2019 Winfield champion’s variety in technique and repertoire adds up to superb album.
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 with a cardboard body he made himself. I, for one, was not surprised, having been his teacher for five years leading up to this achievement.
From the start, Grant’s curiosity and drive to learn led him into the wide range of styles and techniques that he implements on his first album, “Solo Dulcimer.” This fine instrumental album deserves a place on every dulcimer player’s audio player. Including traditional tunes, hymns, classical, and originals, and from fingerpicking to strumming and flat-picking, there is something for everyone to enjoy. Grant demonstrates clean, dynamic, and expressive playing with confidence and ease, even on the most technically challenging pieces, such as the Bach “Cello Suite.” He writes catchy originals
like “Reel Joy,” as well as creative variations that add new life to familiar tunes.
Grant plays his Blue Lion 4-string chromatic dulcimer on all but one of the tracks, using seven
different tunings – none of them DAD! With some tunings having low strings in baritone range, the songs sound like two dulcimers playing together.
Two of my favorite tracks are “Be Thou My Vision,” where Grant starts with slow picking, then kicks it into an uplifting strummed arrangement with a key change and interesting chords, and “Classical Gas,” which he plays with precision, dynamics, and expression.
The recording is well-sequenced, giving variety between the tracks while still feeling connected, and the tone quality of the dulcimer is full and smooth. I encourage you to get this whole album to appreciate
it fully, and to support this superb young player.
Available as CD or download, plus liner notes, at grantolsondulcimer.com/albums.
Additional tracks include: Love Will You Marry Me; Carulli Andantino; Foggy Dew; Smokehouse Jig set; Calliope House set; Going to Boston/Kesh Jig; Old Rugged Cross; Cluck Old Hen set.
Karen Mueller is a performer and instructor based in Minneapolis. Her website is karenmueller.com.
