|
|
One of the ways the older-generation dulcimer players (in terms of years playing, not years lived) learned to play was by listening to other dulcimists’ recordings. Nowadays, many people can take lessons and buy good instructional material and are electing to ignore the journey into the heart and soul of dulcimer playing that only comes from living with it in the form of recordings that show a variety of ways the dulcimer can be utilized to make good music. These recordings aren’t, by any means, the only good recordings to be had, but they’re a nice, representative collection.
These make FINE items for your Christmas/Birthday wish list. With the following titles, we will try to replenish the inventory when they’re gone. But, with a few of them, that may be impossible.
Unless otherwise indicated, all recordings are available only in CD format. All CDs are $15 each.
|
| |
|
|
|
NEW! I Wish They Hadn't Done That
David Moran & Joe Morgan
This recording is a delight. Not the ordinary dulcimer/guitar repertoire featuring their arrangements on Last Date, I Feel Good, Can’t Help Falling In Love, even a rousing Grey Eagle. Linda’s personal favorites are two Morgan-written tunes, but you don’t have to choose! Excellent dulcimer and guitar performances, great fun. We're really delighted that 2 such very nice people have made something of which they can be so proud.
|
| |
|
|
|
EVEN NEWER!! On Their Best Behavior
David Moran & Joe Morgan
It’s a new set of tunes and arrangements, featuring still more of their excellent performances and arrangements. These should be on anyone’s Must List, if they want to hear dulcimer played well.
|
| |
|
|
|
Morning Has Broken, Precious Memories
Russell Cook
These recordings have religious/gospel favorites played with a variety of other instrumental sounds.
Love Me Tender - Lush, romantic tunes we all know and love.
Twilight In The Highland - The newest. 12 wonderful Celtic tunes, played in Russell’s famous style.
Timeless - Has easy-listening instrumental versions of modern tunes (If, Lara's Theme, etc.) This is one of Russell’s earlier recordings. We’ve heard he’s discontinued it. If you hear any different let us know. But, if not, these 2 we have left may be all you can ever get. Look in the Christmas Music section for Russell’s popular seasonal recordings Hark and White Christmas.
 
|
| |
|
|
|
Loose Change, A Collection of Traditional Instrumentals
Dana Hamilton
For years, you've Linda speak of how good she thinks hammered dulcimist Dana is. Now, you can hear him for yourself on a recording he made with the group Loose Change.
|
| |
|
|
|
Ways Upon Bells
Nick Blanton
Fine duets with Ralph Gordon and Seth Austen. These guys trade leads and develop nice arrangements with equal time and attention given to the other instruments. Inspiring and enjoyable. Wide variety of music--a fine mix.
|
| |
|
|
|
Banish Misfortune (1978), Thunderhead (1982)
Malcom Daglish
Dalglish is teamed with Grey Larsen. Always, the work they did was magical. Choice of tunes is excellent--heavily Irish. After these recordings, Dalglish and Larsen joined with the excellent fiddler, Pete Sutherland, to produce 3 recordings: I carry Metamora (1985) and The Great Road .
We’re no longer able to get Metamora’s Morning Walk, originally released by Windham Hill. We hope, one of these days, it will be re-released by someone. It’s just magical, one of our very favorites. Most of the tunes might go under the umbrella of “new age,” whatever that means, but they’re
wildly musical.
|
| |
|
|
|
Shakin Down The Acorns I, Shakin Down The Acorns II, Swingin On A Gate
Tony Elman
These are straightforward arrangements of old-time tunes, with hammered dulcimer lead and a variety of acoustic backup ins
truments. In the summer of 2006, Linda worked with students on learning how to play backup for fun and profit. These recordings are perfect for practicing that. These recordings are perfect for that. . Look in the Christmas Music section for Elman’s Winter Creek.
|
| |
|
|
|
After Shadows, Palace Act
Carole Koenig
In recent times, we haven’t been able to locate Carole, nor has anyone else we’ve asked. If you have any clues, let us know. We still have these popular CDs for sale. After Shadows comprises music by Ravel, Satie, Debussy, etc. and Palace Act music from the 18th cent composer, Boyce. Both feature "classical" music well-arranged and well-played. All cuts have at least several other acoustic instruments. These are elegant and joyful at the same time. Another great hostess gift, enjoyed even by people who aren’t fanatical dulcimer enthusiasts.
|
| |
|
|
|
Step By Step
John McCutcheon
Features John's playing hammered dulcimer with many other outstanding dulcimists. In Linda’s early dulcimer years, John was well-known as a fine dulcimer player. His career has expanded in other directions, but these cuts are as good as anything he’s done.
|
| |
|
|
|
Vanishing Borders
Dulcimist Harris Moore joins with harper Steve Coulter as the group Northern Lights. Mostly traditional, little bit of classical and original. Their work is always nice. Everyone who hears these two likes them.
|
| |
|
|
|
Bucks And Does, In The Garden, Ocean's Edge, Flowing Waters,
Seven Valleys
Sam Rizzetta
Many of our favorite dulcimer recordings are older ones. Bucks & Does is high on the list of Golden Oldies. On this, Sam not only plays great hammered dulcimer, but some really nice mountain dulcimer, as well. Mostly traditional, a few originals. In The Garden is made up of traditional hymns, instrumental, some other instrumentation. Ocean's Edge and Flowing Waters feature great dulcimer playing on both original and traditional tunes, while simultaneously listening to the ocean/rivers. Our idea of perfect tranquility. (Don’t play these while you’re driving!) Seven Valleys is the most "new age" of Sam's recordings. It's solo dulcimer, original music. Very nice.
 
|
| |
|
|
|
The Brighter Side Of Night
Lee Spears
State of the art original duets between hammered dulcimer and piano. Linda LOVES this recording. " The day I made myself get back in a car and drive, after the big wreck, I opened the sun roof and put on this recording. One does what one must, in life, but you can give your existence the best soundtrack possible."
Look in the Christmas Music section for this duo’s superb Winterfall.
|
| |
|
|
|
The Hammered Dulcimer Returns , The Hammered Dulcimer
Bill Spence and Fennig's All Stars
This is the CD Linda is using to practice dance band piano. Great fun. The Hammered Dulcimer is a compilation of their first 2 recordings. This is totally delightful, as well. We’re not certain it’s possible to listen to Spence’s playing without grinning and tapping your feet, so be prepared. The other hazard it that it may prompt you to learn a tune. This is one of the recordings Linda uses to goad students into playing by ear, if they’re not already doing it.
|
| |
|
|
|
Civil War Collection, Come Before Winter, Civil War Collection II, One October Morn
Jim Taylor
2 recordings Little Rose Is Gone and Falls Of Richmond are combined in this single CD, Civil War Collection. These contain dulcimer lead on fiddle tunes that were popular during the War Between the States. The liner notes are superb and she’s forever "borrowing" tunes and histories for some performance set. Come Before Winter is a warm, wonderful recording featuring mostly Irish tunes, with a smattering of original tunes that are indistinguishable from the traditional ones. Well played. This recording is always well received. A delight to hear, as well as an excellent choice for your non-dulcimer friends. Jim has followed up these fine recordings with Civil War Collection II and another CBW-type recording One October Morn. Jim’s dulcimer work, played on fine instruments he’s made, himself, is always clean, bright, and musical. A joy to hear.
|
|
|
|
|
|
OTHER-THAN-HAMMERED-DULCIMER RECORDINGS:
I listen to non-HD stuff a lot. Believe it or not, there's good music other than that played on hammered dulcimer! And, it’s easier to find “new” music that hasn’t been played to death in the dulcimer world if you move your horizon on out a bit.
|
| |
|
|
|
Rambler
Have you ever heard the Red Clay Ramblers in person? Rambler is the first recording of theirs that we think captures the absolute magic of their live performances. Excellent instrumentals interspersed with top-notch vocals. After several years, Linda still has to listen to this at least once a week and keeps it in her car.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tree Of Life, Simple Gifts, Music On The Mountain, Wonderous Love,
Celtic Crossing, The World Turned Upside Down
William Coulter, Barry Phillips et al.
These recordings have brightened many hours of many days for me. ORISON is Celtic and contemporary instrumental music---wide variety of instruments all played very well. On Tree Of Life, Simple Gifts, and Music On The Mountain these guys joined together with many other fine instrumentalists to present great arrangements of Shaker tunes. Barry joins with Shelley Phillips to bring a fine recording of Sacred Harp tunes, Wonderous Love . Both the Shaker and Sacred Harp recordings have great liner notes--a big plus for me.
We highly recommend the recording Celtic Crossing. It features William Coulter on guitar with a bunch of excellent other musicians playing along on arrangements that are always in the Celtic spirit. This is good accompaniment for office work.
Ken Burns used some of the selections on The World Turned Upside Down for his film about Thomas Jefferson. It features Barry Phillips on all sorts of instruments, including harpsichord, cello, and bowed psaltery, with a whole passel of fine others on each arrangement. Nice work, folks. Good choice, Ken.
 
|
| |
|
|
|
In The Pines
Todd Phillips, Darol Anger, Tim O'Brien, Tony Trischka!!
Need we say more? In The Pines is an acoustic session of classical old-time instrumentals. It has brightened up our day at least once a week since it came into our lives.
|
| |
|
|
|
Smile When You're Ready
Jeremiah McLane
Another one of Linda’s all-time favorites and one of the main soundtrack themes of her life is the entire CD of Smile When You're Ready, with Jeremiah McLane on accordion and piano. The music is quiet, yet lush and enveloping. This guy is very well-known in contra-dance-band circles. For good reason.
|
|
|
