An instructional record by jean ritchie on amazon music. Marie named the very little dulcimer itty bitty and it is her newest acquisition. A photo of my bljritchie dulcimer can be seen here. Here i was all excited that i found a jean ritchie 1984 traditional mountain dulcimer book without the tape but in brand new condition in a plastic cover at the second hand shop. My first dulcimer was definitely a starter, but i have played a blue lion dulcimer since i purchased one from janita at the old memphis dulcimer festival in about 1992.
It is a traditionally styled appalachian mountain dulcimer built to jean s specifications. As she tells it, this led to her forever being asked at performances and appearances, which album has the most dulcimer. She was born into a singing family in viper, kentucky, in the cumberland mountains of the eastern part of the state. Read the dulcimer book by jean ritchie available from rakuten kobo. Lee cagles blue smoke risin on the mountain dulcimer. The youngest of 14 children, she studied at viper high school. As well as work songs and ballads, jean knew hymns from the regular baptist church she attended in jeff, kentucky. Bring the story of musician jean ritchie to life for your group with this ky chautauqua show full of humor, wisdom, songs, and. In her youth she learned folksongs in the traditional way orally, from her family and members of her community. There were moments when i heard people like jean ritchie sing so.
For fit and finish, the quality of the instrument is very very good. Janita baker has been playing mountain dulcimer for over 35 years. Traditional mountain dulcimer by jean ritchie, other. Her family history is rooted in the folk music and ballads of the appalachian mountains. The ritchie family was very much a part of the appalachian folk tradition, and had committed over 300 songs including hymns, traditional love songs, ballads, childrens game songs, etc. Jean ritchie singing shady grove and playing the mountain dulcimer in the 1960s, folk music became a major force in american popular music.
Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that. Jean ritchie brought a mountain dulcimer out of the hills of kentucky to new york city where it was discovered by an entire new generation of musicians. Leah smith of big laurel, kentucky, playing the dulcimer with a bow instead of a pick, with the tail of the dulcimer held in the players lap, and the headstock resting on a table pointing away from her. Marie williams, lagniappe dulcimer society member, has several mountain dulcimers including standard, small, little and tiny. We build standard, bass, baritone, acoustic jam and soprano fretted dulcimers and offer dulcimer strings and other dulcimerrelated accessories. During her college career and afterwards, she traveled and took with her the family dulcimer and her collection of folk. A mountain dulcimer primer rich simmons music folk. Accessories, accordion books, accordions used, acoustic guitars. Contact us site map about blue lion ordering info shipping rates current price list. Edward thomas, to the ritchie family, to farina, to lynn mcspadden, this book covers a. Jean ritchie s dulcimer people bridges the gap between the old time players and the folk revival. An instructional record fi 8352 from 1964 released on cd in 2007.
See more ideas about mountain dulcimer, dulcimer music and mountain music. The youngest child of balis ritchie and the former abigail hall, jean ruth ritchie was born on dec. Shop the worlds widest selection of jean ritchie hammered dulcimer sheet music, music books, scores and more. We build standard, bass, baritone, acoustic jam and soprano fretted dulcimers and offer dulcimer strings and other dulcimer related accessories. Blue lion mountain dulcimers we own a blue lion bass dulcimer and love it as well.
I play noterdrone style music on it and like its ease of play. And the instrument was a custom order so is not exactly what you will see on the blue lion website. Musicians such as kentuckian jean ritchie furthered the cause by. Jean ritchie, the recipient of the bess lomax hawes national heritage fellowship, is a significant musician and songwriter, as well as a cultural activist and chronicler of her home region. The dulcimer book by jean ritchie softcover sheet music. Her method of playing does not sync with mine something ive since learned is due to the folk revival of the 70s and the new methods of playing old. Blue lion instruments builders of fine, handcrafted, mountain dulcimers and acoustic guitars. In 1958 charles seeger, father of pete, published an article on the dulcimer in the journal of american folklore that proved to be a turning. Although jean ritchie is associated with the appalachian lap dulcimer, an instrument she largely introduced along with richard farina to the emerging folk revival of the 1960s, she seldom features it on more than a handful of tracks on her many albums. The back, sides and peghead and tailpiece are the last pieces of wood left from the same board used to construct the first dulcimer we made for jean ritchie. The appalachian mountain dulcimer is a small, sweetvoiced stringed instrument whose origins are lost in the mists of time.
This dulcimer has none of the inlay thats typically on the jean ritchie model. Her career bridged traditional and modern forms of folk music. This book gives the traditional background and history of the moutain dulcimer in her kentucky hometown, as well as its distant ancestors in europe. See more ideas about mountain dulcimer, dulcimer music and hammered dulcimer. Musicians such as kentuckian jean ritchie furthered the cause by bringing the mountain instrument to national and international audiences just as america began to rediscover its folk music traditions. Jean ritchies dulcimer people by jean ritchie, 1975, oak publications edition, in english. Jean ritchie was born december 8, 1922, in viper, kentucky. We offer highquality dulcimers at an affordable price, with a guarantee. Included with the instrument is the hard case pictured, plus a few dulcimer picks and a humidifier. Mcspadden is in dulcimers industry since we have crafted first mountain dulcimer in 1962. Of course, what makes a given dulcimer book effective is partly a matter of. Balladeer jean ritchie first took it to the concert stage, and in short order musicians as diverse as richard farina and the rolling stones fell for its charm. A lovely collection of 50 tunes from sweden, norway, denmark and finland arranged for mountain dulcimer by virtuoso musician and national dulcimer champion, mark gilston. Jean ritchie december 8, 1922 june 1, 2015 was an american folk singer and appalachian dulcimer player.
Mountain dulcimers mountain view arkansas mcspadden. Jean ritchies dulcimer people bridges the gap between the old time players and. Jean ritchie has been an inspirational pioneer and advocate for the mountain dulcimer and it is a pity that the marketing of both these products. Jean ritchie the dulcimer book, prussia valley dulcimers. I couldnt find it anywhere on youtube so i made my own. We are proud and honored to be the authorized builders of the jean ritchie dulcimer. These were sung as lining out songs, in a lingering soulful way. As a solo performer on the mountain dulcimer, janita presents her audiences with a wide range of musical. The spruce top its sitka spruce, i think was from wood meghans brother had had for 20 years. The story of the blue lion dulcimer for some time, i had wanted a koa dulcimer built by bob and janita baker of blue lion instruments. See more ideas about mountain dulcimer, folk music and dulcimer music.
Style i style ii jean ritchie force dossche 6 string bass baritone 6 string bass acoustic jam soprano. We have been honored to be the authorized builders of the jean ritchie dulcimer since the early part of the l980s. This book teaches beginners how to tune a play the dulcimer, and features illustrations, drawings, and recollections of the dulcimers local history. It also includes music and lyrics for 16 songs from the ritchie family of kentucky. It is a traditionally styled appalachian mountain dulcimer built to jeans. The mountain or appalachian dulcimer is a fretted instrument of the zither. Jean ruth ritchie december 8, 1922 june 1, 2015 was an american folk music singer, songwriter, and appalachian dulcimer player. How to tune and play and recollections of the dulcimer. All are diatonic, but you can ask to have a 6 12 fret added.
The ground covered is similar but more comprehensive than that covered in jean ritchies folkways record the appalachian dulcimer. For those of us who have a passion for this great instrument and the history that surrounds it, jean ritchie s dulcimer people is an essential source. Jean ritchies the dulcimer book has an old photograph of mrs. If you could only keep one of your dulcimers forums. Youll find your jean ritchie hammered dulcimer music at sheet music plus. I, luckily, came by it used though in likenew condition. The dulcimer book by jean ritchie this book teaches beginners how to tune a play the dulcimer, and features illustrations, drawings, and recollections of the. Words and music for 16 songs from the ritchie family of kentucky. Shes holding the smallest, playable dulcimer ive ever seen. Articles by jean ritchie a dulcimer round from jean ritchie. Books on learning how to play the dulcimer, advanced playing techniques, and collections of tunes to play. Jean ritchie was born into a large and musical family in viper, kentucky in 1922.