Mountain Dulcimer
by Gary Vander Hart

The earliest mention in history of an instrument like a dulcimer is found in Praetorius Book of 1619 a book in which he drew pictures of every instrument he could find in traveling through Europe. Today in Germany the only place you will find a Scheitholz is in a museum, since no one plays it anymore. But German immigrants to Pennsylvania, migrating to Virginia and West Virginia in the early 1700's took the idea along with them. Another instrument similar to the scheitholz was the "dowcemerer" popular in southern England also coming to the New World with English settlers. The word dulcimer is from the Latin word: "dulcis" meaning sweet and the Greek word "melos" meaning sound: dulcimer=sweet sound. It is considered America's oldest folk instrument.

In the Appalachian mountains, early craftsmen used whatever wood and materials they could find to make the dulcimer. The makers would then sell them from wagons along with other things like salt, or needles. One such maker was J. Edward Thomas of Kentucky, who made dulcimers between 1871 and 1930 and sold them from the back of a mule cart as he traveled through mountain communities.

The mountain dulcimer almost faded away because of cheaply made mass-produced violins, guitars, and banjos. The rediscovery of folk music in the 1950's and 60's helped save the instrument from obscurity. Musicians such as Jean Ritchie from Kentucky brought the mountain instrument to national and international audiences. In 1958 Charles Seeger, father of Pete, published an article on the dulcimer in the Journal of American Folklore that was a turning point in the instrument's history. He classified the dulcimer as an American folk instrument and so changed the way the humble instrument was perceived by scholars and music enthusiasts.

The soft "voice" of the dulcimer makes it a very personal instrument. The sound and look is uniquely Appalachian and conveys the peace and beauty of mountain living. Since many of the Appalachian folk were Protestant Christians, there are many hymn books published for dulcimer. Generally speaking the dulcimer is not being used for the Satanic uses which we all too often see rock music instruments being used for.

The one who receives the dulcimer will also get a couple dozen easy hymns Gary arranged in tablature, two CD's of dulcimer music, and one free
lesson.

Gary Vander Hart was a teacher at Sioux Center Christian of strings, general
music, choir, and band from 1966-1992, missionary to Moscow and St. Petersburg, Russia from 1992 to 2006, where he taught Old Testament courses, Greek, Hebrew, church history, and music in 3 seminaries and a Christian school. He helped 60 students make dulcimers at Sioux Center and Rock Valley Christian from 1972- 1976, around 100 students at Sioux Center Christian make classic guitars from 1976-1990, and dozens of students at True Vine Christian in St. Petersburg, Russia make dulcimers from 2000-2006. During Discovery Days at Dordt he had 12 students make dulcimers in June of 2007 and plans to do the same in June of 2008, Lord willing. During the past 6 years, a couple dozen students at Western Christian have made classic guitars using kits he designed. Through such activities, students get confidence in using wood-working tools, and have a good-quality instrument with excellent tone to keep playing for a life time.

If you are interested in hearing or playing the dulcimer, please write Gary Vander Hart, teacher and maker of dulcimers at True Vine Christian School in St. Petersburg, Russia. Write me at both spk-uni@peterlink.ru and joanbvh@mtcnet.net, his USA address 6 months of the year.