The treasured hammered dulcimer is another example of an instrument that has created it's whole language in the United States, but has a long history on other continents. There's a scene in the movie Shirley Valentine when there is a wedding parade in a small village in Greece, and a musician is walking along playing a hammered dulcimer supported by a leather strap around his neck. Of course, it's not called a hammered dulcimer in other countries... I had a record of someone playing the instrument, but have long since forgotten what it was called (and lost the record in one of my moves.) When I listen to Scandinavian fiddle music, every once in awhile an "American" tune catches my ear. I used to have a Portugese guitar which sounded just fine playing southern mountain fiddle and mandolin tunes.

Jerry