Vol. 50 No. 1 – Page 2 – Dulcimer Players News

Roger Nicholson on the cover of DPN Vol. 1 No. 7 (1975).

Modes and Tunings: Roger Nicholson in the Archives

Compiled by Fiona Potts | Roger Nicholson was an important figure in the development of the dulcimer whose impact often gets overlooked. His name appears in many early pages, and as Phil Mason wrote, "The D.P.N. is real pleased to have these fine contributions from our English friend of the Dulcimer and its music."...

April 28, 2024Mountain Dulcimer Arrangement, Vol. 50 No. 1

Mountain dulcimer tablature for Roger Nicholson's original tune "Lament for Richard Fariña," also known as "Spring Season." Originally printed in DPN Vol. 1 No. 4 (1975).

Fariña: Lament for Richard Fariña

Mountain dulcimer tablature arranged by Roger Nicholson. Also known as "Spring Season."

April 28, 2024Mountain Dulcimer Arrangement, Vol. 50 No. 1

"The Richard Fariña Dulcimer Book" as advertised by Capritaurus Dulcimers in DPN Vol. 4 No. 3 (Summer 1978). For more on the Pacific Rim Dulcimer Songbook, see the "Kindred Gathering" article in Vol. 50 No. 1.

Fariña: Liberating Richard

By Neal Hellman | Relevant and accessible – "The Richard Fariña Dulcimer Book" now available online.

April 28, 2024Vol. 50 No. 1

Mimi Fariña at the Bread and Roses benefit concert, September 9, 1975, Berkeley Community Theater. Photo by David Gans, creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/.

Fariña: Lyric Legacy

By Marian Hubler | Hennessy's "Lyric Dulcimer" remains on display at Bread & Roses

April 28, 2024Vol. 50 No. 1

Mimi Farina, Richard Farina, and Pauline Baez Marden At King's Rook Coffee House. American singer-songwriter and activist Mimi Farina (1945 - 2001), American singer Richard Farina (1937 - 1966), and musician Pauline Baez Marden at King's Rook Coffee House, Ipswich, Massachusetts, 1965. (Photo by John Byrne Cooke Estate/Hulton Archive via Getty Images)

Richard Fariña

By Patricia Delich | I am one of the many dulcimer players sparked by Richard Fariña. His dulcimer playing was so different, so passionate and heartfelt – he tugged deeply at my heartstrings. Fariña captivated me when I was a teenager just starting to play dulcimer...

April 28, 2024Vol. 50 No. 1

Stephens Lutherie 3D printed hybrid dulcimer. Nearly everything on the dulcimer that is black (except the ebony fretboard) was 3D printed. Photo by Robert Stephens.

Builders: The future is now

By Butch Ross | It has never been easier to be wrong in predicting where technology will take us. The next step in the mountain dulcimer's evolution is 3D printing.

April 28, 2024Vol. 50 No. 1

The L'il D'bl Bass requires amplification. Photos courtesy of Terry McCafferty.

Builders: Double the builders, double the bass

By Fiona Potts | Collaboration between Terry McCafferty and David Beede leads to new building techniques and a new sound for dulcimer players.

April 28, 2024Vol. 50 No. 1

Paul Adams in his workshop, circa 1981. Photo courtesy of Paul Adams.

Builders: Paul Adams, from luthier to songwriter

By Fiona Potts | Versatile musician and early contributor to DPN, Paul Adams releases fear and adapts with the decades.

April 28, 2024Vol. 50 No. 1

A close up of the hammered dulcimer pedal base, with the pedal itself removed, showing the springs that run under the pedal. Photo by Harry Ferguson.

Builders: Astronomer invents reverse damper pedal

By Harry Ferguson | I was taken by a recent video by the Danish group Dreamers' Circus of a dance tune called "Bas-Pelles Eriks Brudpolska." It was composed by Per Västberg (1886-1975). Molly Tuttle has a nifty arrangement for guitar, and Sharon Shannon has recorded it on accordion. I transposed it to G...

April 28, 2024Vol. 50 No. 1

Builders: Through the decades with Doug Berch

A compilation of words and wisdom, featuring excerpts from interviews, stories, and feedback letters in the Dulcimer Players News Archives.

April 28, 2024Vol. 50 No. 1