The hammered dulcimer usually is not given a good reception in Irish music but the listener will be pleasantly surprised with the expansion of this instrument- played as melody and as rhythm-and with expressiveness , use of damper pedals to cut the sustain, and with an interesting combination of instruments including: Clarinet, bass clarinet, flute, bamboo flute,alto flute, melodica, soprano saxophone, xaphoon, accordion, kalimba,piano, organ, electric bass, xylophone, piccolo, frame drums,medieval snare drum, bells, temple blocks & shakers;Acoustic guitar & Ashiko drum; Scottish fiddle & viola; Irish flute;Celtic harp;Irish fiddle;Swedish fiddle
Mandolin & cittern;Viola da gamba;Bodhran, tabla & dombek
slit drum, mondo drums & marimba, It was produced by Bobby Read- who tours with Bruce Hornsby Band and former member of Trapazoid. Here's what the recording artist says:
" I’ve sought to explore the expressive possibilities that I hear in the hammered dulcimer. Producer Bobby Read and I set out to expand the instrument’s musical palette by using pedal dampers, different kinds of hammers and striking surfaces, and techniques like bending and plucking strings with picks and fingers and layering multiple parts. In pursuit of its identity as a melodic percussion instrument, we blended it with other members of its mallet family such as the xylophone and marimba to create ostinato patterns (repeated phrases that set up interesting layers underneath the melody) in many of the pieces. " The ancient hammered dulcimer followed the migrations of early travelers across Asia Minor and onto the European continent—from the Black Sea to the North Atlantic shores and blends well with traditional instruments from around the world. Here are notes on 2 of the tracks:Helen O’Grady / Drops of Brandy
Two slip jigs popular in Scotland. I heard the second tune played with some variations by piper Chris Orstead at the Northumbrian Pipers Convention in North Hero, Vermont which inspired a few variations of my own. As the tune progresses, the mesmerizing 9/8 rhythm of the slip jigs takes on an Afro-Celtic spirit with two dulcimers playing an ostinato part against the percussion. Hammered dulcimer, guitar, organ, piano, bells, mandolin, cittern, melodica (a hand-held mouth- blown keyboard – a cousin to the concertina), soprano saxophone, slit drums, mondo drums ( kick drum and two toms played with the hands), marimba, bodhran & Ashiko drum.
9 The Banks of the Barrow
Another musical find from O’Neill’s Music Of Ireland. This beautiful Irish air has a medieval quality to it. Hammered dulcimer, acoustic guitar, fiddle & viola (Bonnie), clarinet & frame drum.
A Traveler's Dream by Maggie Sansone
The hammered dulcimer usually is not given a good reception in Irish music but the listener will be pleasantly surprised with the expansion of this instrument- played as melody and as rhythm-and with expressiveness , use of damper pedals to cut the sustain, and with an interesting combination of instruments including: Clarinet, bass clarinet, flute, bamboo flute,alto flute, melodica, soprano saxophone, xaphoon, accordion, kalimba,piano, organ, electric bass, xylophone, piccolo, frame drums,medieval snare drum, bells, temple blocks & shakers;Acoustic guitar & Ashiko drum; Scottish fiddle & viola; Irish flute;Celtic harp;Irish fiddle;Swedish fiddle
Mandolin & cittern;Viola da gamba;Bodhran, tabla & dombek
slit drum, mondo drums & marimba, It was produced by Bobby Read- who tours with Bruce Hornsby Band and former member of Trapazoid. Here's what the recording artist says:
" I’ve sought to explore the expressive possibilities that I hear in the hammered dulcimer. Producer Bobby Read and I set out to expand the instrument’s musical palette by using pedal dampers, different kinds of hammers and striking surfaces, and techniques like bending and plucking strings with picks and fingers and layering multiple parts. In pursuit of its identity as a melodic percussion instrument, we blended it with other members of its mallet family such as the xylophone and marimba to create ostinato patterns (repeated phrases that set up interesting layers underneath the melody) in many of the pieces. " The ancient hammered dulcimer followed the migrations of early travelers across Asia Minor and onto the European continent—from the Black Sea to the North Atlantic shores and blends well with traditional instruments from around the world. Here are notes on 2 of the tracks:Helen O’Grady / Drops of Brandy
Two slip jigs popular in Scotland. I heard the second tune played with some variations by piper Chris Orstead at the Northumbrian Pipers Convention in North Hero, Vermont which inspired a few variations of my own. As the tune progresses, the mesmerizing 9/8 rhythm of the slip jigs takes on an Afro-Celtic spirit with two dulcimers playing an ostinato part against the percussion. Hammered dulcimer, guitar, organ, piano, bells, mandolin, cittern, melodica (a hand-held mouth- blown keyboard – a cousin to the concertina), soprano saxophone, slit drums, mondo drums ( kick drum and two toms played with the hands), marimba, bodhran & Ashiko drum.
9 The Banks of the Barrow
Another musical find from O’Neill’s Music Of Ireland. This beautiful Irish air has a medieval quality to it. Hammered dulcimer, acoustic guitar, fiddle & viola (Bonnie), clarinet & frame drum.
# Posted on October 28th 2002 by tilythehon