Any Hammerers here?

Subject: Any Hammerers here?
From: Ptarmigan
Date: 11 Dec 08 - 03:16 AM

If you play the Hammered Dulcimer, perhaps you might be interested to hear my humble efforts on my trusty HD.

Three wee Scottish tunes on a Rick Thum

Given its long history in Scotland, how do you think Scottish Music actually suits this instrument, given that it would obviously sound much, much better, when played by a more experienced player?

If you have already posted a YouTube of Scottish Music on a HD, perhaps you could post the link here?

Cheers
Dick

Subject: RE: Any Hammerers here?
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 11 Dec 08 - 03:51 AM

A nice start to the day - thanks for that, Dick.

Subject: RE: Any Hammerers here?
From: Ptarmigan
Date: 11 Dec 08 - 03:59 AM

You are most welcome. I'm so glad you enjoyed it.

Subject: RE: Any Hammerers here?
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 11 Dec 08 - 04:19 AM

I like the fireplace too. I had high hopes that by Christmas we'd have ripped the flame-effect gas ones out & replaced them with our wood burning stove and a nice Victorian tiled cast such as your own. Still, we've only been in here since June and there's boxes still to unpack... Next Christmas maybe? Whilst our last house was coal-fired throughout, the front room featured one of those ghastly 'Adams Style' plaster surrounds which somehow survived the 5 years we lived there. Here's a wee film featuring a fireside improvisation between hurdy-gurdy (me) and bodhran (Clive Powell) recorded 2 years ago to the very day:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=sL96NKH6PJA

Subject: RE: Any Hammerers here?
From: Amos
Date: 11 Dec 08 - 09:25 AM

BEautiful job!


A

Subject: RE: Any Hammerers here?
From: Will Fly
Date: 11 Dec 08 - 10:28 AM

Hi Dick, some friends of mine - the Twagger Band use, not just one, but TWO hammered dulcimers in their performances. Great sound - very difficult to dampen, though, when amplified (I do their sound mixing sometimes).

Your recording sounded great, by the way!

Subject: RE: Any Hammerers here?
From: catspaw49
Date: 11 Dec 08 - 10:53 AM

Great job!   Lovely instruments aren't they? Here's one of my own from back when I was building them....scroll down ......A series of health issues stopped that but I still have about 9 or 10 unfinished ones in varying stages of completion.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Any Hammerers here?
From: Will Fly
Date: 11 Dec 08 - 10:55 AM

Beautiful, Spaw! Now, get your arse in gear and finish me off one of those 9 or 10 dulcimers... :D No excuses, now.

Subject: RE: Any Hammerers here?
From: Folkiedave
Date: 11 Dec 08 - 11:02 AM

I thought you were looking for West Ham supporters. You would have got the rough end of my pen.

Fervent Blade.

Subject: RE: Any Hammerers here?
From: Zen
Date: 11 Dec 08 - 11:12 AM

The playing is good and clean and I personally think the HD suits Scottish music very well.

Are you based in Scotland? (I am in Perthshire)

Zen

Subject: RE: Any Hammerers here?
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 11 Dec 08 - 11:14 AM

I enjoyed listening, Ptarmigan. Good job.

Other people might play faster, and they might play more accompaniment, but in my opinion, that just messes up the tune.

(I don't play hammered dulcimer, but I do play fretted dulcimer.)

Subject: RE: Any Hammerers here?
From: Ptarmigan
Date: 11 Dec 08 - 12:37 PM

OK Insane Beard, so your fire is bigger than mine! Na Na ne Na Na! :-)

Interesting video - great job.

"very difficult to dampen, though, when amplified"

Yes, I agree Will, we played a live spot on a radio prob recently & the sound guy had never seen a HD before, & decided to give it loads of echo ... when we heard the broadcast later, the Dulcimer sounded horror-endous!

Sorry to hear that Catspaw, I hope your health issues are fully resolved soon & you get back to those Dulcimer parts, soon.

"The playing is good and clean and I personally think the HD suits Scottish music very well."

Thanks Zen. Yes, I personally don't like cluttering up the music on the HD. That's why I only play SLOW Reels, plus Marches, Planxtys, Jigs & Hornpipes.

"Are you based in Scotland? (I am in Perthshire)"

Sorry no, I'm a few miles from the Giant's Causeway, in Ulster. Spent years in Grantown on Spey, Fyvie, Aberdeen & Brechin, so I know that part of the country quite well though.

Yes leeneia, I know all that fast flying around the instrument looks spectacular, especially some of those Eastern European Cimbalom players, but quite frankly, all that rattling, jangling & banging does little for my ears.

When it comes to ye olde HD I always think less is more.

Cheers
Dick

Subject: RE: Any Hammerers here?
From: Ptarmigan
Date: 11 Dec 08 - 02:22 PM

You might prefer these two wee Irish Jigs: 2 Irish Jigs

By the way, has anyone got a name for the 2nd one?

Cheers
Dick

Subject: RE: Any Hammerers here?
From: Stewart
Date: 11 Dec 08 - 02:46 PM

Dick, the 2nd one is The Legacy. Very nice!
It goes very well with Out On The Ocean.
I do the same set on fiddle.

Cheers, S. in Seattle

Subject: RE: Any Hammerers here?
From: Ptarmigan
Date: 11 Dec 08 - 04:06 PM

Stewart, you are obviously a man with great taste in music! :-)

Ta.

Subject: RE: Any Hammerers here?
From: Ptarmigan
Date: 12 Dec 08 - 01:36 AM

More Hammering!

3 Fife Marches from Co Antrim

Cheers
Dick