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Let the beauty we love be what we do. There are hundreds of ways to kneel and kiss the ground. Rumi HISTORY OF THE APPALACHIAN DULCIMER The dulcimer has been called "America's Oldest Folk Instrument," which means it's actually relatively new, just like America itself. The dulcimer is a fascinating example of cultural diversity and assimilation. It's an instrument that could only evolve in America, as immigrants came to this country and began to mingle and exchange ideas. The word dulcimer means "sweet melody." It appears to have evolved in the early 1800s out of a Pennsylvania German zither called the scheitholt. As the German people moved down the hills in the late 1700s and early 1800s, they encountered Scots-Irish people who were also in the area. Scheitholts were adapted for playing fiddle tunes and other Anglo-Celtic music. Eventually, the settlers made their own instruments, sometimes with little more than bent nails for frets. The dulcimer is appealing for a number of reasons. First, it's easy to make music on right away. It has a diatonic scale and drone tunings. You can sound good pretty quickly! Second, old-timey music sounds good on it, but it also lends a unique sound to more contemporary music. Just like America, it continues to evolve. Third, it's an instrument that offers lots of options in terms of tunings and string spacing, and it can be plucked, flat picked or strummed.COOL LINKS TO DULCIMER PEOPLE WE ADMIRE: Lorna Carolyn Aites, who writes all her own songs and plays all her own instruments, including dulcimerLaura Allan, who can be seen and heard playing dulcimer on David Crosby's classic album "If I Could Only Remember My Name" Connie Allen, who knocked us out with her dulcimer and "banjomer" playing at Redwood Dulcimer Day Janita Baker, master of the four equidistant string fingerpicking style and builder of Blue Lion Dulcimers Bonnie Carol, a wonderful maker and player based in Colorado Richard Fariña, the first "mainstream" dulcimer player of the 50's folk movement Jana Heller, an exciting singer/songwriter and dulcimer player we met recently and highly recommend Neal Hellman, dulcimer master, author, and president of Gourd Music Janet Herman, dulcimer master and co-founder of Redwood Dulcimer Day Redwood Mountain Dulcimer Group, a fabulous Bay Area resource Joellen Lapidus, songwriter, teacher, dulcimer maker Joni Mitchell, who introduced the dulcimer to millions on her classic album "Blue" Al d'Ossche' & Robert Force, from whom Laura received her inspiration to play dulcimer standing up! Jean Ritchie, who brought the dulcimer from her home in Kentucky to New York City during the folk revival of the 50s Michael Rugg, dulcimer master and founder of Capritaurus Dulcimers Peter Tommerup, dulcimer master and co-founder of Redwood Dulcimer Day |
Singer/songwriter Jayme Kelly Curtis
and Santa Cruz Mountain musician Laura Devine are Dulcimer
Girls
Dulcimer Girls combine heavenly vocal harmonies with the ethereal sound of the mountain dulcimer on originals, folk ballads, old timey and spirituals. The distinctive sound of the dulcimer is at once otherworldly and down home. The Dulcimer Girls
CD, Old Ways Are Leaving, is available exclusively from Dulcimer Girls!
Send $15 and your shipping address to: P.O. Box 278 Felton, CA 95018 FOR BOOKINGS CONTACT: 831/818-0118 dulcimergirlrocks at gmail dot com NEXT PERFORMANCE:
SATURDAY, JULY 4 Noon - 1:00 p.m. PARADISE DOGS ON SANTA CRUZ MUNICIPAL WHARF An informal outdoor concert CLICK HERE FOR A LIVE PERFORMANCE VIDEO ON YOUTUBE! Dulcimer Girls Sample Set List: Acony Bell, by Gillian Welch Ai Jai Saki, Traditional Indian Morning Raga Angel of Bells, by Joellen Lapidus Canaan's Land, Traditional Children of Darkness, by Richard Farina Gulf Coast Highway, by Nanci Griffith Hard Times, by Stephen Foster I Wonder as I Wander, Appalachian carol L&N Don't Stop Here Anymore, by Jean Ritchie Long Black Veil, Traditional The Maker is Skilled, by Jayme Kelly Curtis My Love is With Me, by Laura Devine Old Ways, by Laura Allan; harmony arrangement by Joellen Lapidus Orphan Girl, by Gillian Welch Pack Up Your Sorrows, by Richard Farina Slumber My Darling, by Stephen Foster Spring is Here, by Wendy Waldman Still, Still, Still, Austrian carol Wayfaring Stranger, Traditional Wild Mountain Thyme, Traditional Scottish Image from California Contemporary Craftsmen,
Notable Dulcimer Girls Gigs:
Don Quixote's International Music Hall, Felton, CaliforniaHeadliners, Santa Cruz Harmony Vocal Showcase, Peachwoods Inn American River Acoustic Music Festival, Coloma-Lotus, California Bluegrass on Broadway, sponsored by Northern California Bluegrass Society Dulcimer Summit, Peninsula Christian Center, Redwood City, California Loch Lomond Celtic Society Highland Games, Ben Lomond, California Palo Alto Festival of the Arts Otter Opry Concert Series, Santa Cruz Boulder Creek Art & Wine Festival The Cayuga Vault, Santa Cruz Art & Wine Garden, Boulder Creek, California Henflings Firehouse Tavern/International Folk Series, Ben Lomond Espresso Garden & Cafe, San Jose Redwood Dulcimer Day – song leaders, Bonnie Doon Ananda Books & Music, opening for Acoustic Eidolon, Boulder Creek Brookdale Lodge, Brookdale Lupin Nature Resort, Los Gatos, California Three Bells Cafe, Santa Cruz United Methodist Church Willow Glen Coffee Roasting Company, San Jose Various house concerts, memorial services and many other private gatherings ... |
