“Paul Gifford has successfully presented the history of the hammered dulcimer in North America from the 1600′s to the present. Full of photographs, illustrations, tuning charts, etc., this history effectively informs those interested in this beautiful traditional instrument about its history and its many variations.”
Here’s a photo of the well known artist, Hector McDonnell, playing a Co. Antrim Hammered Dulcimer in front of his home, Glenarm Castle.
This Dulcimer belonged to the late Nat MaGee and was made by his father Alec MaGee & was an exact copy of the Dulcimer, Glenarm man John Rea played.
To hear my Hammered Dulcimer in action, check out the sound files on my Hammered Dulcimer MySpace.
Anyone wishing to learn more about the Hammered Dulcimer, including news from players throughout the UK & Ireland, might like to check out my Dulcimer Player’s Forum.
You can learn too, about players of many different forms of Hammered Dulcimer from across Europe.
On the site, you can also find out about the many Dulcimer related musical instruments that exist throughout Europe.
The finest Hammered Dulcimer player in Ireland today, is still a County Antrim man. Barry Carroll, like John Rea before him, has also recorded a CD with Hammered Dulcimer & Uilleann Pipes:
An Mhéar Fada – The Long Finger
More recently, he was a guest musician on Sharon Shannon’s last CD.
You can see & hear Barry playing on this video:
In 2006, I organised Sessions in Ballycastle & Bushmills which featured Hammered Dulcimer players from Antrim (Nat MaGee, William Rea & Dick Glasgow), England (Jenny Coxon) & America (Rick Davis).
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In 2005, in an effort to raise the profile of the Co Antrim Hammered Dulcimer & perhaps even kick start a revival, I organised the first ever Dulcimer Festival in Co Antrim, the ‘Causeway Dulcimer Festival’
Dulcimer players came from America, Scotland, England & mainland Europe too, to help celebrate the life of John Rea & explore the history of the Hammered Dulcimer in Co Antrim.
Musicians who attended the Festival
Christie Burns (USA) Jenny Coxon (England) Rick Davis (USA) Butch Ross (USA) Lisa & Heather Malyuk (USA) Colin Ross (England) Barry & Julia Say (England) Nat Magee (Co. Antrim) William Rea (Antrim) Barry Carroll (Dublin) Niall O Cearbhaill (Dublin) Julia Lane & Fred Gosbee (USA) Mary Phelan (Co. Donegal) John Moulden (Co. Antrim) Charlie Gillen (Co. Antrim) Kathleen Smyth (Co. Antrim) Jan Maes (Belgium) Dale Nupp (USA) Dick Siddall (England) Christine Smith (England) Michael Smith (Scotland) Vincent Hearns (Ireland) Janetta & Peter Fairbairn (Scotland) Alyn & Sheila lorwerth (England) Lindsay Porteous(Scotland) Pam & Norm Ivie (USA) George Monger (Scotland) David Bradley (Ireland) Nick O’Sullivan(Ireland) Sharon Martin (USA) Sam Fleming (Antrim) Alan Wade (Antrim) Sabine Glasgow (Antrim) Ian Miller (Antrim) John Hughes (Antrim) Susan Miller (Antrim) Greg Gault (Antrim) Ciaran Kelly (Derry) Dick Glasgow (Antrim)
View the Slideshow below, to get a flavour of the Festival.
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