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The Mountain Dulcimer, An Appalachian Tradition Since the 1800's
27 May 2011, 5:15 am
The Mountain, or Appalachian Dulcimer first appeared in the United States in the early 1800’s in the southern Appalachian mountains. The Scots-Irish settlers were the ones to introduce it. It is in the Zither family, although it is not played by hammering the strings, as is the tradition with these other types of instruments. Rather, it is strummed like a guitar. It was commonly used as a parlor instrument, due to its limited volume and pleasing tone, and was common at many family gatherings. There are several varieties of Dulcimer, although most have the same shape, made of the same materials, and have the same number of strings. Tuning varies though, depending on the tradition of music played, and whether the song is in Major or Minor keys. Traditionally, it is strung with anywhere from 2 to 12 strings (in courses/ groups of 2), and is usually played by placing the Dulcimer on ones lap, strumming and/or plucking the strings with one hand, and fretting with the other. The finer examples are made from wood, which produce the more desired tones, although various materials have been used, such as plastic and even cardboard. The Appalachian dulcimer achieved a renaissance in the 1950s urban folk music revival in the United States. Musicians such as Jean Ritchie, a Kentucky musician who introduced the instrument to New York City audiences, have been credited for this. Then in the 1960s, the American folk musician Richard Fariña (1937–1966) became the first to utilize an Appalachian dulcimer in a less traditional way. He pointed out its similarity in tone to some Middle Eastern and Asian instruments, such as the Zither. There are many styles performed by modern dulcimer musicians, including traditional folk music and other popular and experimental forms, although most perform in more or less traditional dulcimer styles. More recently, musicians such as Lindsay Buckland, Bing Futch, Butch Ross and Quintin Stephens have contributed to the popularity of the solid-body electric dulcimer, which has gained popularity due to its more approachable and modern sound. Additionally, the amplification of these electric versions allow the musician to be heard with the rest of the band. Dulcimer festivals now take place regularly in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Ireland, as the Appalachian dulcimer has achieved a rather large following in a number of countries. The Dulcimer has also become a popular instrument for music teachers, due to relative ease in mastering the basics, as well as its relatively low cost to acquire. |
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