Hearts of the Dulcimer

A documentary film and podcast about the mountain dulcimer. http://dulcimuse.com

[dulcimuse]

The End

060 This is the final Hearts of the Dulcimer Podcast episode. Thanks to David Massengill for taking us out with On The Road to Fairfax County.

See the resources for this episode

[dulcimuse]

Dulcimer Originals

059 In this episode we’re playing originals composed and performed on the mountain dulcimer by the artists themselves. You’ll be hearing music from dulcimer players Gary Gallier, Leo Kretzner, Mary Giger, Aubrey Atwater, Neal Walters, Christine Shoemaker, Holly Tannen, and Ken Bloom.

See the resources for this episode

[dulcimuse]

Ashley Ernst, Publisher and Owner of Dulcimer Players News

058 In this episode we’re featuring our conversation with Ashley Ernst, the owner and publisher of Dulcimer Players News. DPN has been the quarterly magazine for mountain and hammered dulcimer players since 1975. With music from both hammered and mountain dulcimer musicians.

See the resources for this episode

[dulcimuse]

New York, New York

057 We spoke with people born and raised in New York City in the 1950s and 60s who have become well-known dulcimer players. With Joellen Lapidus, Holly Tannen, Doug Berch, and Rob Brereton.

See the resources for this episode

[dulcimuse]

Early Music and the Mountain Dulcimer

056 In this episode we’re exploring Early Music on the mountain dulcimer. Although the mountain dulcimer didn’t exist until centuries after the Early Music time frame, its tonality fits perfectly with the temperament of Early Music. With music from Howie Mitchell, Holly Tannen, and Jessica Comeau.

See the resources for this episode

[dulcimuse]

A Winter Miracle

055 Special announcement from Hearts of the Dulcimer Podcast.

See the resources for this episode

[dulcimuse]

Fiddle Tune Stories with The Bach and Beethoven Experience

054 In our final episode, we bring you the Chicago-based group The Bach and Beethoven Experience sharing stories behind some of the fiddle tunes they played on their album An Appalachian Summer. We spoke with fiddler Brandi Berry Benson and dulcimer player Keith Collins, who have their feet firmly grounded in the classical and traditional music worlds.

See the resources for this episode

[dulcimuse]

Fiddle Tune Stories with Pam Weeks

053 If you’re a mountain dulcimer player, chances are you know how to play more than a few fiddle tunes on your dulcimer. Each tune has its own origin story. These stories are often attached to specific places, events, or people. In this and the next episode, we’ll bring you the backstories of some of these fiddle tunes.

See the resources for this episode

[dulcimuse]

Grant Olson Dulcimer Explorer

052 We spoke with the talented young dulcimer player Grant Olson from Minnesota. In 2019 at the age of 17, Grant won the coveted first place in the Mountain Dulcimer National Championship at the Walnut Valley Music Festival in Winfield, Kansas. In addition to playing the dulcimer, Grant also composes his own music.

See the resources for this episode

[dulcimuse]

The Sweet Harmonies of Aubrey Atwater and Elwood Donnelly

051 In this episode we feature the stories and music of Aubrey Atwater and Elwood Donnelly, a husband and wife musical duo based in Warren, Rhode Island. They’re well known for their blend of gorgeous vocals as well as being multi-instrumentalists. The amazing array of instruments they play include old-time banjo, tin whistle, guitar, mandolin, harmonica, limberjacks, feet, and of course, mountain dulcimer.

See the resources for this episode

[dulcimuse]

Jim and Betty Woods: The Longtime Owners of McSpadden Dulcimers

050 In this episode we feature our conversation with Jim and Betty Woods, longtime owners of the renowned McSpadden Dulcimers. Over the last two decades, Jim and Betty were able to maintain and raise the reputation of McSpadden Dulcimers. In 2020, Jim and Betty transferred ownership of McSpadden Dulcimers.

See the resources for this episode

[dulcimuse]

Stay Home and Sing with the Dulcimer: with Aubrey Atwater

049 Here’s another stay home and play dulcimer episode created during the COVID-19 pandemic. Aubrey Atwater shares tips on how to improve singing and singing with the dulcimer.

See the resources for this episode

[dulcimuse]

Stay Home and Play Dulcimer: with Heidi Muller and Bob Webb

048 This is another episode created especially for dulcimer players. We spoke with Heidi Muller and Bob Webb, who shared tips and ideas for using time at home to improve your dulcimer playing.

See the resources for this episode

[dulcimuse]

Stay Home and Play Dulcimer: with Stephen Seifert

047 This episode was especially created for dulcimer players. We spoke with Stephen Seifert, one of the top dulcimer performers and teachers in the mountain dulcimer world. Steve gives tips and ideas for what dulcimer players can do to help improve their playing while they’re staying at home.

See the resources for this episode

[dulcimuse]

The Deep Sounds of Neal and Coleen Walters

E046 We spoke with Neal and Coleen Walters, a husband and wife musical duo who have been playing music together for more than 5 decades. Neal is well-known for his deep voice and his dulcimer and autoharp playing. Also featuring music from The Mill Run Dulcimer Band and Doofus.

See the resources for this episode

[dulcimuse]

Nina Zanetti: The Gentle Side of the Dulcimer

045 We spoke with 2008 National Dulcimer Champion Nina Zanetti about her approach in playing the dulcimer. Nina’s known for her gentle style of fingerpicking the dulcimer.

See the resources for this episode

[dulcimuse]

Dulcimer Lullabies

044 The gentle sound of the dulcimer lends itself to lullabies.They ease us into the day and calm us down at night. Lullabies give comfort to the inner child in all of us, no matter how old or young we are. In this episode you’ll hear lullabies played by dulcimer players David Schnaufer, Molly McCormack, Neal Walters, Aubrey Atwater, Dusty Turtle, Jessica Comeau, Stephen Seifert, Carol Walker, Kevin Roth, Lorinda Jones, and Duane Porterfield. With commentary by lullabologist Julia Soto Lebentritt.

See the resources for this episode