Dulcimer Sessions

This is a favorite Irish/Scottish/American reel, sometimes played slower as a hornpipe.

The following is a formal performance of Ken and Robin Bullock playing a medley of three tunes. “The Cukoo’s Nest” is the third of the medley and begins at about 2:28 on the video. It’s at performance tempo and stylized, but can give you an idea of how the tune goes.

Ken Kolodner is recognized as one of the finest hammered dulcimer players in the U.S. In addition to an illustrious performing career, he has taught extensively throughout North America and Europe. At the prestigious Swannanoa Gathering in Asheville, NC, he has taught over 23 courses in hammered dulcimer and fiddle. This summer he will be teaching both at Swannanoa Dulcimer Week, July 31-August 6, 2011. Ken can be reached through his website.

This beautiful early gospel song (Jefferson Hascall, pub. 1860, Public Domain) is sometimes listed as “O Come Angel Band” and is a favorite of bluegrass and church music lovers. Like other arrangements in Bluegrass on Hammered Dulcimer, Jeanne Page first presents the basic melody and then a fuller, more arranged version.

This book contains authentically-arranged Latin American music for both mountain and hammered dulcimers. It can be ordered through MelBay.com.

by Maggie Sansome

“Haste to the Wedding” is a favorite traditional Irish dance and jamming tune. Here is Maggie Sansone’s hammered dulcimer arrangement or it (with a harmony as well) from the above-referenced book. You can purchase the book in printed or “e” version at MelBay.com

The bagpipe tune, “Scotland the Brave,” probably became known around the turn of the 20^th Century.  It is considered the unofficial national anthem of Scotland. Many people in the U.S. first heard this traditional melody in the 1950s, when the Ames Brothers recorded contemporary lyrics to it bearing the name “My Bonnie Lassie.”

Sally uses the following music symbol in this arrangement. Here is how you play it

by Maggie Sansone

 “Petronella” is a female given name, a diminutive form of “Petra,” which is a feminine form of the name “Peter.” This lovely Scottish reel is often played for New England contra dances, where they seem to play many tunes named after women!

Maggie’s arrangement has a variation on the A part of “Pettronella.”

from the Mel Bay book

Hammered Dulcimer Arrangements for Special Occasions

by Peggy Carter

The Russian 19th century poet Nekrasov wrote a poem for which the tune “Korobushka” was later written. The tune became very popular in late 19th century Russian cities and countryside. Soon a dance “Korobushka” developed. It is said that in the beginning of the 20th century, Jewish immigrants from the Ukraine brought the dance to the USA.