nsiorung should unr.1e:rsund tNt a "IWO by four- is ..wally only I la" Ihlck and] Ifr wide. Thcrcfae, two slices aIlCI" joinung and edge-gluing produce I shoe! slightly less Ih:ln 7" WIde. The linished instrument, sho.... n in Fig. I. has:l bOOy wilh sides 2" high and a rtngcrboard 1 In." wide by 31" klng (28 l{l" string Icnglh); at its ...idcst point the body measures 6 ~". The fingctboard is

·ci....·OO"· fUlb ."d "&QUId' duld,nCl$ in !he ooIltrtiorl at Jdm Irwin', Museum of A~ Scrap lumber 51.1:h as t9o"O by £ours (..e hope without 100 many kncu or nail tdI::r;) was probably. COIYCnient JOII/W at wood for Ilae memptinllD build a rnc:.ntain

twu by fOOD.rt: llvailllble in mun:; Lh<on one padc.. The thc:apcr ones have many ITIOfe knoIs .., crxks. .., _ warped or IwlSlCd 10 varying dcgmes ...ok:ay for a dog/'Iwse pcrlIaps. bul not for I duklllw:t". The hiJhes! quality two by four is "con.sIt\ICIiorI" grade. I was surprised 10

holkrw. l1li is the cen&Cf of the IOUrIdbo:In1 The I:lIler is Slued only 10 the sides. DCl II the IIl1cmal cndbIocks. Wilh Ihe tJlecption. of the nul (Pbsoc), bridge (rosewood), wncrs. stnngs and frcu, the dulcimer is COlStnICted elllITtl1 of white pine..

reus.

dcrmcd

Wtbstct's Third Inlem3tional Diclionary lIS, small piece 0( lumber, especially one d the UJ:ri&ht pioca in house frl\ming; • swd; I piece: 01 yard lumber th:I is under ~I inches wide.oo from tWO 10 six inches 1hicIt.. AIohcr rdema 10 !he s:antlin& (or 1CMWn) dukimcr is rOlftl in John Rice

lrf,.'lfs bOOk, MfUUQ/

ff\Sl11#lM1US

(I{ 1M

Sowhun AppGf«1rimI MtIIUIlllW (M1I5CUITI at Appalachia Press). Hc:re.1he scantlinals ilIustnued by I phao as a box·like instrument resembling an ovcrsite scheiLhoiL In !his ease Ihere is a question as 10 whether the ICmI "9CaRlling" derives from the m:tangular. pIank.Lite Wpe of Ihe soundtm or Crcm the JOI.IIee al !be wood. Thi1 ~ dulcimer is said to be nl3de entirely at

""".

round

""",,-Of !he many

dulcimers in

Please do not reprint or redistribute without permission. Contact dpn@dpnews.com

The instrument is fLllishtd with nothing but thrte COOlS of hand-rubbed lacquer (Deft) aM a light waIing. It was surprising 10 me 10 Jcam 5)Il1Cthing aboUl the intw:tern. beauty of !he grain pattem of smoothly-finished white pine. This paniculaT piece of wood had a (XIttem of "fmct.les" thmughoot, not unlike the small burls seen In birdseye Ill3ple. Tha was the first time I had ever sccn "birds-eyc pine!" Of~, being unstained and unpainted. the dulcimer still looks like .something made from a pine two by four. As mundane as this may seem. the instrument truly do::s have a certain simple cIcpnce._the proverbial silk purliIC made from a liOw'Scar, as it

I was truly SlUJXi9cd at the tOnal quality of this dLlicimer. It is highly responsive 10 the lighlC$l unh of the strings., with balaoced tone. good volume aM exccllcnt susuin. To my car. at least, it is best suilt.d 10 sofllingcrpicking and chording and. in this respect, it is decidedly superior 10 ~y instrumcnllli have heard havmg hardYoUOd sides and botlOnu. or course, just as there arc no standards for dukimcr si7.c. shape. design or nuucriaIs of

construction, there are likewise no standards for dulcimer tone. Many playerl prefer a bright, mac muted tone. typical of the smaller, all·hardwood instruments made in the early years and played principally by strwnming willi drone accompaniment This diVCISity of preference is both a challcnge and a fru:lln.tion 10 profc&ional builders. Many insist thai some type of hardwood is csscnlial for the sides and bottom of a dulcimer if it is 10 have a really good \OnC, emphasizing the imporunce of verticaI·grain, quarter-sawn lumber for this purpose. Some. in foct, even claim 10 detect distinct differences between walnut cherry, maple. rosewood, e«:. in terms of bass, midrange and ucble ~ of the respective instruments. I have ahwys fell \h:It the Lord has blessed thc:se people with acutely discerning e3JS Of vivid imaginations, although I'm not sure which. At the other end of the 9ClIle we see dulcimcn blJilt of plY"·ood. polyethylene. cardboard and even \I':IJISplIl:n1 Pk'.ltiglMs. Some of these. at least, arc blJili and sold as having at least acctplable tone.. In Howie MiteheU's 1965 cllssic entitled, TM MOUl1laill DuJc~' - flow to Mah IlItd Play II

(Folk Lc:gacy Records, Inc.) he rnab:s !he observation: "The W1cimer is a particularly rugged llort of instrument, and choices of WOCKI. sh:Ipc, size, finish. etc. are not particularly critieal. An instrument made with reasonable care from cheap, roughly finished p~ plywood C/1/I end up with its own special digni ty and persooality. and will somehow hold its own with instruments made with a high degree of aaftsmanship." Lc:st this comment be misunderstood. note that Howie does not discount !he importanCe of inslIUmeRt cksign. His book. in fact, makes sevemJ suggestioos aboot design realures which improve tooaJ quality. One thing I can say aboot my "scanlin" du.leimer is the ract that Illave been having a lot of fun willi it recently at fniB and festivals, espr;!.:iaJly with players and oIDer blJildcrs having lather fIXed opinions about the importance 01 the wood used.. Many have preferred (or at \east nave been unable 10 distinguish) the \one of the pine dulcimer fl'OOl that 01 hardwood·bodied instruments. This not ooly leads n confusion but also tends to destroy some of the mystique and

l'orl<lble • Adjuslable • CQII,1psiblc

Hammer Du!cimer Stand Now Available with, ~I Adjustable Playing AngIeA " _jf

\109 S W 36th $1

to.el,Rd. COlorado 8OS37

-L

~Ficndishly

.....,

•

- Sum Hi",,,,,,,,..

Features:

I • SI:"U... Lishl",,,,,hl • Rubber bumf'l'r"3 ktocl' dulcimer

• .-.dju~l"bh: hds'tI fur pl"yi~ ",hilt! "I.nd'~ or • .-.djlUlllbh: pl.}'i'18 ."S!t! frot" /If)I'iumll.llo ~S O f""'form",'" .\Im/dl • CO"'I',,,,ely (/;$MlJt:If'bh:.J " ·'rh· ol1llools in leu Ihlln 30 M:OOnd&.

""'''8

•

.Jreult

• U'".!I" knob.. """"K/e "uy Sri" for kCurin8 ht:ish1 Ilfli,Mln..,,,,

s pecifICations: · .Wti~_ ' SW--rl*" . ~_"""-r U " (ooJ " :. ' 1"'- .~V" 11<.' .. ~I VJ, t-.Ju_ t~

"'-J-~tf~Jj"

(00'''''"

...... ,," __

5 ............. Modd: $I~5 o ~.".,.

° SoliJ ... f

tony II,,"

' 1\oM 1Dta/Wl, . _ 17'(JSZ~.8005

foub lU' l! ~lIrtill

os...: W,,,.,..... II" ~ x "

1'.'.' "

~" • 1'10 •.., .

' ~-+_ I~ "°J- ""-001:

a . _. CAJJ71'

""'~ ~MOd-'

(3(3) 661-4(70

•

Cleller"

f'tDjorntn" Mootd', $IGO

• ~.bIo ..... 0 SoIid ... _ • Solid ,,-alnUl • ..JdSU ""'O~MOd"""""

/li, • .t.> ••·d. IHe. . ~UCf RO , .... rir""" ntodf!(. p/u. S/IJ

". -........."...... ""., ,D.,.,.. C-,......... - ,""" .... -- .. -.0' "'" MOd ..-f..l_,

Iuth.er / muSICII:IR

"'+ fop

,lit,

SUilder Dltlle dulcmers awarded as Grand Pllze 000"0 the t935 & 1986 Coloralkl Slate Mount..., Oulelmet Cornpet~.ans

DulCI mers . Psaller>es • KIts _

tnstr..cuon • Repau Free Srocn ..... e

W,~e fOf

Please do not reprint or redistribute without permission. Contact dpn@dpnews.com

prejudices ..1Iich ha~ developed in people's minds.. If I 'fIICre 10 Iry to ~ &he signiflCara of this little expc:rimcnt.1 I'WId list IMe corw;:lusions: I. "ScaLllin" lumber used by early builden nu.y M..e been 1.I5Ied pr;...;ipally

becauJe of economy, but the resulting ill5U\llTlelU were Ml, categorCally, crude imiwions of the rcalthing! Pine tI8!I the JlOICIltial for producing. high.qualily

2. Duldmer design and aaflSm3nShip r.. ourweigh &he InOIe sublle elTea of wood type (for sidellild bouoms) ;.

II is rccogniud th:It some of Ihese comments nu.y Stir ~ a homeI:'SI'lCSl of opinions. II would be inrercsting 1O.tI:'e this CJ.periment rqx:aIcd by other buikbt. willing 10 shate their resu llS with the OPN readership. If we could get reportS on enough difTcn:ru insuument designs used 10 build "so:au.Iin" (!Uki"","".

we might begin to i'lCC the emergence oC. of knowledge. 00sed on act rather than opinion. which coold possibly advance the SWtH.'ll-lhe-an of insIrurm'nt design. Come 10 think of it. this liuk! CJ.eldse miahl initiaIc I !lClIt of "Pinewooc1 Derby" for dulcimer builders! ptluc:m

ddcnninina rll'llllOl'll:l quality.

101"" R~ is II TdJl'N t.ttllfl1outicol

3. A poor, or mqinal, desip will rcsuII in inferior tone regardless oC the wood used or how c:arcfully IlIe instrument is tnLflCd .Convenely, a good design will !C$lIh in a good tcne even if "inferior" woods are used: this is not 53y Ih;u tone CIfIIlOl be frulNr ~ .,,'hen quality Jf1Idc:5 of wood are utiliud.

v.,iNw. aJillJ'. "'""'"'. ~ (IItI/. lIisq...,_Oooo.<o{

and .-ric. ctJfIpIN willi /tit di.aN", r;f 1M _aU. dlJcUnitr ~tiIw

1m. IN ID 1M utabli.JltmeN r;f R,...,lk

D..Jcimns, o{wJticll M~'" 11-* opc'/IIIIJ' Ilis i.u/:r"""""" /U~ fowtd frotn 0/IaJI' ID

upciIfIIy u. IN. C~ ..tIl artd IN. ~.aI~ .

aII<IJI.

/u _

Fig. I - "Sl;adin" dukimcr made ftOn a

c:onsuu::tion-JIlIIk. white PlllCllWO by r~.

We appreciate your help in makil\J LArkin:' Dulclmt!t' Book the new standard in self-instruction methods. Now in its six th printing. it has helped many thousands of people learn 10

pla y the moun tain dulcimer in an informative and

20 Jean of reaearcb 6 Innor.lUon. The Jargat line of dulclmen, Including

enjoyable way. A.vai la ble from your local dealer or by mail

sopranos, cbromaUCI, baa

order, the 103 plge spiral bound book i5 still only S9.95,

6 cJmbalom _ Also rrattoe! dulctmen 6 the all new Rinetta Butter路f)J Harpl Recocds 6 tapes. too_ For Information write to;

the 74 minute companion cassette 17 .98 and the book- ta pe combo 116.95 . Jr you order from us, please add S 1.50 shipping and include payment. Tlumb 芦glli,,! I J'()r)'

o.cr

MllJic J141 Spotnwood AI'e. Mtmpl!u. TN 181 I J 901/J2J-JJ09

Rlnetta. Dept DPN PO Boll: 510 Inwood, WV 25428

...... Please do not reprint or redistribute without permission. Contact dpn@dpnews.com

Events Calendar II This caIcnd.Y lists cvcnl$ not mentioned in the A~I (q.ing) issue of Dulcimer Players News. That issue has man:: Ih3n 80 CveJll$ in !he Unhod SUites, Canada and Englnnd in me caItndar. Copies of !he spring DPN ani still .vailable Cor S3 plus 73( Jl(I5Ia&e. If )'(U festiYaiwas no! mentioned anywlJcn; Ihis year. do kt us trow 10 we an CQIU;t )'W in I98&.

September 17, 18, 19,20, IO Q'7 1 WINFIELD, KANSAS FAIRGROUNDS National Mountain Dulcimer Championship Seplember 18th

J uly 24-26 • Rockford , IL 51h Annual Rockford Traditional Folk MU5ic FestivaL Wortshops.

jamming, open scage. craflS, dance, perfoonanccs. Info: Rockford Arta Convention and YwlerS 8weau,IKXV42JS362 (0lIl of Ulinois). 8Q¥S21-0849 (in Illinois), Jull.S-AIII I • Plymoutll,M'\ Folk MII5ic' WHk at Pin~'OOds. Sinain&. inu:ractioo with legendary tr3ditionaJ artists. danting. Insuuctional wcd:s In dance and othc:f activities continue Ihrough Septmbc'f 4th. Info: Cwntry Dance .t Song Socidy. 50S Eighth Ave. New Yon, NY 10018. 212/S94-8833.

nsoo.

Na tional H<tmmcrcd Dulcim er Champio nship September 19th \ Vorkshops $3,800 in Cash Prizes and Prize Instruments by Luthicrs J im Taylor Lynn f,.·IcSpaddcn Do nald A. ROll!ld Russe ll Cook Write ror more information

Au, 3 • Midbnd,

Folk Musk In Dow ClU'dens. Folk music, dulcimers. dancers and SIOr)' !elltrs. Info: Bill Kuhlman, 2169 S.

Homer Rd" Mi<\Iam. MI 48640.

o5 17/i135-S085. AUI 14-14 · Pvrt TOVt'llSend, WA 131h Annual KiDdrfll Galhtrin"

Mountain dulcimets mostly. Campin&· Your illSlf'Ul'l'lCnt is)'OU' iOnission 10. weekend of ywrsdvc:s." Info.: Roben Force, 1228 Blaine St. . Ptt1 TOWT15eIId, WA 98368. 2Q5(38S-S239. Au, 14-" • ~n Sound , Out. 12th AnnWl I ~n Sound Summ",folk, Music, dance. 'IIIG'kshops. childIm', iIIQ, crafts. Info P.O. Bol .52 1, Owen Swnd. Ontario, Canada N4K· 5R1. 519/371 ·299.5.

AUI l3-St-pt S • No. CA V.IIt, of 1M 10100II ScoClish fiddlinl Sc:booL Open 10 playcn fA aD insInmencs. Includes infonnll

daneina and rolkdance claues.

Aut 23-J I • Th:.imf, 0.1011 .. Ell&lJrd TO'\WSfy Oxfordshin Vil~ Festival. Coocerts. childn:n'J Ittivities. crafu. Info: GIorishears,1bame. Omn, OX9-3LP, Engl3nd. Tlwnc084421 -223 I.

Aug U .. lO • lda,-ilil. IN lloasin' .'oIklott .-tsliva1. Mountain and hammer dulcima pbyen. af15 and crafts, SlOI'Y Ielling. Info: William Parrish, RR I, BOIl 147, Idaville, IN 47950. 219/826-4163. Sfpl S", • MactaqUK. NB 16th Annual Mattaquac Craft Feslinl Crafts. Ihealnl enu:nairmenI.. music and foD: dances. Info: New Brunswick Crafl5 Council, P.O. Box 1231. FreOeric&on, NB ElB·SCI, Cana!b. ~55..aS64 .

~pC

17-20 • WinrlC'ld, KS 16th Annul Walnut Vallt, Fes6,..l ConIcs&s (includes mt.1JId hammer dulcimer). IIU and crafts fair, ......nshopI1Ild c:onceru.. Info: Bob Redford. P.O. 80;0; 2405, Winrldd. KS 67156, 316122 1·32.50. (Set: ad) ~pl

25-27 • Winsled, cr Autumn IIUI5 Du lcim", Feslh,.I, Held III camp Sequassen. Features ~ d.arces and concerts. Info: Autumn H~Js Dulcimer Fcstjvll. Box 807. WinsItd. cr 06098. 20313799857. (Sfot ad) Oct l-4 • FOI"t Worth, TX Acoustic Music WHke nd. W<rtstqls and concerts. Primitive campina or cabins. Iiarnma and mt. dulcimers plus other foil: ill$U\llTlClllS.

Info: Ruft~IICook.I5IJBaUrRd .. BurieIon,1X 76028. 817.1478-6J39.

Weekend

Jession Aug. 2&-30. Info: 1an Tappan. 1938 Rca Vilb St., Pasadena, CA 91 107. 118t793-3716. 10 he_

Please do not reprint or redistribute without permission. Contact dpn@dpnews.com

--------------- - - - - - - - - - - - - --

The Answer Column Sam Rizzetta Abou t two montll!i atter I

suing pulling wo high on the hitch ptn.

~tring

r ra:ivtd my n_ ha mm~r dukimtr, a friend pointfd oul lba' the bitch pins had movnl.

Most professionally made dulcimczs are very strong in rruueriaIs and the wood and pins should pose no problem. Ir the scale length of the strings is poorly matched 10 the musical pitches, !his can p\acc too much tension on the pins. And this is wuaUy seen on higher notes rather than low ones. One mUSllake special care oot 10 tune wings highet !han intended pirches, as even momentary oYtttiglncning can bend or pull some bitch pins. Lastly. the Slrings should pull on the pins as low as possible. right down 10 the wood of \be pin block. H Ihcy are momentarily loosened too much, the strings are qwlC likely 10 ride up too hig.h on the pins. When the srrinp are

as far as it will go while retighlClling the string up to pitch. Makt certain the strinp ride poperIy 11 the tuning pins. also. Api'!, Strings shoukI come off the pin as low as possible, putting as much bearing pressure as possible downward on the side bridges. Assuming that the design and materials d your dulcimer are all right, repairs will be easy. If the pins are merely beIlt, il may be possible to bend them back using a twnmer and pin driver or a pair 0( vice grips. The vice grips will mar the surface of the pins. So. if you want the pin to look good eo&metically. it may be necessary 10 pad the gripping surface of the vice grips in

brought back 10 concert pitch, the tension and ievera&e may be too much fo r the hilCh pins or pin block, and they may bend or pull throug.h Ihe wood a noticeable amCl\JIIL Loosen any offending

srrne way. A piece of old Iealhet or thin rubber, as from an old inner tube, can be used 10 pod the vice trip jaws. When in doubt, pili the pin out with a twisting motion of the vice grips and suaighlCl1 or

Tht)' h.,'en', moved linu tbtn, and a l DO lime have th ty been tuned uceplionally high. If !btu • way 10 repair II? It th is • commOD problfm? I tbought abou t filling tbe hole ,,-jlh plastic: wood and re-<iriUi~g iL W(MIld Ihal work, or is it beUer 10 leave it be? FIrSt, let me n:asswe you that although !his isn't a desimble condition. it poses no major thn:at. If it isn't getting worse and the instrwncnl holds twlC modem1ely weU, then tbcre is no need 10 rush repairs. The conditions that can cause pulling of \be hi1l::h pins arc 100 soil. • pin block wood, 100 short or soft II pin, 100 much tension (runcd 100 high in pilCh), a rough blow 10 the pin. or Lhe

ar>d push it down on the tUlCh pin

~============~~

'1~th

SEPTEMBER 25, 26, & 27,1987"'1, Guy Carawan. The MacArthur FamUy Walt Michael &. Co . • Mill Run Dulcimer Band Sam Moffatt/Wintergreen • Kevin Roth Contra Dancing with The Ash Creek String Band Hoe-Down with Keith Brintzenhoff, Caller Formal Concerts • Mini·Concerts Beginner · Intermediate Workshops. Master's Workshops Contra Dancing Full Weekend Ticket $35,00 (Ad~.ncod

The. Kning is

~.u'iful

..pI......

c.mp ScqulWCn• • 530

,,,,,,,,,'<1)

fKility on WUt Hill Lake nur Winsted, cr

FREE ON SITE CAMPING & LEAN·TOS Bunk Space

Good Food

CaDIXI & Row Boall IVlil,ble

All events will be held indoors in ca$C of inclement weather Write or call for registr.tion fornu or .ddition.l informuiOli.

.III

AUTUMN HILLS· BOX 801, WINSTED, CT 06098

II" ~==============~==============~ .... " (203) 379-7685

Tclcphollc durilll the fudval

(20)) )71.8009

Please do not reprint or redistribute without permission. Contact dpn@dpnews.com

replace with a new pin. The old pin may be rein9Clted upside down 10 hide any sc:rau:hes on the pin made while removing il If the holes in the pin bkx:i: are deformed, they shouJd be repaired. But don't use plastic wood. The hole may be fiDed with a mixwre 0( a hanl-sctting epoxy and sawdust 0( a hardv.ood with color 10 ma~h your pin bkJ::k. ROOrilI the hole and drive the pin bad: in aftcr the epoxy seu. Or, the pin can e\'en be put in the wet epoxy making certain the epoxy filler is weD sealed. The most popular approa:h, and the one rd likely use in my shop, is to drill the hole OUt o....ume, glue in I hardwood plug (maple is good) , and redrill to fit the pin. Mate certain all adhesives are very dry and fully seasoned before and drilling or re.stringing. Pcrt\aps wait I full day or two for glues to set If you aren't used to doing this son 0( woodworking, don't ri.slc: a valuable instrument on your rlfS( uy. This is a quid: and easy repair, and an experienced repair person shoukI only have to cllarge a few dollars for such a job. Are lhen any books on th e market tha t cakr to bowtd psaltery making and playin::> I am not familiar with any books on maklng or designing bowed psalteries. If anyooe out there can help, let me know and well print the information. For playing the bowed psaitefy, there is help. Psaltefy maker David Kingslake has written a nice liule booklet on beginning to play the psaltely and it includes a bu!ll;h of simple WIleS. Write 10 David at Red Creek, WV 26289 10 orlb. I am writing 10 you in !.he hopes gelling 50me bonest, rriudly advice. I ha vt Iovtd !.he hammer dulcimer ror srvtnl years and

I've decidtd tbat I'd like 10 lea rn 10 play this wonderrul inslrumtnl I ha\·e a strong background in piano and reel I have enough musical kn owledge to .dI:t iI! But, alas, where 10 begin:> I don't kDOW whelher to build (!!) or buy a dukimer (whkh ~m.o; IiO risky). A lliO, where do I rind good teachers? I hear these questions so often that I'd be remiss if I didn't deal with them in this co1W11n. Your last question is the easy one.. Although il was dirficuli to rind good imtruC:tion in most areas only 11 few )'Un ago, Ihis is no longer the case. Many music SIOreS can now ]jilt up a dulcimer instructor for you. I would phone every music store in the area lhat deals with folk insuuments. Wilh ptne\fCl1lflCe you mighl find an insuuctor that way. Next, I would check the Dulcimer Players News for dulcimer clubs in or near your area. 1lIey will be a sowee of knowledge about players and teachers as well as a good support group of new friends who will be sympathetic to your quesl Even clubs that are not nearby may havc memben or know playcn/lc'a:hers who are. They may also host dulcimer events that you may be willing to travel 10. Concerts. workshops. and jam sessions are all valuable learning experiences whether you have an instruC:tor or not. The truth is that most people who have already played a musical instrument, even if it was in the dim pas! (high school band?), can learn to play on their own. An instruc:tor makes it f3Sler, but not necessarily beuer. For instance, f-ialcolm Dalglish visited me aftCT lie had been playing only Sill months. BUI he had already evolved !he distinc:tive style thaI has made him an engaging dulcimer

Walnut Springs Graphics Promos • Losos AdvertisementS · Brochures Album/Tllpe Design 18 West Boscawen 5IJtCt Winchestc2", Virginia 21601 703-667·9493

Specializing in Custom Hammer

Oukimer Cases Free Brochure

."x . ,. '" "'M . 11>'"'" .~~ , '-'".! . ~!....

.,, "

stylist and popuJar performer. He had no imtnl;:torS or even other playClS nearby to listen to. So, he I\ad 10 teach himself, inventing hi.! own tochniqucs and quickly evolving a p:rsonaJ playing style. He was spared the kaming stage of mimicking others. It seems to me that ~ who rove played some kcyboards pick up the dulcimer more rnpidly. The layout of the notes is rnlher graphically two dimensional on both piano and dulcimer, SO the brain has to wort similarly 10 play either. Those ",ho have played strinscd instruments will have a IIcad stan in being expcricnccd at lUning strings. Although it can be diffICult to master adY8llCed IOChniqucs, the dulcimer is very easy 10 learn simple scales, gel started playing, and learn to play moderntely well. The rea1 hurdle for many begillflCl"S will be tuning rather than playing. In this matter, an instructor can be especiall)' helpful. Or modem chromatic, C:ectronic tuners make !he chore easy if you can invc:9. another S70 10 $100. I've sa~ for las! your quc:9.ion of whether to wild or buy a dulcimer. As a long time designer of musical ioslrUmCnts. I am very opinionated on Ihis. I personally feci that building your own dulcimer is by far the most risky and tedious way to go. To me, the only reasons to build your own are if)'OUf ultimate goal is to evcntually become a dulcimer m.*er, or if you enjoy building things more tban playing music. There is no way ttllt one can make a first dulcimer th.;t is as functioaal or cost effective as !he professional who docs it everyday. II would be]ike me uying to bu ild an automobile from ·scr.uch.· I know how 10 do il But il would p-obGbly take me ten )'t3rS and rd still wind up with someiliing mther C!\lde. I hooestly feel the same way about kilS. ]f you love building, or)'OUf lime is w<rl1 nothing and money is sc:an:e. then a kit may be valuable as the only way for you to acquire a dulcimer. BUI I know of no kit thai wiD guaran~ you !lII insuumcnt ... hich will mateh one of the beucr professionally dI:signed and oompleuxl insuumenlS in sound, ease of pbying, and ability 10 stay in tune. ] believe most kit makers might agree with me, as man~ of them olfa the option of completed instruments as well. lkfore buying, look at and listen to dulcimers and Ulllr. to experienced players and makers for their opinions.

Please do not reprint or redistribute without permission. Contact dpn@dpnews.com

Dulcimer Players Notebook Lorraine Lee Last February my friend Lucy Joon SoUogub, a Bos1oo area dulcimer player, teaehcr and perfonncr, gave I:lrth 10 baby Jcroh. I WIOIe ~Jonah's Drcaln" \0 celebrate and commemorate tile bi.nh. I played tbe new-made tune for guitarist Benneu Hammond and lOgether we shaped nn arr.mgemenl 11131 marted !be SUll1 of our musical collaboration. It will be the title cut of our Stmnachic a1b1.:m \0 be Jt.1cased this summer. The sound of Appalachian dulcimer and acoustic guitar can be vc.y beautiful. Benneu and I have bec:n cooching SfT1.'lIl aeoustie ensembles and 'Nt have mel many guitar and dulcimer players who ~ looking for suitable duo arrangements..

We are IOIriting OUt IlIblau,J«: and slandartl notation for the IUfICS on our fOf1bcoming album 10 CfICOUI'll&c all of you to play the music. Hen: we p-estnt tablature for boIh dulcimer and guitar. I play "Jonah's Dream" on a dulcimer set up willi four equally spaced Strings. The rlfSl and second strings are bOIh tuned 10 0 above middle C, !he mird is G below middle C and the fourth, the only woond suing. is runed an O\:l:Ive below the rIfSl Four string dulcimers with the fJtSt two strings SCI close IOgeLher can oflC/l be modiflC.d by a simple cuI in !he nlll and bridge so thai all the saings can be cquidislllnL Tablature: UnoonocclCd notes each

have the time vllluc of one beal (a quarter

note). Each dash extends a note by one beat and each IlOIe in 11 connected pair has the time value of ooe·lI:l!f beat (an eighth note). A tie (indicated by II curved line) instruCts the player 10 include the time value of Ihe connected n()lC wi\houl actuall y sulling the string. If no n()lC is indicated on a p:uticul3r string, Lhe string should not. te 9JUnded. Fingcmg: Four cqwilly spaced strings ~ achallenge. blJl ingenuity in fingering is rewarded with rich chords. I fret the rlfSt string with my indu fingcr and the seand with my ring finger. My choice of middle or pinkie varies with tile frets required on the remaining strings.

The Magic Dulcimer

CARDBOARD DULCIMERS W~

make "u.dy, inupen!ive in· Idul for bqinni", p~f('tt, Khool. 300 (a",ping Inpo.. Our kits • .., dHip>cd f.... noviI:t .uiidtn. AU p;tru art ~UI. Auc",bI,u.kn t,,'O houn, "",,uin'S no ,h",1' Or unu!u.lt""'". tlrum~nl!.

,...,ttd

W~ uSol: toIid wood M tboards, I.. ""n. ooundhn_ of die,,:ul . ZOO lb. wength corrupled canlboard. No ply. wood. Extra Ilnnp... inba~ and play. inc man .....1 included. Ptrf~t prtRnl for younllit" or ",u!k.1 friend •• Pric~o: $I"·$44, group di,cou nu .... il:oblc.

Hearing b btlitvinKo 50"'" offer DPN ..,..o.n. J().d.ay ,_ lrili. Wc'lI c...,n

PilY lhe m ......hippinl you a..,n'l oatioflod.. Wrile f ..... frtt cal.lotI;, DPN F,~~ Trial OIlu, Bachard M.. ,ic,

P.O. Bo~ 9047, New H .v~n, CT 06S31 or all lOll469·S7S6 from 7 ...... llp.m.

A complete instructional book for the mountain dulcimer by this noted teacher & performer. Lorrairl{! draws on her 20 years of playing& ]0 year!; of teachingto cistill her expertise. which is unmatched In the dulci mer workI. inlo this primer. text & mini·thesis. 1be 38 new anangements "'ith tabulature will provide even the experienced prayer with new material. Woodcuts by Mary Alarian illuminate the book .

l30 pages - $l~.5O P<p. ~lIi!,; Duldmcr CilsKlle is a chance to hear Lorraine sing & play ]7 01 her favorites from the book. It is also a chance to play along. leam the tunes byear or iust listen. 40 minutes - $10.50 p.p. "Book & cassette $21 .50 p.p.

YELLOW MOON PRESS [}.r,vid Cross

P.O. Box 1316 Cambridge, MA 022J8

Please do not reprint or redistribute without permission. Contact dpn@dpnews.com

ONAH'SDREA

SNOW'" EGRET MUSIC

CDulcimer

i' i gtHo I : r:: ILu 41! • ~ 10: 71 r::: I_ - 71 0

0--

___

It =1=: -It= Ii 6.Itil [jl~ 1 e r

Ito u ..

IE. It:::: I:: :: :

Please do not reprint or redistribute without permission. Contact dpn@dpnews.com

;

'II

UONAb',s DR,EAM

, .y'LWAl.k

<3uitar 21CCOlnyani.ment by B ennettHammol'ld

â&#x20AC;˘

@19B7 j"",,,,y '(rrl p

â&#x20AC;˘

'I Jonah's Dream is a strong lune in waltz time. Myarr.mgement for .uiur uccompanimenl can be easily derived rrom the n0l'TTl31. shapes (remembering thai in Drop 0 tuning nonnal G chord is based on the 6th suing at fret V. not III). Play pan A with a "pinch". thumb and finger plucking logelher on the ftnt beat of the measure, and pan B with ~ of a "rol1 ~ or Ihumb lead.

Ftion chord

'r~

u;.':

('1 '='1" '~'_ ,:..7"'"'".... . 'lHlo(, .? ~ lJ- : - -,'"O .t-

~",.

f ..." "i"",-

f& .. l

r . IJ

Please do not reprint or redistribute without permission. Contact dpn@dpnews.com

The Sociable Dulcimer A Source of Music and Ideas for Dulcimer Clubs

Paul Furnas In the sp-ing issue. th is coIwnn pitSCmed a round in Folk Major or Mixolydian modc:. In this issue we feallue a piece in Folk Minor or Dorian mode. The staff IlOOIUoo versions I\l'e arranged 110 thru the home IIO(C is "0 " in both pieces. This makes it easier for IIBmmered dlucimer pal yc.rs (and their audiences) 10 listen tor the similarities and differences between FoIl: Map and Folk Minor. In the p= t piece, notice thaI the various palycrs must begin somtwl13l sooner than they would in II conventional round. Thi.!I may be a liuJe tricky III fnt. bul it will a \01; of fun as soon all you get used 10 ;1The words 10 Ibis piece are of I devotion3l nature, and the composa has wlrtcd a device into the melody that is a musical

equivalent of the gold aureole ilia! arWu sometimes use in religious paintings. It )'011 enjoy symbolism in the artS, lissen for this device and keep IrOCk of 00... often it occurs.

Warning: Using the tenns Folk-Major and Folk-Minor in an academic environment may be hazzardous 10 your grade point average

Paul

Furnas hal â&#x20AC;˘ N.D. in taWssance!nllsic, and cum:nlly is

writin, ",wn] boob for !he fn,1\Cd cIukimer.

A Sixteenth-Century English Canon This canon works just like a round. The (.\ signs indicate which nOl:es to end on.

<i>

" II: A

I I

- z3

" I

I -

3 g

L.J

I "~

J I

'1 2

I I

" I

:J LJ I

I I

" "

I I

;) Z I

.If

:11 F

l' "*Ie Please do not reprint or redistribute without permission. Contact dpn@dpnews.com

The .' oIk Minor Scale

In addition to playing the sixteenth-century English canon given below, you can use the Folk·Minor scale to play "Scarborough Fair." You can also use it for "Greensleeves", but you will have to hum around on the dulcimer for a few extra notes thllt you will nero.

A Sixteenth-Century English Canon This canon works just like a round. The

$ed

J J

r r rI

$0 U J J

J J

•

signs indicate which notes to cnd on.

<1>

1":\

J J

r~ oJ

J J

J r

r r

rJ•

J J

J r

0rI

I ~ rJ• 0' J ~

'" IJ

J J

:11

... " Please do not reprint or redistribute without permission. Contact dpn@dpnews.com

Supplies for Dulcimer Makers From Folkcraft

What's New

Folkcrafl is your SOUICI: for instrument milking supplies. AU wood il carefully dritd and seasoned. Tops, backs, lidn, lind fingerboardlln: gndo:<! to cnet tolerances lind m'lcho:d. You'll also find quality IICCUIOries lind 11rinp, lind quick ddivery. hUll wit hin the same a llegory mlly bf; combined for quantiTy diK'Ollnls. Eumplc: .. WlIlnut b"d:s and 2 cherry backs, UK the 6- 11 price for each. Orden fOI SO or more pifttS in the: lame ClIlcgory l«eivc II 10'lI0 add iTional discount from the 12 lind lip price.

Againsl Tr"lIdillonlKarcn Leigh Williams and Rick Ruskin, sounding Board Music, 3119 Vnlley Drive, Manhatl:lll Be3::h. CA 9OUi6 . This Illpe \XlfTIbines the sounds of hammered duk:imer and pIiw in origin:!l and

uadilionw IUIlC$.

_.It w,.

OUlClliEllms .~

DUlti liU HJL 'lOCKS

...... ,.

,I' .J

,. ,. ,.,.,. ,. ""--'" ,. ...... ...... ---_ _*--,. .. ",_,. "... .. ...,.,.'. --,,,_,. I.Sf . " .... ' . , _ . . . .'

,. ,. ,. ,. ,. ,. ,. ,. ,.

101-..'. 10< __ 1 .. 01) "_'.

I«i _ _ , .

11' _ _ , .

loIIfOorlt 11. _ ..... _ '' . ..

!111 _ _ , .

-_.... ,-,. SOOHOIGARDS _ , .J!

,. ,. ,. ,. ,. ,. ,. ,. ,. ,,,,

.u. "'-

""10.-..,.

•• ••

~,._

""_ _ NOr.....

'10

101

lit

I ..

••

111 '01

~_.....

III III

''''

1 0\ ."

, )0 "0

110

''''

OULC'IIIU TUNIH6 I'f:GS

1'/0

...

~I"" " I!! .. IOU .. lI .. "

...... "" ...... '.11...... .... , " ,. ,. '" , ,. m ... e-,,, ,. e-,. '"'" ,. ,,' ~-'" 1lI_'" '" OULCIME. SIOf: SETS

,II •

flo! ~ ~ ... ..., _ _

. . .. ". lilt ..

.11

_--,.

_-..

_ _ _" . _ l I . "... 10:"' . "..III,.

.. . ,.,.,.,. ,. ,. '. ,. .., ,.'. .. . .,.,,,'.." ,......,. ,...,.'.. ","',. ,. ,-.---.. .. '" _ .. N_..- ,. •• ,.•• ..,. -"'" ,••. ,. '" _ __ •• ,. WI_M" ,. ,. ,. ".'••. "''••. ...., I . S! . 111 ...

~ ~,

!6:' .. , _ , , ,

f~ IC TION I'f:U . . r_ u .... STfWUT· _ _MACDONlLO ,SoI_ ') fln·STU DULCIMER 1'f:6S

\oI4 ...

_ r · , 3;· ",,,. "

w __ ~~-

~--

moo

....... WI'$ . , 111 _

WI!

soas ... ""

/Ml _ _

1II"IQf"f ...

~-m __

•• •• •• ••

fR£TWIU .... _ _ .... _ ' _

,. ". '"

DULCIMU cun tHI"ORRD ..-...'_lI ,n " '/I ,. .. , 1l0ll! '·11110 .. II 1,,011 .. U_ III/"! .. , .. _ , _ _ r", ___ I _ , 11-111

••

NO_

.......... . .....

•• •• ". u .. ... ".

~If'.

' "",

'II_ UI"

ICOIII"" SIllS 00II11"

_ If'. ,_'"

f lllGUIGARDS

!II,' , 11' .

NUT. UIOCf:, fRET SLOn I'IIE·CUI

fO~

n ··

" " "" (I 11111 1U1I)Io:.'~

t III !II ..

--~ _:It • • '.

If'

'>0»" _ _ . , .. 1H •/ .HII

101 PUSTIC NUT. UID$E SlOCl TO f iT UOYE

DULCIMU ''E& MEAGS

_':If' " "

.. -

~-~--

I!6I _ _

The Flower o r Loudoun Coun lylBccky Blackley, San BI\IIlO Recoo1s, P.O. Box 504, Brisbane, CA 94005 • The L?,lcassclte with

accompanying songbook features Becky on Autoharp, with guiur, fiddle and hammered dulcimer. Includes -Plasir D'Amour", "Fur Elise-, and - Hard TimtS Come Again No More." (l!andy Kansas'Steve and Jean Smith, 171 ""ktrimon A ~., Asheville:,

NC 28801 , This is a llammered dulcimer tlpc of Scottish and English tunes, wilh a few originals, Like the 1i1ic IWIC, thrown in. Both Smiths play hammered and mountain dulcimers and

ciltem.

",1_-

... , ... -_-

"Son

STR1H6S ...... ....:.!O

Third Time Around/Jim Fytuie, Plccuum Rc:cords, P.O. Box 7 18, SOUlh Laguna., CA 92677 , Jim Fyhric pla)'l uaditionllllris/1 fa..-oritcs with viol in, guilar and synthesizer accompanimenl on !his digitally mastered tape.

..... . ...

,. '" •• ,. •• '" ,•• •• •••• •• ". •• , ,.

Writc r...... _ plc'c •• ,,1 , 11.1. o..ldmn, H.mmered o..ldmu .... 80 ..... PMl' cl"Jl

SHIPPING , _ _ _ "" 1;., __ _

___ .... __ .," "00 .._ _

..._ ... ___ OoWnol.'.' ..... ..... ....... 01 ... _ __ . . . . . . ..... .. _ _ _ ' _ _ _ _ .... 01 ..... _

1111

Dulcimer Solos/Jerry Rockwell, 13n Neil, Columbus, OH 43201 • This book contains arnmgemems (traditiooal and original) for freued dul cimer in D·A·A, D· A·D and D-Q-D umings.

We Folk/Gloria Hays, W7488 Bretty Painl Rd., BeaI·C/" Dam, WI 53916 · This casseue lape f~lures Ulldilion:L! and original limes accompanied by hammered and freued duL::imccs, bo~ psallCry and guitar. lncludes"Hard TIlIICS Come Again No More" and "Pig Ankle Rag."

Hammered Dukimer Traditioosl Maggie Sansone, P.O. Box 4144, Annapolis. MD 2 1403 · This UIpe fe<ltureS

the hammertd dulcimer in au·

insuumcmw IUIWlgemenU of country BOIl 801, Wlnlltd, CT 08H8 (20l) :l19.9857

VISA AND MASTERCARD ACCEPTED ON PtiONE ORDERS

dance tunes with harp. guilar,ltlllId:tlin,

boU1.OUki, ptllllywhistle, concenina,

accrion and oLher instruments.

" .... Please do not reprint or redistribute without permission. Contact dpn@dpnews.com

Reviews

Carrie Crompton IIlOUIlwn dulcimer's ancestry 10 the

Gcnnan xheilholt. and clearly documtnlS his hypochcsis. He ddcmIines the

There is m midi plOd mat.eriaI comin& OUI !hilI year. _ need _ people

devdopmcnl oIlbe

willina: 10 wri&e revicv4

If)'O\l enjoy writina. and would like 10 be. DPN

reviewer, ~ tend J'(U" ~-.dd.rt:

IIId phooc number and • shon ~;;"'l Ibcribina )'OUt in&ettsts (h.d... freafd

dulcimer, Irish music • .-u. cJassica!, e&I:.) LO: Carrie Ooml*"l. DPN Reviews, 119 C\oYcr ~.StalCColleJe,PA 16801 . COIl/eIIIpo'l'II)',

Hlell...,. J2. C05lly. TN 37722 ThiJ book ~ts an oveMew rI !he dcvelopncrll rI tile mounlain (lap) duJcimer. The CtJnICIII deals wiLlI the

traClSInInShip. ~~ mU5ical ItpeI1Oire. and iq ~ lOW settlina 0( tile A~ frouler. The reIdtr is IIJt ~uircd 10 h.lve previous: knowledge of carl&, hisI;wy. (J" foonal knowled&e of mlJ!lie. Omorinp. maps. ch:Iru, ...:I ~ are froqucnlly used 10 illllSU1lltd points mack in the Iel!L The author SUiiCSU tIIaI his book be used with ancxhcr book, A QJIaIo,1Ie Of Prt.-R~VQ/ AppuI«IIiotI DIIk~ by L. AJIen Smilh. The IWO boob complement elCh other without duplication. lnfMRaLion from A CDuIIo,IIt•.• is wlil.cd ad IlUJIIICnICd by Ra/ph Lee Smilh. He p-ovidca furt/ll:2" informaUon about spec:iflC instruments and presents I t:wooder pcn:pcctive of the

Ralph Loc Sml\h uaoes the

1 o

~...

_Dr .

u... dllO .. iheir pKinc-

fresh • ih the nw:rnin&- Now, wtct's some orange juice? Daw, De Pasqua IltarfdliftC't • krrJ ReM! SInHb. TOIa FrfStonbaUID ucI Don JI("Qon, Sona: of 1M Wood, 103

\Vrsl STile 51., DiKlt Mounllin , NC 21711 Ir yc. like the hImme:nld dulcimer andAx" ~ nditionailriJII music, yc. will enjoy this IapC-lloI. ii's hard 10 lisltn iO this mll5ic and IlOl let Iuppy. 1bb productjon oonIains I number of pJOd. original lima. I _ i\3dy ror some new music, and thc$e .unes ani rc:fres/linl. The music is a full as!OfUTIt:M of.Pas. rccls and ~

There _ ooIy Itwt.e very brief .spcu 10 cau:h )'Oa breath, but the swoetncsI of Iho& Ihnc umes has the dcsirc:d effect ~ an: ~ vocals on the iapC. VIricIy is bn:aIghl iO the \r.IIdiliooai ubb pollem oflnsh music by Ylr)ing the pace rather than !he lead insuumenl or providing backup. The effect is suiting. I can close my eyes and feel the mythm of rea movina on !he cbnoe floor. Thea musicians gel fas! and sliD pby e,a;cepIion:lIiy well.

There are some JCallCrtd JOUOd eiTOCU; tha II$SUIJIe (becaux the iMcn. IisIS 0cI:at IS one of the insavnents) ~ suppoaed 10 be waves. Sound dTecl!. I) complement music, should at kast be easy to identify. These are not They are, howe'Itt,'" infroqumt that Ihcy do IlOl detratt from the qualily of the musk. Jerry has produced I wondcrlul recording, perfecl ror I lot or rQOt·i;lppin& and good lisac:nineRon nit J IIMS

• \OOeje,,*, •

ttkk Jf.F1j)._.m INkl.,. U'OIW

abod

Everythina is iUU::r control. Th:I music t1aws in and 0111., back and rorth, and IOgClher, Th:I chemistry is right. Even on ~lCIIlpo tIlDeS and medleys the IlOf\tI'OlIlld InISk:fy 01 the insuumenlS is evlcb1L Kolodna sIIines on Sam Riv.eua's "Flood."....... Cnle.k." He Is lOI.alIy in ccntroI of the variation5 IIId I)'1ICqIIliorw; of this spunky and energctk Wre. "Aoodwar.tr Crtd::" comprises bul one eumple of the fltSl.· ra\e hammcrtd dulcimer playing rOlnl 011 this album. Chris Nonnan's eight·key ilWl$VCrX wooden flule prodUCCII. mellow and

du.lcimer. • Oueop • .....-.otI •

and the

DlybrHk • Oris Norman llid Ktn KoIodner,3807 Utech AH., Baltimort, MD 11211 /)QytIrftIJ: is an apprqlriaIe name ror this album. l'1Icc arc gtnIIe good mornings and thoc:Jfui musicai affumationJ hoe. Qub: Norman on OUle IifId whistk: and Ken KoIodntr on hamrncmI duIcima - " flCklle provide this enjoyable 'fII3kc ~ call Th:I OOIIlbill3lion of CcIIk, Itliditional American, and the music 01 MOWt starts one', day ..... ith I varied and enticing menu.. W1w. I inOU

1'1It Storr or The Du lcimtr • Ra lph I..te Smith . 1m, Crylnl Crwli Publisbtrs. P.O. Box &.

•

"1eIrdrop' dulcimers evolve from I'M) dilTetCIll cmfumen and IocnIes. Throughoul tlv: book /l.ir. Smith sOOws respect ror the mountain pecple and their ways. I Icr::ul.neud Ellis book iO..,.one with more tIIan 1 CISuaI interest in the evolution of the dulcimer, Dfbbit Baird

50ITICwhat haunting JOUOd, 01 home ""ith both quiet airs and high speed ~ This is music iO play OYct and (IYt:r apin. 1I's

• W,fal'

Our u.telll C_u e Tape

I WHAMDIDDLE I •

1,-----0- 1 Ri.,k

f •

F~. I

e n" J .n; 1..0 ........

- _ ..._ ......

i -----, _---.-

I, __ -..:8=~.~._. ..~.. ..

• - . . . ...... . . - • I'InQCNro • .,....,.,.,.. •

Please do not reprint or redistribute without permission. Contact dpn@dpnews.com

... ..

....... ~

' " ' , "'='

~ ,

i iI:

....

1S: i ~ - z ~~

~I'i"

_<II

~ • II(jg~!'&!~;"'~~rOl&i!.$. ~I :Ii :;; ~~ l: .: '3c22 &:1 .. $. ..

0 ___~~IIt __ -3 1~ ..... ~ I'i" ~. :;-~~~='" ,!"Ol

~ ~

i · ...

"'i' ..;r;

s::t :'lgg ~~i~ ~~I! sii . i 1\,8.6;0_-..,3.1'" 1 0

...

Il'n;

v.. r:;

i:li . >

Ii.:

iii·

o~J • a -, :I ! "'s. S::ril."

§.

! ~ ~

-:' ::; I ~

~ ~

•

...

;<:" : :l

_ .

;:1:

~ ~i !l'9~!$ l-l~~ "'~15 ~::~ . .. i ~~~3 "' 0' .L, ~ g'U "-,,,~ ~~.g _I _:'3 ::: ..... §"" Os :; t l j a~l

I' 1

......... ~

t;:z> .. i;f

HI m p~ !\' ~ ',,Iq'll' ,'1 !~'~;<,·,.I fi "':!I ii: H! "iI"- ;! ;~ -! a. . :;giJ~ giS iI: 30'1 01 ~ :i:::: 0 ~ (j

!~Il

.. ii~ & ~~~

1"0 ... _

~jl h~ _", l:: €!! ii~

~!i

c -

log

g'ii

~i!

~o~ :(h §~~

Hi iH

iii

'c~

f ~w >"I"~ ;0

" m~~

()

~p ~2 Please do not reprint or redistribute without permission. Contact dpn@dpnews.com •

IM eimtr lIumdillJ:~rs: Book II F..asy Cud Plalin, M~ For Itammtrtd Oulcimtt • Libh Gilldt, 1709 Goddard, (h·ttbnd Park. KS 66214 ThiJ is a book of delightful tullCl pre:tenltl;t in a clear, playable manner 'lr'C1I_ auitod 10 !he. hammered dulcimer, In

add,tion 10 $I:IIId.1rd musical nowion, Lhc sclc:ctions have the name rI each note and !he. tridge position given above the staff. IV bcJinnen and playCl$II$IOd 10 numcrial IIbIaun systems. the ncMC strips for placin& under !he. dulcimer sainp will be a hclpCullOOl in U$ing this booIt. ('Tk strips weJ'e included in Book II tnd can abo be 0Idered scpraraIdy.) Conspicuously absent from Ihc book __ Illy dntIlIOI3lions or ftlc:rencu 10 dIords, a11hougt1 many of !he. IIIIICS anl wriucn.,.jth IWO- 10 four-

"'" In her inuoduction. Lilah Gilleu ,,,,,",,,

offen a few pDgC5 of advice and CIICOtII1&emcnl on playing $lylc:$ and development, wmhwhik leading especially for Ihc ~ and inIctmcdiaIe piayeJ', Abo included an: I few hdpful hiJU on anbcIlislvnencs Ind dance lIMe ICtTlpoJ. Thr::a.. afIet a TINe of

•

ConauJ coYCrintI: two full pa£CS. erJIa !he. ...... 119 of them. nc: aelection is t.'oId. rqina IIwcu&h UlIditiorlal, Irish, ~ folk , spirituab, classical, rap.. IIId men offering flllliliar' arK! new kinds of music for every pbying level. Some tura lie prescntCd in harmony. JOme are 10 be plucked. ~ !OTIC are ~1Cd with full embeILishmeoI1 Th:: tune titlellle 100 nurnern.s 10 liSt: you have 10 ICIC Lhc book fot )UIrSclf. o.u:iMtr "~'s is ~ for pbym toWnllO btoadc:n their rcpc:r1Oinl tnd Iheit enjoymenL Richard ~i!I

BOOKS for M()lli\o'TA I.~ I}ULCIMU, bI TOM " AEmt • N.:W TUN.: stOI.D t"R lf.N I)S .. ~ ,95 I' So-p: .nd 0 . _. I.dlfdlna 0111 JIH C... , SoUi, .. ' J"1, !till/wooi 1' __" • Ii I'U:ASIi~ AIH)ICTlON •• $U5 11 0 . _ . . Scoop. 11Odudi"l Hau 10 1M M',...... ~ 1M ""'..",..

N,. c,.,.",

• Spt.;CIAI ••. BOTH BOOKS ... IIO.to ...... r.-- IlQGnl)l)I'£ PRI'. ss ",'" ."""'" $<.. LowrlI.

MA '1m

Palau Ad: Oaroquf M usk on tIM! lIamlDl'rtd DukilDl'r • C.roIt "'otnig, 2-&n ChtrtllJO)1I A."r .. 11011)""00<1, CA 900Ql There has been some use oIlhc h:Jmmcrtd dukimer Wely in early music.. About tune? Carole Kocrug's new mnrIlfI&:, Pnlnr., A~I ill. hold tJlpcrimenL She has arranged some of the symphonies of William Boyce (171()' 1779) for IIammercd dulcimer, violin, viola. and !he syntbesiuf (read cello). Some IIIO\'ro'IO\IS have been omiur:d. !he rest swilChed II'OUlld and re-titlod. with IWTICS like "Wirw.tward". "Now and Then" Ind "Soruy Said." Ba/oqIIe music otTers great poICIIti;II fot Ihe h:unmeted dulcimer; Ihc music is an:ltilCCwrai, an:! Ihe thin sound of the dulcimer filS nicely. Th:: dukimer used hete lias just !he. bright, thin 100M 10 fit the task. The other insuurnc:nlS paform quite oornpeit11tJy, with the synLhesi7.cr playing Lhc bass line in a innocuous and IIn·dccuonic fllShion, Th:: ccnllUl problem is one of ~. Ihough; the 1IIUk was not wrUlen fot IIammt«d dulcimer, or lIIythina Ihou. toInIs like a hammered

dtdcimer. Although 11m not. ptIris IbouI II\aIIttJ 01 aut/JentiI:ity, I fUld the dl1k:imcr incapable of rtndering!he IITcctive qualiLies or a violin's mdodic line. The music. which should sinl on Lhc violin, sounds 1$ if it ~ just being recilC:d on the dulcimer. An ul'ISl.ISpIXting li5lef\er might assume thaI Boyce was an early oornrmcr of background musk:, PDlDct Act is. nevertheless, a pluslnt recording. The $(lUnd is clear. Lhc miling digit3lly done. Ms. Koenil lias made a .serious effort which 1liiy serve 10 introduce many dulcimer fans 10 the wanderful music 01 W~ Boyce. Nicholas Blanton

• 50 F•• rN ShiM.". S r ., '" 1"l,0 ....... 0 p,. . ,'>.'i:" •

II (_~ ;&.

ft!r.

~ 0" Io. .t . . ... ~ ... r$

• •• "" , ". ' . .... 1 • .,... ,. . . . ,..· •• • • L

f,. ,...

w,,.

()l.OE ~(y Nllli

RtJ. lIiO.au ......

Ruth 8:wTeu and Cyntia Smith an: very popular performers on Lhc west Coast and !he initial pressing of this album was partially ruunced by jnpublication otdCI'S from fans. The 5I1Ong fcminiStlin of Lhc lyrics no doubI rcflccu BarrtU'J Ind Smith's perfarnances as weD as !he. philo5ophic:al bent or most 01 their uIienoes. Newocomas 10 thelr music 1liiy l3ke .while 10 let IIIOd 10 !he overall .IICfiousnes of !he IItun tnd 10 the 1)Tics. as in !he ~ixd "Lad or the

Dance" or ~ B=ea's "Chosen COII'Itry." However. !he. can:ful wcavlIIi of illSU\llTlC:lllS ~ voices is YoUth IlSIening 10 on its own lenTIl. My favorite selection of the entire record is the final CUI of side tWO, "AJlu Man Mi I'OnDti." Ikie Lhc 0Ipn and side drum uncblying the dulcimer and multiple voice 1taCk.s produce a r:IeII1Of1Ible musical montCtIL MiWf Collins

'Ih:

OW. -rl"' f~ ~, o< 7

Dftptnin& ' Ruth Danl'lI .nd C)'ntia Smith, I~bttg RtcOrds. 207 East Bun-alo 5t.. Suit~ SOl, "'itwauk~, WI 53202 Duptllinl. Ruth Bantu's tnd Cyntia Smi:h's third ~,. is a fascm:lling tJlpkntion of femiru$l aentimenu and m}'$lit: tm(l(ional u.pttSSioo. APIl\bclIi.:Jn dukimw lXOYide the center of the: instrumental JOtIIId. but the overlay of a host of instrunlenlS, such as the 1}'IIthc:siztt, tarnburica IDss. celk). orz:lll. RcnaiJsance side ci'um. Jingling Johnny, nute, piocoIo and ~bals. gives Ihc tt.COrdi", • fuD multi·l:lyettd $OUI'Id. The vocaIlOUI1d is ~ and deep. Ruth tnd Cyntia's voices bIc:OOing and 'NCIVUI, tIwou&fI !he. mi.IllU~ oflXlll(elTlporary and trlcbtion:al

,~ OoUI '~

1l4l:11l:11Ell

~m,Ii.1!lIlln

~ -"" .. -. _.... _-----.----llilllli'

How I I'lui ld

The

Th l n!l ~

CIHlrlic I\hn --~--

,,~

\I.'o(xh•.-orks P.O. 1.18 Drookston , IN 47923

c:.::.:

3INi63-3S04 I-Srm. f-I-F

.... "

Please do not reprint or redistribute without permission. Contact dpn@dpnews.com

Dulcimer ar ewelry in Gold or ~ilver

Blue Lion Musical Instrum ents Au . hori,"" buil~ or 1M Joan Rilthlt nllkl .... • nd 1M f~ . d·o.clof Si~ Sinn. Oukimn. 'lI ndcnft«lluil~~

,nd dukimns of ucrprion.ol 4,,"UI), pn'fffl'ftl by fine m~"" ;"dudin, _Ja nill B.k~. An .... !lorry, Cal h)' Barlon. u.k in BrYln l. R~ mond Canlpbfll . C..1it C. omplon. Nnl Hf llman . Jay I..ftoo,·ir~, ""~ Ha mpton Mil,". M•• k Nelson . Jn n Rilchit . Sally It.", and 111M""

Blue Lion 4665 P.rkhlll R... d San .. M ...... ' .. CA 'U5l 805 / ' 31-5569

Write for more informa tion A.~

. ~;~Pine. Ridge Designs

,p.i!i:..~ P@ B ox 5441t"'T""I\-l!torthr.cld,@hio44067

,..-

.WW ' ' ' ' • • 'c-<,

! Mel Bay Publications Presents ...

Dulcimer Class Method , "

by Madeline MacNeil

•

• Ideal for both child ren and adults

• Excellent for use with both groups and individuals • Exciting and innovative • A unique publication • Thning. strumming. fingerpicking. chordi ng. use of a

, ';

'6.95

send check Of money order plus 51 .00 postage and handling to:

capo, accompanying. etc.

I:';?I

l~j!1

Mel Bay Publications, Inc., #4 Industrial Dr.. Pacific, MO 63069-0066 i ~

-.-

~--

-, .

Please do not reprint or redistribute without permission. Contact dpn@dpnews.com

.... ;:

Hammer Dulcimer Column Notes From A Formerly Petrified Performer

Linda Lowe Thompson I used 10 be despemlely afraid 0( pcrfonning in fro'll of an aOOicnce. With introsp:x;tion. obscnation. and advice frem other perfOrTllC'J'S. I have greatly improycd aver the years. Eyqytbing I learned about myself, evoythjng I obsen'od in the pcrflXIl1allCeS of ~ and tmx piece or advice helped me. Performance. skiD is • IOJic of wide inleteSl 10 musiciaN of all pmuasions. There ~ • lot of musicians who want 10 pcrfonn and bc:ccme dcbiliullingly frighll:llC'.d at the p-ospect Many ottlers simply W3f1110 improve already good performance styles and ililh. My advice: TcacII )'OIDSCIf not 10 .....any about whether 0" not people like you. It's a great freedom 10 realize !hat not cvayonc will like you. You doI!'t likc everyone; not ~ wiD like)'Oll. Does. good or bad performance slb. dcltmline whelhec )'OIl'", liked pcrsonaIly? Do you use lhal 8$ a cri1Crion1 Qncn don'l either. U~

thai. even if your

performance is gcelkn L some people will like the kind of music and I!JlI/\geffieIIIS you prt'SCfIt and others won't rYe !mown a greallTl3Jly artists who have let popular opiaion ruin !heir pcnonaI artistry. Play the music )'OJ like, in arrangements thaI you like, and

yes. that was ~ng new rd added 10 the act How can the aooic:ncc I13ve a goed time: if !hey think you're no(1 Try 10 communicalJ: your love of this music 10 the audience. Eli:press)'Ollf emotions through your music. YOLI don't ltave 10 IJ:JJ them what you're uying 10 ClIprcss-

it's often beuer if you let them ha\'e their own individual inter'pll:tations. UnDerstand thai ca:h audicnc:e has a particular pcnonaIity. You won~ necessarily gel the same response 10 spccirlc IlJIICS{)OkCf/stOrics thai you did with the last audience. Ask yOW' favorilJ: performer 10 1J:1l you alxlul a time when the audience reaction was a surprise. I've heard some great stories! What. b the worst. thing that can happen in a paformanec? Imagine iL Uve with;L Make yourself reafu:e that this really \sn~ I.tYll imponant in Ihe great scheme of thinp. At the >wy least. you can get a good StOry OUI of il 10 tell among your pcrfOlll'lCT friends. No ooc enjoys Ilearing/lelling aboul the pcrf~inwhich youpb~

brilliantly, the audience loved it, you

were paid imme:diall:J y, the sound men were great, e\C. Those are gmlilying

audience is much more uocomfonable with a nervous performer than with • few wrong nou:s. Give y~r I few ..TOng III)IU. Undcnmnd!hat!hey may happen. and don'l allow them 10 affect the ovcmU pcrf~ w wince or make a face when )'011 err. Your job. on StDge. is entMajnjog

tJlpcriences, and they do happen with a gre:u deal of regularity. However, the good stories t:OITIe from the bloops and blunders in life. Know the music well, ~11IIlI3ine· it before you go on 10 play. In the spring, 1987 issue of DPN I described seeing tunes in panems. To iml1gc a !LInt, put away your llammers, close your eyes, and prnctice it without striking the noIeS. See in your mind each strike you make ;n that tune. When you get 10 a spot in whk:h you're not ClIoctly cctUlin wll3l you're supposed 10 do, open your eyes and pluck ;1 OUI 011 the dulcimer until you see

11& ~

CJL8ctly ",h:ot you intend 10 be playing. I

fear and trembling. Out oldest clr.ild hadn't hcanI me: pcri"orm in a couple of years. After seeing our show at her kx;:lI theater, she commcmcd Il'Iat I looked like I Vo'lH having such a good time:. I tOld her

learned the technique oC memoriring piano musk: away from the piano from Dr. Cbre McGavem in a piano workshop alxlul 30 years ago. I must admillhat I ditln~ rcaJly sce 8 usc fer this until I tried it with dulcimer music a few )'CMI ago.

you1l fmd your audience. A performance is not the time 10 be worrying about deficits ill )'OUl' uxhnical ability 10 play your instnmcnl The

.on

You owe itk! the ~ 1(1 1:lIPfC$$ good humor and love of life. not

Obviously, you can't iml1gc the whole SCI in the IS minuloeS before you go on. You need 10 do it the day beron:, er on the way 10 the pcrlcnnance (if ~IC else is driving). This is IlOI exactly the same thing as when runroers irna&irc: crossing the flIlish linc fUSt. But, I suspect. il is exactly thc same thing as ....hen Ihese runnm leU me: !hey close their eyes and sce Ihcmselves running the whole course. It pIacc:s the .... hole SCI in 8 different pan of your brain--a part that is less aff((:1ed by performance lW.iety. II', boetI my ob9crvaOOn that a 101: of musicians only know the IUncS with muscle menuy. We can JUS!. son.of wm 011 the body and Il:Ive il pI.1y the Iunc because it's played il so many dmc:s. Th:u usually weds until the perfc-mancc. when the brain my bIxome so alarmed that il beoomes uncertain Ilboot how well il really blows that tunc. M'I moIher once lOkI me I was so very frightened because I really didn't believe I knew the material welL At the time, I hOOy denied il, but I Iau:r decided there was rcaJ truth in iL Socing the lunes in l'IIy head has gone a long way 10 alleviat£ Il'Iat problem. Be profC$Sional in your approach 10 the perronnanc:e. Determine eu;t1y what they want, and don't take the job unless you're willing and able 10 give them what they need. Learn exactly ",hat they tJlpcct fran you, and let Ikm know, plcasantl~ and fun'lly, what you tJlpecI rrem them. Wkre is this job? When? Do you need special papers 10 get you in the gate? Parking passes? How much will you be paid? When and how wiD you be pcid'1 Whal kind of iIOUIId equipmc:nl do !hey have? Do they tJlPCCI you 10 pu. your instrument in dift(:1 sun1ight? .ooN:I! How long a perfO'lllaf\C(\ do they ,"'3IlI? Does Il'Iat time they've liven you include set_up? Exactly what kind of music do they ClIpca you 10 play? Do they care ho .... you're ~ Be prqxut:d 10 provide Ikm with Dchan in<\ic:aung yOW' needs

Please do not reprint or redistribute without permission. Contact dpn@dpnews.com

I~ ro m

Hamm ered Dulcim er Records & Tapes Maddit MacNt U The Holly &: The Ivy. ChriSimall Music Soon lis Going 10 Rain .................... .

CA HOLE KOEN IG

KM230 KM 244

Music on Ihe lIammcrcd Du lcimer

Comm on Ground - Travele(s Choice·

Hammered Du lcimer Ducts ............... .

KM m

Doug Dtreh The Longmg -

Origin:ll Music for Hammered Dulcimer Drn is Murphy · Irish MUI;ic for Hammered

KM 245

Oultimu (lp only)............... ................... KM 233 >,I'\I(~II'I,\II

Mounta in Dulcim er

....

~'lI ll\l..

,~\K\"'ll1. IIII~J~~II'

I.HII "IIUIII

Tue ll V O llr~lr 10 Play Ouldmt r- 6 !apes &: 100 page book (ask forTI 501.{)6) ..... . Mark Ntlson'. Oulcim t r Workshop Advanced instruCtion (IT jOO·12)......

.OS

r. \ ~'- n.llf..!J ~""..I • _

r."u' P.\I,.ACf M:"I

I'Mf-'> ..... ..sail«" "'u~1o

11;0,"'1"" M~"'· ~

~ ,~

., '."Io!od."'" ,,.,,.., ".·,Io.... ~

1"'''I'' 'oI.! l~

I ~ ... I"'·.,.,~.,.,...

.. ".. ...,.. ,....,"""'ll "'"

'17lI1I .... " ...... ,11"1 'I ....... . h-I,.. "",..,I ....., ... "lIIld .. h

\10 l.. il1 .... n'"

"~I' "., ....."""11:<1'"'''' 1.o~1.,.," ... I,'''.r '.Il«~~

Visa Wtkome 707-926-3312

•• ,,~ ,j

•••

Ki ck ing M ule Reco rds, Inc POB 158 Alderpo int, Ca 954 11

n. ,•• ".... nlh'.'

\ , ... , .....1'''''lV.~ bel)!' j ..... '1..1'-111." 11"«1.001 '.""', .....

,.~I It'f\dl'o-.u .. " ...... "."'" .~ ......... " 11 111 ...... 1~ lI a '(0"

All recordings lp or casscue 57.95 cacll. 1.1:\slllfCard &:

...

1I.Immr'fd l)Uk ..... '

II;tmIM.f:d 'lUk'inlf".

1..,,,,,...1 1 1I!II'<~' 1.,.,.-

,,,,~

l",IK .."I, ,,,,,I I"'" I~.'

,., ...'

~~.'

CAItO!." "01\:,\,1[; )Iusil' on II'M: lIa mme.ed HUl( imrr l tn Che. emoya ... ,~.• '1IIl , I\(III ),"-(lod. C\ 9OO6lI

Jean's Dulcimer Shop P.O . 101 '1, HIGHWAY l2

COSIY , TE NNESS EE 111 21 Phon .. : (615) U1 · 55U

SEIilVING THE NUDS OF THE FOL K AND HOMEMADE MUSIC WOIL DS QlJIt

•c

,,,,,,,I.lln

frc u .-l . nd ""_r<!d ' or U ... .. U , " • nd flnloh<!d Inu...-ntl by seve r.! .. le .. , bu.ildero' .uwllel, ."essoriu, And .u. i1 eve., son, aJtd ploylnJ.lnuructlon boo\ ..." record III" .. in prinl 'ea.urlnJ ei t her Und of <lul e l .... , OUr u •• u l n pl.yln' .... thod . Ind _ , boot·li .. ,or;l...tu • full lin. o( titles for othe r .. Ind .nd ' tr i.,,,,,, foU Inst...-... . . .M IItI . . . Ioctlon 0' reco rdl ... o f old·ti ... and ...d l . lo.... 1 foi l . .sic II 01\41 of tho 1"180' ' 0 N foond anY"ho", A ,"""I, variety of (oll •• oy •• nd hind er.f.. (or ,1ft Or ' - u. e I. In I• • un. part o ( .... . . .",,,"IIdI.o, 1t' • • 11 Ih t "'" In IItI. "',"101 •• J.....end 1 1.00 (wh ich ... '11 ref""" . lth YOU ' (lnt o1'1l . .. ) . 0 co..... be COl t o( prln.ln, .nd pOS I •••• d~lci .. rs

.l1li ... e.ytMn.

1I...-:Ji1l.O EK.pl l.... , .. . pl. pl~

PUlCIIIIJI

Nt'IIUT

~ItOOUCTSI

I•• ~ • • I..

1o<0illl.,

I'"''''''''

8<.11'1") •

""p, .... "'.11y '''''''. p".O,d ' ••• 0.' ...,101, II... tI ......

'''"''I

..11 ..

1... 1....... IFd

..,.

........ _ • . IF .. _ .. I OJU "n

'0,1."". ,·•••• 1. ,,,.1.. .. ...d. •......... ..". u....... .c.,.

_lo~

"rI.,

• •• • ,0,.. ..., •• " • • ". , .. " .. Ill) ".bl. "'''".. . . ,0, .. IJ I ", '01' _" 111) .... , ..."., of , • • Il) .vl........ I., b.Id ... II. ",.... bl • • ,,~

.n' ......

,h. ••_ ..

~ 0" .... , ~. . ., " ' ' '' ' blo< .. of 0 •• rt ...., ...1_ ,.., ... Ior , •• 1., ... pl..,-I ......~~h'""'"l .«<._1" I",d I. . . . .IorI;. ,.,.. : OIS.OO U.

IOWUI PSALTDn' . 8o.""MIy . . ....." •••• ~ ,,".1, "0100". H" .

.p' ..... ...

,Ie .Io< ~ , , • • Ieo of C.. : ... ,.,,\ ot. p.h.... , .. EKolI,., .. I. . . . . n. ,..... " .. . 10 ",1. " ••• ,., .. p ... '-Id ,.."......... . . II • • _ . . .. .. fr ... F .. , . .. ",IU"'.c to A . .... . I •• OI . .... I~ .... 1. on _ ,14., .. I,. '0"'. ... " .

,":lpl ••

.KeO'

,.-C.

. n. " ... _ ,,," "'''', . 1.. . 111<1." ................ , tob l . _ .",1...- ....,. , •• 10 , .10... ; .. II. '"'''' . 1.. , ' ''\~, • •• 1...... 4- ' 1...-1•• _ . ,,"" , 1100.0»

p,.

Please do not reprint or redistribute without permission. Contact dpn@dpnews.com

Robert Force an interview by Madeline MacNeil Strasburg, Virginia Did you play m U$ic befOff you

•

bumptd into Iht dulcimer? When did you lind thai instrum ent? And how? Well, apart from takmg the uombone in the rourth aid fifth grade, and dropping 00\ because my atmS wcren"!ong enough, 1 iUlly had no

mlLU:al training or inclinatiIYI until I became a freshman in coUege. I Il3d run inlO a qoouLion by a OIiDCSe poet named Un Po. wiv;) said that "Man should stir himself wiih POCUY, stand fum in rilU3l and complete themselves in music." I had hean1 the musk: 0( Rlclwd Farilla 00 record and, much more than his insuumcnl, whicll I knew IIOIh.ing about, I was struck by his JOCiaI and persooaI obsefvations and his abilities as a song ....Titer. So I just said, I "ant 10 do that, and decided that the dulcimer woold be the il1SU'Umem to play. So you'd heard or a dulcimer? No, rd ntYCf Iw:ard 01 a dulcimer. I

mean, you look aaU1e back cover of the album and see that Richard Farilla plays a dukimcr. That's all. I wenllO an Austrian emignml violin lIlIIker who lived in our \Own and I showed him the album rover. I said, "Mr. Fisher, I'd like 10 play an insttumenl like thi.!i. Can you build i11" And lie said, 'Y cs. I can build Ltlal' I won $18.50 in a poW g.ame and wilh thai I bought my fLf'St dulcimer from Al Fisher in laIC 1966 and sec aboullcaming to play. UI'5 say )'Our approach 10 tht instrum ent Itwn WIiS difTf Rnl.

You movtd upward. Were lhert any kind oIluninl illSlruC1ions and so forlh on tht back oIlht album? There were no wning instructions. thete was nothing. I guess I really:un a self-laugh t musician, bccau.ge I did what the dulcimer does best. That is, I fumbled my way into an open tuning. PoopIe have often WOIldI::«I why I a1wa)'$ play in O-A-D milolidian ralhcr than a G· G-C or something like Ih.lt. Well, for me the D·A·D is a stronger open

wninJ;.and Ihat'.....lull I $IW1Ibled into. The dulcimer that Fi$htr built on ly had the rll'Sltwo melody strings 0'JCl' the freLboord. So my introdoction to the dulcimer was playing only on the doublt melody strings. Chords and chord struclUreS had no reLltiooship 10 anything I was doing. I Icamcd to become fluid with my melody. and exp-ess myself through rhythm. liming changes, and mekKtic changes rather than chordal changes. This was all hapPtlling in Bellingham, WashinglO'l, which is ju~ about as far nofIh and wt'5l as you can get in the conlincntal Uni ted SWte$ from Appalachia. I knew nothing about Appalachia. I didn't even know thai the dulcimer was an American illSlJUmCnt, Nothing. And everybody I saw around me. .. guiW players, banjo playcrs. ..aIways had a SImp on their instrumenl and, of course, played il StlJ1d.ing up. II's a question Qt- aJI imitating life at that point, because I looked around at what I saw, pul DSU1IJl on it, SIOOd up, wncd to open notC5, and starting playing melody lines.

lIearing you play, you ha\'e a ~e.ry Slrong senst 01 rhythm. lIut you hadn't played percussion instrumenlS, so WllS il jUSl there? The seeds of il were~. JUSt playing melody can be boring a/b:z" D while. All you'lt: doing is going diddly di dip, diddly doop. And if you don~ llave chord changes, how do you affecl what you'lt: doing except through rhythm changes? So my early personal discovery of rhythm was a way to \'ar)' and make entenaining the elements of melody. At l18e 19 I had a Itt to say musically. and so il came out very fast. It lOOk me years and years to learn how to play slowly, 10 learn how to savor the rotes inste:ld of trying \0 squeeze OUI a million of !hem. Usually peoplt ",ill Slatt Ollt slow and th en they' ll go to playing rlL'll. So II's interesling to Slar1 thai way and discover

"'h.

One of the

rea.'lOOS

I'm such 8 great

fllll of your music is because you're one of the few musicians that I know who inbJilivcly hears the beat of the mLl$ic. What )'OIl add vocally always filS in the spaces of the attaI::k and decay of the music. Many people W1IIII 10 impose their voice over the melody line. BUI the melody Inc: by virtue of the racl that it's a starlding sound I1113ve has 8 natuml decay. You've got 10 waiL You have th:U. ability 10 wail until it's ready. Powl Then you bring in the IIClII thing. That's one 0( the things I ~iate in a good

musician. Thoe's 8 p:utlble about how, Ioog ago and far I1113Y, a king had invited musicians to his court to give a prhc to the pc:rsoo who coukI play the loudest and the flL'lleSl. And unfortunately thai. tradition has kept on. the musicians that usually g~1 the most notice are the ones that play the loudest IlIld the fastest. It's fun to gel OUI there and IoI;:k up your heels and just rip through something. But, when you're dealing with an 3udicrw:e over a period of two houts, you need to leI them bock inlO their own space now and ag.ain instead of driving them on. These d.lys I can only take a liUle bil 0( bluegrass before I'm all wore OUI, 'cause fm IooIr:bg for the spaces. Before, when 1 star\I:'.d playing the dulcimer, I was looking for the notes: now I'm looking for the ~ between the notes..

When , '01.1 started to play, did )'011 begin 10 perform for others by yOIl~tr or after "our meeting wilh Albtr1. Which camt lirst? I had been performing for a couple of yearl before I mel Albert. By then I had dismvenxl that the dulcimer was indoolllll Americ:atI folk instrument with!OIDC pretty sm:.Ig roots. I left Bellingluun with the dctennin3tion to go to the APfX1lac~ ians and learn rLtSlh30d 3boot!he ethnic U"lIditions of the instrumenl. I took everything 1 ownod and piled il into a pink 1954 Lincoln Capri. drove south and ende:l up in Union Grove, North Caroliro al one 0( the live Iargw bluegrass festivals in the United St::ItI:S.

Please do not reprint or redistribute without permission. Contact dpn@dpnews.com

.....n

There were fony or liny Ihowa.'ld people on this !arm Ihar. usually held 14. I had. Iqe mape dukimer wilh • freestandina brid&e MIl it was really lood. I jusI SlOOd on IIv: edge of • group of people. MIl wailed 'til Ihey suncd JUring die only Appllacltian IWIC I knew. And as b')n as Wi ldwood Fkrovu arne UP. rd play it. Then rd l1'I(IYe 0fIICI MOIher group and wait 'til Wildwood FID_, came UP. and !hen I'd play II Igain. That way I go! fasler and fll$ll:l", beuer and cleartr on chal one sonll. Tbcte ...... only one ottw:r dulcimer player 8l WI. festival. AI d~ and ~ was just one dulcimer buikkr, Jcny BealL AI ni l ended up hanging out II Jmy's booIh nI playing his ti:imcn. He bn:IIght nine d Ihem down, nI IDId aU nine. He aid. ibis is fllUaSlit. You guys an jusI han& OUt with me; t/w', rille." At !he end olllv: week he inviled us 10 come uP to Ohio me! Iewn 10 build dulcimers. AI went bIc1: to Washingron, OC and I went back .... ith Jerry. From there. we If1Ivekd 10 plates like Cosby, Tennessee (..~ I won the Southern Hi&bJands Dulcimer Ownpionltlip) and spcnc.1hc summer d 1970 bein, on IIv: folk circuit in IIv: AppclIachians. AIIIv: end of thai. time,l went out 10 W.miftIUJII DC to spend more time "ith Albtrt. He \Io'U pbying lIa·lap $lyle and W2I inuiJUCd In! extlcd by my standina up aylc, 10 I taJght il D him. In the JroCCSS d texhing illO him. we WT1)Ie I book aboul thaI.~, /" $tQl'(h of lhe Wild DIllc/JM7. Al one point we fconl! it really distraCting 10 won:, so we went 10 Europe and lived in Munith to rmisllllv: book.. We $UIrI('.(j rt'aIrIIinl and playina gigs like BaVllri3n Radio. Radio Free Eutope, nI ....rtinj; jobs as musicians. We rJJlished IIv: book. came bKl: 10 Ihe Uniled Stale51ftd Alben waIkt:d it in 10 RaOOom House h Ne.... YOIt City nllhey boo&ht iL Then we SW1Cd on I guess what we aU calli eartU. It wasn'1 our iruntion, but LIIaI's where we cndod up. Boob lead 10 records, records lead 10 boola, and both lead 10 performances. Next thing)'Oll know.)'OlIVe been on IIv: road performinll for a couple hLllldnxllhousand milol and poopIe IWt rcprdilll you u a ~ or at least a p"l\)()ilCflt of • gerue. So here it b now. 16 years bier than !his ..'bolt lime I'¥e boen Jpeating d, and I reaIiK I've spotc:n peny ucluSlvdy of tqiminp nI origins. Probably bcI;aue I ....,tlO ~ Ihat I 00n' !hint tNt you an be in lI'Iy pro(essioa for any

,.-

number of years without ~g a rtaUy

Ion& lisa of alIl1v: load thinp yoo've done MIl aU IIv: ~ you\oe received from people and Ihe fancy festivals IftC1

BII.. jusllike bcin& I thild. what shipes u.s is wt.:re we sunod. It'$ real extitin& 10 try 10 be the loudest and the fasICII and the biuest Md Ihe besl, and I Lhink evaybody goes IIwwgIl that at tome poinL And !lien the .:culuntion process begins 10 ISSClt iL"IClf, 111 never be from AppalaI;:hia, MIl I've ~uy mIlCh made il dear in my music that rm not that. Not because I don' apprecia&e it, but because one ~ Ihe movements in foUt music is 10 try 10 mimic some p1ar.c. and I have 100 much respea for it 10 mimic. So I tate these

..... not.

sonas 0Ul oil tulwre belonging 10 Olher people II1d I aansform Ihem tlwuu&h my own fillerinl proc:css 10 somethina I an fed and pby, Other Lhan that, I oonIinue 10 write my own songs and blend the cullUfeS. For inSl3nCe, the Patine Rim album was • collection in which everybody brought

AppalDc:hian music, Irish music, handwritten music. French music, put it aU 1Ogcthc:r and IhIt made the album sua:cssful. The IIt.I.t album, one that Albert and I did lIS. duo lOgetner, we

u.',

narnM C"'UO\lOt'~ beeaI$e molly whal. we ...en! trying 10 do. We were

tryinl 10 bridge !hal gap between the Appal.::hian roots 01 the dulcimer nI IIIe modem pocential dille dulcimer. I lik.. that a]bum • lot T t U us a ]ilt" bit abou t what's on it. The idea behind Crossovu was 10 cre;ue an cclcttic album that showed that !he dulcimer lIS a musical voice could be pb~ with J wide variety or instr\llTlefll1 Everyone knows IIIe dulcimer wilh the banjo. nundoIm or gullai'. BUlon this album it's Ihe duk:itnct and Ihe Utnbewean flat S marimba. It's IIIe dulcimer and.ACCI ckunu. The dulcunc:r and S3l!ccUo. GmnII piano. A vwicty of musical influences drawing from v.ukI ethnic and American jazz forms, We did thai bocausc of a11111e thi"&1' we'd SI:elI in our If1Ivels. One thing we felt needed 10 be addressed the ITlO5l was not so mIlCh what Ihe auk:U1~ wa$, but whou;. WliS Ihe orchestral voice of IIv: dulcimer. If ii's high like. mandolin, why don' you just play I mandolin? Or if iI's rhythmic like an open.1.UnOd luilal'• .,my tbl'1 you just play. guiuw1 Our belief was because it t*es dements from both and ackIs sometIIinS th3r. neither one has. And so

with our $lyle d playing, we could 5Und up and p1lty eye to eye. I'ClIe ror note with wor\t-<:l3ss music:iaM. We ....lIed 10 srow tIw the dalcimer could "aoa (Mt" ilwl other genres. Pahaps ifs inCIucnc:cd tome: people. llc:crtainly dMIn' bcccme a million best seller, but then, what foUt album does'! Next we rm:rdcd The AN of lhe DIllCUMr, which \\'8$ just \W'O dulcimers. period. BUi two poopIc who think lO£ethet tan tum a dulcimer inside out and make it !IO\nt like no other insuument on earth. We take tWO dulcimers playing the.same passage 01 notes and then Albert and I reach out and IepIII'3&C IIv: harmonies .10 that ...e aeate an ulXllldcd thooI between us. Now you've COl eiglll r.ngers playina a ringle thord In that album we ciid predominantly Appabchian wnes. milled in with lIlIES of our owm 'Mitinc. And this newest album, Wllelt The MOON FllI 011 Coli/o,,,ia, is rlll31ty Ittting all the

."p"'''AU we want 10 do is 10 show that

we have fun with Ihis instnuncnL Musically il can be lob IllII lob 01 fun. So "'e ~ on tIut album all these auy songs that we'd wriuen or hcartllhat wne JII$l fun _p. There's I couple of

.mous p;ec..

(In

!heR. 10 ~ it out.

but mostly it's ~ like "WalIZinS With Bean", the great tooIlOVI:tSiallOllJ 0I1he eighties; 'Occp Down In My Heart",. spoof 0/\ country western music; "Dog Gnarled" ..... hich is an acappella _ , abotn • eoon dos Fun things. Happy. Thai brines up ~rrorman«S, siou thal'S som~thin& I love ,-try mIKh-yolll" ~orman«S. You're inltf'3ctinc "ith t3(b IMher and ,-ou',... inltrAdin& ,,-ilh tbt auditnet and ii'S tood, JUS! tisltnina: to aU IlK this. bfnllK IlK lilt InterAdioa. When ~ gee on staat, it's like bcinS married, We've been a performing act for 16 yeatS. at least. now. And sure, we've played sepcIl3ltly II! well, ....hen one penon couldn't m:lke it or when we wanted 10 perform a 5tJXII'aIC lOUr. But, by and large. we've created a W3I identity: Fon:e and d'Os!dIt. a mu.sic -=1. In Sean:h 0I1Iv: Wild Dulcimer. we kwe each other. And it's taken a lana; ume 10 wort ttwough that kWe. Sc:mtwncs I have pity on IIUdiences in variws places th3r. have wimessed those early 5Qge lights or those awful balerul glares. or "I

Please do not reprint or redistribute without permission. Contact dpn@dpnews.com

•

..,..,1Cd 10 do illhiJ way,"« "YoujcJk. why didn't)'OO play that no&e," « "Yoo bobbled 1h3t rhythm: Because we'R: boIh Virg(Is. we'n: both perfocr.ionisu.. We both demand aaclne$S OUt of our musk. Our music is very loose and open from the 0UISidc looking in. BuI. from the inside looking out. ii's very spcciflC3.lly timod, very pccisc and all the looseness is acllievcd by being very

".,.,. And because we've worked it out. these!bys when we get 01 stage 1hcre's not much change in our pcnonaIity, Some people. fOl" beuer or worse, have a stnge personality, You don't have a Slage penooality: I don't have a suge pmon3lity. We'R: IlOllCting differently from ....110 we are. You bring 10 the scqe the wonderful penon that)'OO are in your 1liY3lC and personaI lifc. I b::lic:ve that I brin& 10 the scage!he basically ....iW and emy,joyful and eJlubcrlult penon !hat I am in my priVllt life. And I don'l do Ihings 10 an a~. I do wilh them. When rm laughing. rm \augt!ing wiLh them and wi\h myself and It myself. It's wen years 10 smooth !he rough edges, 10 ~ the satin: out. 10 take the quick reparteeS and cutting comn:nts oot ofihc diaJoiucs and wi7.e thai in beina on saagc !he fLlSt and foremost rule of an enleftainct is 10 be rdaxod. ~ if you're telued and you'n: enjoying yourself, then !he audiena is going 10 be rewed and enjoying themselves. And !lpCfUlinj: OUt ol th:u mode, Lhesc days scanding on stage is pure p\easuJe. Th!:re's one othtJ imponant consideration 10 1'IOIe. Be~g II founding mcmbc7 of Folk Anon, I don't take gig'! that 1UeII't going 10 be eroling and intetesling and fun. rve SlOpped pounding 1he sidc\Vllli.. I've n:atiu.d there's a .... hole new gentf3tion ol performers .... ho am, in II sense, hungry. They're hungry for 1he aper\elus !hat I wanted and InIded as II 19.20 and 2S yearold. whaltver. And now fm close 10 40. h's IlOl so much th:u I can afford to lay IxIck and take only !hose fun gigs. but from my ~ and heart feeling point of view, from the SUSIC/l3IICe thai I need M a human bcing.1hose are the only W I can lake. If !liar. means flat I only wort sa « eight times a year, \h3t'S how il is. BccaUSIC !hen my musk is at least fresh and not jaded. I nevet" gOi intO !he whiskey syndrome: I'm na. a whiskey musician. So I cUI't have any props 001 on the road. The only JXCp I h:ave out on the road is the true, bean-lelt., 0fI«Jn-<Jne

enagy thot I get from the people wilh whom rm playing and for whomrm playing. At ~ace ..i lh in ooeltlf. It's woodtrful 10 rtlu and say, I (lI n'l pby Ih is or play IIllII because il ~ally isn'l pa rt of my ptnOnalily or what 1 wan l 10 do. I have a song lyric !liar. never rn:Ide il 0010 my albums and ha.'I kind of fallen 001 of my repcnoiIe, bul it III-Wli SO'IlC\hing like, "Have you oome 10 share these songs and grow in me. Do you really wanl to know wh:l1 kind of life being. 1lDIIgWrir.er can be? Is \hi.! what you wanl from me?" And h eMs up wilh saying ih:II. "You just came here f«. song, and insu:ad rve given you me." I Ihink th:u's .... hal we'n: both addressing. My poinl of view is people ....ilI hear what !hey need to hear. Everybody, if they lei themselves. wiH be entcrtained, The music: is the true magic. ii's tile true juggling act. How you get il is wly your responsibilily, 11 reminds me d one of the things auribulCd 10 Thclonius Monk.!he;au piano pbyer. Somebody asked him allow his ~ue. He said, "'Technique i.! JUSt a ra:IInicai problem." That's what il is. How you play your instrumenl is JUSt a IIX:hnical problem. Your music is the Ihing Lh:u you're uying to get at.. And you can be egalitarian about il whether you slllnd up. sil down. play overhand, play wi\h • noter. play urdethand. play;au« cha cha's, rolk rhythms or ethnic music. All that $tuff is just IIXhnical. because if you do it wi \h bean and you do it .... ilh soul and do il .... i\h life and do it wi\h commilmCnt and do it .... ilh a sense of communication, then h comes out.. And people who an: listening at th:u level, they hear. People who need inspiration at !hat level. !hey find iL The people who come around afr.erwards and tcll you thaL they enjoyed it. you know you're not. just getting the lip service \hat so many of pc:rl"ormm hear. "Gosh lhat was really great," lIIld then they're gene. To be able 10 give

Folk Harps From Folkcraft The Highland Harp, Sr. A

r....J, ",0/1«1

m""'...... ,Iip/..."'" and pori .......... h • full bodied ....,.. 1I011dUl... Mobopa,

."h' l"!'t'cd.,..,...

.........rt.o.nt. Nybo

""'D,.;.to 21 "''''P

.!>d ....... P... Ie.... "" ,he '"F"' & "C' .. ,iap. h.rl. . . ~I..

!Old ,uru". .,.""• .

$595.00

Hammered Dulcimers, Too

ModdI6ASC R"~"D' .......-I and

'uaiaa .. otomr, Of< ,II< , ..ul, 0( "'" ""iquc ... bed «IIUI"""-' II"""","" M..." " " " . .!nu, and ..uh • blK~

IS boo>

-+-

""'lie.....

...... " ....... ,cd 0.. ... -, .. l.... ru .... Dl Kl" and

III""......... -+-

Inlh & $tOI,,*,, Sptciolb... T iD 'inioI1co, IIocIh.tono, flg,", Coo<truAoo, G........ ...s Campb<U "",,,in OW" .... Small r;pco and

MIl"...,. ' ,pn, UiUUD I':ipn, pt..... .-p\tI. a>l.1KIioa of hArp and IIIIlcimtr - . . and

.ccwdo.

-+Send $I (nfuDdobl<) for "'"

..-plo,. "..,...,.

paUmU tn$tlIU!lIUl:t& ."

P.O.

aa. I01D, wiDo,od, C-DocII<Io. o.oM (lOl) )7H8S1

)'OII'~

y".

[utOEd In , ... Mp of D, G,C6f

<OIL' ....

W. 0100 1IIak<.-\pfala<","" o..~ (6 .....10" 80wtd ond PhlcUd

somelhing withoullllking any\hing away, 10 give SO'IlC\hing withoul Upecling ... exchange, ar. ill IUghest level I \hink that's what music is.

gi"ing 0( )'OIIrstlf. you '~ maki ng t ha i too nection wilh aU Iht rtasons thai somtbody (li m\! there.

<1IIIfX>

$595.00

10 be able

Wbtn

"'"'*

lo<qJ<'cd _IIdbao,d. Ib II.....

,uDtd In 'lI< lop at A, D. G, & C ~Ic.

-+-

Ma,.r(".ud and Visa ot«ptod ... pbono orden Via" ...... eJail ....... ID Wlnotcd,

II1II W"',.w., N...

Please do not reprint or redistribute without permission. Contact dpn@dpnews.com

Yor~

c-.

Jubilee Tuning: D A A

arr. Sally Rogers

It's all out on

tbe

old railroad and all out on the sea.

IIIUIU

All out on

the

old railroad

Far as

can

see. Swing

I IU

turn, Ju - bl - lee.,

3 3:S 3 33

Live and learn, Ju - hi - lee.Swing andtarn, Ju- bl-

3 33

IUIUIUI lee., Live IlDd learn, Ju - bi -

lUlU lUI lee

Sin&cr. JOIIIwrilCr. widmer pt.yer Sally Roten hal tIIOtived occlaim fer hot perfoml_ ond wortshopt lhrooJhout the alUnlJ)'. Her IIlum, In TIte C~ Of"l7w. S...... ~vod the B<:SI Folk Album of \be Veor • .......t fmm!be N&ion.oI Association of Indqlmderu Record Distri·

......

I U I

I UI U

I U I

" ..... Please do not reprint or redistribute without permission. Contact dpn@dpnews.com

Dulcimer Clubs Column Edited by Judy Ireton A speo;:ial thanks \0 all of you who hllve seN copie6 of)'OUt newslcl!etS ~ \eW:Ts. Remember, I cannot repM ~ ~

activities of)'OOl" club unless)'O\l send me infMTUllion. One oulSUlllding newsleuer IltlOcived

came from the SilYtt Suings Dulcil1'lCl'" Society ol Michigan. Rose Hines not !:nly edits the SoundboarcI filling the pages with Jots or infonn:ltion and cuLt pictures, sJv:; also penonaIixes each issue with the name of the receival She then cobs in all of !he cute Ihwings with colored pencil and underlines all 0( the

spedal information. This cenainly is "above ard beyond thc call of duty." One item Rose called \0 my Illtemion was one that sbould interest all of the dulcimer clubs. A copy of a Ieuer from Joe Hickerson of the Amtrican Fdklife Center. Ubraty of Congress, SU1lCd that the Archives "wouJd be intcre$lCd in rtceiving a ('.(Implere.set of tu:k issues" and would like 10 be included

is the )'OUIIgeSt eighty·year old I have ever met. She is far 100 active 10 grow old. He2" hobbies are cnx:heting, tatting, rug weaving, wood carving, and, of CO\If$C, dulcimer playing. Margaret made the dulcimer she $0 proudly stnuns. I had iOOught of interviewing her for Du\c.imcr Players News, but I couldn't keep up with her long enough 10 do so! Margaret was 100 busy attending all of the fantastic workshops al the Grc:u Black Swamp Dulcimer Festival held the last wcckcnd of April. Susan Poncr and her most able board again pullOgelher a dulcimer festival tIIat has 10 IllIIk with the lOp festivals held in the COIIIltry. The dulcimer players whose faces are smiling OUI al)'Oll from several piclllnlS in this column M: partil;:ipanu of lWO large get 1Ogethers.. The rll"St gathering was Dulcimer Days at Camp Miami in GomanlOWn, 0Iti0 during the last wcclcend in February. PcopJc from Florida, Illinois, MichigM, Indiana,

OIl the mailing list ror ruture WoUt:ll or thc

Kcnlud::y. f\;IIII:lylvlllliol.. Wl;:lit Virginia,

cl ub's publication. Wh:u a WOIidc'rlul way for all clubs 10 prc.5(JVe a smaIl pan of their being for fuwlt: lCfICr.Itions.. For fUlther inr~. wrilt: Joe Hickcrs(ln, Amcric:an F<JU: Ufe Center Archives of Folk Culwre. Ubrluy of Congress, WashingtOn. DC 20540. A1so mentioned in !he Soundboard was a new dulcimer club--the Flushing. Michigan Dulcimer Cub. Won't)'Oll drop me I line and give me thc name of I IXlIItaCI. pcrsoo and some infOfTTllUion as 10 when and whc:Te you I1OCt1 From San Frarcisrocame the FoIknik filled with much infofTTUllion on the folk scene in the area. Thill is a large and active group. Of special inlCteSl w:u the reviews of 1'CCQI"ds, I:lpCS and books. This is a wonderful service 10 the membership. They also list all of the activi~ of thc local coIToe houses and folk music dubs. The availability of so much live music would IMkc most of us envious. Thank )'01110 Marprct Greer from the Great Black Swamp for the newspaper article from the Uma ()bio News. II is a charming story of MargIJ"et Hover, a delightful yoong dulc:imcr builder and pby\7 who recenLly lurned SO. Margaret

Georgia and, of COUISC, Ohio joined IOgether for a weekend of WQftshops, j:unming, hiking and lune swapping. Someone refcm:d 10 one activity as a "Donut Hunl", but I fear thai I must pcrsonaIly report the cntim activity as soonding ~ lite a herd of clcphams IUmed loose in the halls.. The hour of the morning was one thai I am not 100 familiar with, so I mUSt admit 10 not being particularly unbia9:d in my observation. "T"hefe was taIk of a lynch mob, but il is impossible 10 h3ve the presidenl call for a ¥OIt when he is one of the culprits! This was the sUth year the Dayton Mountain Dulcimer Socicly has held this event. and chairman Judy l.ic:sch has supplied unseasonably nice weather each year. II may be tile wannth radiating from within. The sccood gathering was 0011""0 weeks Iatct. The LouisvilJc Dulcimer Sociely do;ided 10 hold the first Tri-State Dulcimer G8lhering al Clifty Falls State Park, Indiana. The location was beautiful, the weatbcr an un.'ilCa5Of1able lwenly degrees above normal, and the facilities perfCCt for SllCh a get together. More than 150 people altended tI1i1 well· planned evcnL The food. fellowship,

focililies, wodshops, concctts· all were just perlccL P:lul Kinder says we f;aI1

look forward 10 the secood Mmw gel lOgether ne,1.I year. Drop him a IIOIC II P.O. Box 4 134, Louisville. KY 40204 if you wish 10 roceivc a nyer IlCJlI year. Wclcomc 10 a new cl ub, the Warrenville Folk Music Society, The ~ent or the group is DooM Benkert. 3OWIOS Maplewood Drive, WBnenvillc, IL 6OSS5. The group f110ClS 00 the second and fourtl1 Tuesdays of each month. Mountain dulcimers and hammcmt dulcirnets are the focal point of the group, bul all instrumcms are welcom.e. Anahcr )'OIIngstcr in the dulcimer family is the Trumbull County Dulcimer Socicly of Ohio. They meet in the

Administmtion Builtling of Kent Swe University, Warrm, ()bio the third Friday of the month. For information. CXJr1IaCt Rooe Jamison, 3108 Eagle Creek Rood. LeaviusbJrg,OH 44430. l1oe10l]y H"""ncrsal1'.1 Stri"J'i Dukimtl Club of Midland, Michigan holds its meetings al the CIliwewa NalW'e Center in Midland from 1:00-4:00 p.m. on toe 4t11 Satunlay of the month. Again, the main focus of the meeting remains dulcimers. but other bock~ musiciam an: weJcomc. August 8th the group will perform from 5:00 10 10:00 p.m. in the beautiful Dow G!1rtIc:ns for the Folk Mu5ic Day. If you WOIild like further information, COI1taC1 Bill Kuhlman. V(f) S. Homer Rd., Midland,

M141164l). I have had several leUCl"S asking if clubs exisI in BI"CIS people have JUS! moved 10 or plan 00 moving 10 or plan on visiting. I'm sorry [ coold not help Robin in the New York City:uta. OOt sevcral ~ you have already dropped in on your I1Cw·found clubli by !lOW. I am certain I am missing some dulcimer clubs. PIcasc send me some inform:llion. To those who almady h3ve, th3nk. you. As you read this column, ~mcmbet that I mIlS! have information from )WI" club scnt within the IlClIt scven days. It·s just that 5imp1e. When)'Oll receive a new WI,C of Dulcimer Players New$, you h3vc one week 10 gel informatioo 10 me. Pcrh:lp$ this will be easier 10 rcmcmbtl

Please do not reprint or redistribute without permission. Contact dpn@dpnews.com

..... "

AppaJachu n Dulcimers H .... ofI~..,. K.... 1(. v.... JSO 1(..........t. A.......... v" ..... UOll

r -. 1U94H'l1

than one ITIOftI impossible deadline date. Send information dirocily 10 me: Judy Irelan, 686S South Scarff Road, New Carlisle, OH 45344.

"Music is a fair and glorious gift of G<xl"

Classified ads o-trlCd .... .., Jo. per wan!. ~bIr. in 1dY_ Thm! is • ~ dioccu:oI (or

cJaosifial ods

rumina

in 4 or

men ~ve issue$.

Simple Glib f.,..

OM of ilIc r_ eoIle<1ionI of dulcimot m",'" ....i1.1h1e.. Quiet. US)' ~ EKcLlcnl inwuction . richt. Ieft·hand lCdJIiqo.a. uoninp. modes, limine ror your voice. men. 55 """'... 88 pp. SUS (9Oc s '" II). Soolha:oul, 2724 Noon.., Dr~ Ww Palm Beacb, F\oridI

3J4O!l. 3OS/U4-0863. r tsllval Plan Mrs: GuanonleOd good rutivollOllrld system from ilIc IO\ftI «1mpin)' 111M helpilO nW.~ 1M G,..,. BIKk Swwnp Dulcimer Fcscival, Uma. Ohio tnd dw. Soulhem Midupn Dukim<t J'aunl, Manhol~ Michi .... brm:r every y_. Sial"' Iich<inl .... vidooo..-dine • v';lable. ConlIn Bcnn)' YO\InIo 6020 Polinl Ro.d, Elida. Ohio 4S&01. 419/339·

"".

Ih.mmfl'td DIlIclmt1' I ~ W. nltd!!! New Y~ew Jcne:y IIQ (SIMeI\ Wn1). I know 1M twiI:s. jusI Wall 10 brWIdI out .... abo meet other Iurnmmd duIcimcr p1ayal in 1M II1!.L Please -...::c ComUle 5. Coin, P.O. 801 49'1, StMaI Wand. NY 103]0.

QfJcn me

wed;

U.tnc

c:ounes. SlIttin& in June

IIIn>up ....""'"" in Bbcbmilllin&. WeavinJ, W<X><Iarvin&, Old Fuilloned Cnfu, &nd","", DormilOfy

8ODDmInOdationo ov';lable on Rio Gr.nck CQlk,e ClmpUS. For infonrwlon.. coli ] . 1IXW282.:nOI. UL 325 (Ohio only) or 614124S.S3S3. uL 325.

Sw..t R", L/tIM ~ .mI1.1I11.1)M b y

K.. .... n Billin,o

Sut_....a..y ,.... CocN.ft

with ..... ~ .......... o.IgI..-. _

---=. '. .

~._ .

c _ _ ... .. _ _ _

.w.. __ -::~.= I ...

}'IMI, Delrntd lIand·Crafttd .·olt To)'S. Limber )""k, Do., Pony. Ikar. ClQwn ond I..amb $LO~ caell indllCb ahippin,. koJI's Dulcimer Shop, P.O. 80a I. COlby. TN 37722.

I'm"

8ookJ! 1'1_

.·rft

. ::n ltrlslln ..... nt AUorMY. For conuacts. IU, copyri",", conJUIlaIlons. a.o. 0nIIam c.d1Cln. 3]1I32800400or wrice Boa 5ml. E........... It. 6O'2Oot. WtbsUr Ilammtr Duklmtr . ....

Salt 12111 cm.n.Dc. EacdlmI.

neJOlllhle..

c-. st...s. 3 ..II !Ii

s.soo

Iummas. music lUrId. \."-'<Ik ...ad!. SASE BIIb Milam. 9'23 0Kbnd Drive, N_ AINny. IN 41150. AM pI1IIIIO! ..unbor Md limo III Q)l, if desimI.

The DulcilMr.

Tht ScloooI of IIQlnC$trad

]421()'AB21. Lasin&. 1'.11 48901. SI7/3n·7890.

Giant C.lslkIc

willi IhoIIJ,nIs of instn>ction Md I0OI books f.,.. Iho 0ICI0U5lic musician. Elderly lnstrwncnIs. 1100 N. W.t.inpln. POB

InuptnSh't C_pllur MaUlne Ult Sfn·kt. For pmormc:n Md (<Ilk "'Ianizatlons. c.!1611{453-7263 or wrile (or men ir!o. Cifdi Badlr. 10 1· .... 8illcriao SL. l.o..dl. M.... 018.52.

1'1_ From Nul IIrU ml .. : OkIObc:f Col.lllly,' !ape <If ...,ieru, uadilional .... conLcmponry UutNmeruol m",1e SS.98. The Ileatkrl Dulcimer Hook S1.9S and The Hol l.oonan:I Dllkimu Method. a bt.,inncr book willi C.~1e $12.9S. TM Dulcimer a.ord Ilook SHS. ""'_Idd SI.2S JbippinJ (or tnt item &nd $(Ie (or each Idditional. Gourd MUJ~. P.O. Boa SSS. Fclllln, CA 95011.

Cut_ r dul r odokd O"k\.... r 0..1 • 40" l II" willi AoIIldcr mop. book pocka, Md rippaallMXeUOlY pocket.

$12.9S inducb Wppin&. llon\anock fnrm koJI'. DuIc::mcr Shop. P.O. Sol I. Cosby. TN 37122. ",., lIonplpr. BImCIaIIIly IMIWne -erinc folk m",1e IhrouJhc:d ilIc Sowh16 stata plus IX. Fcanm:.tic.... news. reviews. u~nsi'ie pcrf_ caIc:ncW. $12 IJIIII.IIJJy. JUlPIe isso& $1. Write: P.O. Bol 1611. winpln. SC 29072. Wt!II:t m Rtd Ctdar I)lIklml', Topa. Pafectly qtWte1>d. air.Qied, ...... fnrm oplil bUJets. 10..9 pc. Sot,oo -.10..50-99 pc. $3.60 e""h, ]OOt~. $3.20 eOICII.

F.D.B. Be.Uin&I\Im. 51lisfOlCllon JIIarwueed. McMinn MIIrine, lOIS 1/2 Hi'" St. 8c11~. WA 9822S. llamm~r

Ouldmrr ~ Tho booki\ope "', (or tho$e wbo play ~ Buoquc. Ren&is_ .w>d rr.ditional o ( 1M British Wes. EmliLais ito on <hard... buill rullod .... orpc:Uialed. .. illl uen::;""" dtuilo:l Iurnmcrin& " , . on<! l!liw chonIs. $16~L $9.91 for the book alone. Hepllica MIIIio:. 119 Cbv ... ROId. Swe

""at'"'

mil,,,,

Colkr. PA 16&01 •

Please do not reprint or redistribute without permission. Contact dpn@dpnews.com

•

Roots & Branches Music New Albums • Here, and A1mast Here

CIRCle) Seth Austen Seth combines his long-lime interests in jan. classical and traditional music for this direcl-lo-<iigiml album/chrome caS5ene tape of original compositions for solo guitar. Kicking M ule Records HI 83

Tilles: Circles, Sfwwbolllld, Washington Sqllore. COllllting. Recuerdos, Palmed Desert, Newton's Rings .

CHRISTMAS COM ESAN8N Madeline Mac e il A digitally mastered a.lbun'Vchromc: cassette tape of Christmas music for hammer and fretted dulcimers. guitar. nute, violin, percussion and singing. With Seth Austen. Freyda Epstein. Tom lones. Grey L:trsen. Sam Rizzetta, Karen Billings, Rich RIlle\(, Joe Holben. Jewel M3gee and Many Mayfield. Available Mid September. Kicking Mule Records 11247

;

Titles: Alleluia, l'Iuford Carol, The Sel'en Joys Of Mary, Chn'slnuu Comes Again/II Esl Ne , Jesus JesuJ Rest YOIIT Head, Lo How A Rose £'re Blooming , lie Shnll Fud Ilis Flock, l.ullaby To tIre Christ C/u'ld, Jlldah's Land, Maria l'Ialders Amid The Thorn,l Saw Three Ships, Oken Lealle,f, 0 Ultle Town OJ Bethlehem, Glol/cester l'Ia,u aillA Merry Chris/mas.

Dulcimer Clu bs (lOp

bouorn)

Centrol Indian.1 Folk MUS;(: Society L....I,,~villc Dulcimer s....:"1Y

Cincinnall Dulcimer Society

Day\Ol1 Mounillin Dulcimer Society While WlllCr Dulcimer Society Tri·Sule Dulcimer Society

Price: $9.00 Shippinll: $ 1.00 for the first item, 50~ for each additional item VA residents: please include 4 1/2% sales lax Dealer inquiries welcome Roots & Branches Music · PO Box 2164 • Winchester, VA 22601

Please do not reprint or redistribute without permission. Contact dpn@dpnews.com

DULCIMER PLAYERS NEWS P.O. Box 2164 Winchester, VA 22601

Bulk Rale

U.S. Postage PAID

Ann Arbor, MI Pcmlil No.87

Address Correction Requested

Fowarding and Return Postage Guaranteed

Mail To:

--..;;..--=-~

$ubsnibt>rs: It your maili ng label is da ted ' /87, th at means Jour s ubsc: riplio n ends \lith Ih is issur. T ime 10 rerte,,"! To keep yoor OPNs \:OfT\ing without inluruption. send us your renewal berore September 10, 1987. ~1s dual 1!W7 mean you rove one issue after lhis OIIC. Rcnewir.g early is just fine.

• •

Please do not reprint or redistribute without permission. Contact dpn@dpnews.com