The Appalachian Mountain Dulcimer
The
Mountain (or Lap) Dulcimer is one of 2 original American Folk Instruments with
the other being the Banjo. We know that
the origins of the Banjo came from Africa, but we are not certain from where
the original ideas for the dulcimer came.
We do know it was born in the Appalachian Mountains somewhere within the
states of Virginia, Kentucky, West Virginia, Tennessee, and North
Carolina. The earliest records of
dulcimers are in the early 1700’s.
It is thought that as Immigrants settled that area, their
need for a violin for music, at home and at church, was the main drive for the
creation of the dulcimer because it was much simpler to build. There was often a simple construction for
home use, and a much more elaborate version used at church!
The word “Dulcimer” comes from the Latin – “dulce” and Greek –
“melos” – to mean “Sweet Song”. While
the music performed on the Mountain Dulcimer is continuing to evolve, so is the
instrument, itself. You will find it used today to play most any style of
music, with all of it sounding very sweet!
The Mountain Dulcimer is not to be confused with the Hammered
Dulcimer. The Mountain Dulcimer usually
has 3 or 4 strings that are either strummed or plucked while held in the
lap. The Hammered Dulcimer has many more
strings which are struck with hammers.
Being a lot larger, the Hammered Dulcimer rests on a stand. Both make
beautiful, yet very different, sounds. After all, they are both “dulcimers”!
The Mountain Dulcimer almost died out completely
between the mid-1800s to mid-1900, but a revival of the instrument began in the
1940s and particularly in the ‘60s and ‘70s due to all the interest in folk
music during that time. The Dulcimer
continues to grow in popularity around the country today with all types of
dulcimer festivals, competitions, and classes going on year-round. Judy House
