The Appalachian dulcimer is now a core instrument in the American tradition, but styles performed by modern dulcimer enthusiasts run the gamut from traditional folk music through popular and experimental forms. This week we’ll hear new and classic recordings by Jean Ritchie, John McCutcheon, Sally Rogers, Malcolm Dalglish, Claudia Schmidt and Ken Kolodner. Hear the heart of the dulcimer … this week on The Sing Out! Radio Magazine.

LISTEN:

Artist/”Song”/CD/Label

Pete Seeger / “If I Had A Hammer” (excerpt) / Songs of Hope and Struggle / Smithsonian
              Folkways
Tachyonmetry / “Invention #13 in A minor” / Sunset Waterfall / Self-produced
Jean Ritchie / “Pretty Polly” / Jean Ritchie & Doc Watson at Folk City / Smithsonian Folkways
The Fuzzy Mountain String Band / “Bonaparte’s Retreat” / The Fuzzy Mountain String Band / Rounder
John McCutcheon / “St. Anne’s Reel-Cricket on the Hearth-Kitchen Girl-Mississippi Sawyer” /
               Wind that Shakes the Barley / Rounder
Walt Michael / “Prince William’s Medley” / Hammered Dulcimer Retrospective / Flying Fish

Bruce Cockburn / “Vagabondage” / In the Falling Dark / ESD
Joni Mitchell / “Carey” / Blue / Reprise
Sally Rogers / “A Knock on the Door” / The Unclaimed Pint / Flying Fish
Claudia Schmidt / “Rooster” / Slow Steady Heart / Self-produced
Tachyonmetry / “Concerto in D-Allegro” / Sunset Waterfall / Self-produced

Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts / “Nang-ma Ta-la Shi-pa” / Dhama Suna / Detour
Malcolm Dalglish & the Ooolites / “Quil O’Quay” / Pleasure / Ooolitic
Brave Old World / “Waltz Roman A Clef” / Beyond the Pale / Rounder
Cathy Barton & Dave Para / “When I Went for to Take My Leave” / Sweet Journeys / Roustabout
Ken & Brad Kolodner / “Richmond Blues-Possum on a Rail” / Stony Run / Fenchurch
Pete Seeger / “If I Had A Hammer” (excerpt) / Songs of Hope and Struggle / Smithsonian
              Folkways