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DetailsSoundclip |
Courtin' Dulcimer #2
For over 150 years or more, courting couples in the Appalachian regions played music together, usually on separate instruments. Sometime in the mid to late 1800s, a Mountain craftsman built a single instrument with two fingerboards running in opposite directions. The courting dulcimer was born. A couple could sit close and across from each other, perhaps touching knees, and play and sing together. One story goes that if the couple could play well together, they were meant to be together. Another story: as long as the music could be heard, parents knew nothing untoward was happening. Duets on this instrument are beautiful. Call (831-425-4933) or E-mail for pricing. |
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DetailsSoundclip |
Banjo Dulcimer #2 "The Bishop"
Once in a while I like to bend tradition a little and create something out of the ordinary. It is a fully functional four-string Mountain dulcimer, but that's where the similarity ends. The nut and bridge are notched for reversing the melody and bass drone so you can play this either standing up, like a banjo, or on your lap, like a standard Mountain dulcimer. It has a very comfortable, easy-to-play neck and has a very bright tone that is great for rousing jigs or ballads. It would be wonderful as an additional instrument in a folk or bluegrass band. Call (831-425-4933) or E-mail for pricing. |
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DetailsSoundclip |
Dulcimer-Zither "The Hopeful Maiden"
After crafting several wing psalteries based on Medieval illuminations, I had the idea of combining a dulcimer fingerboard with a wing psaltery. As I've mentioned in my lectures and notes, the Mountain dulcimer had its origins in Europe as "board zithers," and most, if not all of these instruments evolved from psalteries, like the wing psaltery. Similar multi-stringed board zithers like my "Hopeful Maiden" have existed, and still exist, in Scandinavian countries, but with shapes similar to early American Mountain dulcimers. This is a sweet sounding instrument that can be played as either a dulcimer or a psaltery--or both. I've been able to combine strums, chording, and plucking to create unique duets between the two sections. Two people can play it like a Courtin' Dulcimer. E-mail or call for price and availability. |
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Back & Head |
Courtin' Dulcimer
I've been working on this piece off and on for nearly three years. This is an original design, but the idea of a courting dulcimer goes back over 100 years. There are several examples in museums, but they are box-shaped and very primitive. One I found had wood screws for tuning pegs. Mine is like coupling hourglass dulcimers, with carved man and woman heads of maple. Duets on this instrument are beautiful. Collection of Leila Otey, Los Angeles, California |
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