Cover of Grant Olson's debut album "Solo Dulcimer."

Album Review: Grant Olson’s ‘Solo Dulcimer’

By Karen Mueller | In September 2019, the dulcimer world was taken by storm when 17-year-old Grant Olson won first place in the National Dulcimer Championship in Winfield, Kansas. To many, he seemed to appear out of nowhere, playing stunning arrangements of challenging pieces on a four-string chromatic dulcimer...
Dorothy Carter. Photo by Danielle de Picciotto.

Dorothy Carter

By Danielle de Picciotto | Tiny, frail, with blond hair and green eyes, invariably wearing black dresses, floral patterns, and heavy boots, she seemed so delicate that most people were taken aback when she mentioned adventures with drug-crazied hippies in Mexico or an upcoming tour with her all-girl band the Mediaeval Babes...
Dan playing his diatonic dulcimer with no half frets. Photo courtesy of Dan Evans.

Modes and Tunings: In praise of DAA

By Dan Evans | I was first introduced to the Appalachian dulcimer back in the early 1970s. At that time, DAA was the main tuning used for major scale songs and tunes. Living in England, London’s Roger Nicholson was a major influence when I started out, and Roger used DAA as his major scale tuning...