An interview by Gus Coshocton, Ohio
From DPN Vol. 12 No. 4 (Fall 1986).
Marty and Wayne are from Coshocton, Ohio. Wayne Peppercorn is in the lighting industry and enjoys playing hammer dulcimer as a hobby. He travels extensively, which restricts his performance time. He finds the dulcimer an excellent release and escape from the business world. Marty Rodabaugh owns Wildwood Music in historic Roscoe Village. She plays professionally as much as she can, and is absolutely thrilled when she gets to perform with Wayne.
How did you meet?
We met at the Apple Butter Festival at Roscoe Village in Choshocton. We had known of each other prior to this, but had never played together. I was selling dulcimers and Wayne was entertaining at the festival. During one of his breaks, he came over and we decided to jam together. We sounded pretty good. The small crowd that gathered seemed to enjoy listening.
We started serious practice together and it seemed that we liked the same type of music. We put together a program of various types of songs and soon we were performing together at festivals, parties and other functions.
How did you come to make your first album?
Many people asked us if we had our music on record or tape. When we said no, we wished we could say yes. Our friend Dan Mitchell is a fine Nashville-based songwriter. One of his many outstanding songs is Alabama’s “If You’re Gonna Play In Texas You Gotta Have A Fiddle In The Band”. Dan offered to produce our album in one of Nashville’s best small studios and we jumped at the chance. The result was our album and cassette tape Wildwood which is a collection of traditional and original tunes and songs.
Wayne, what is your musical background?
I had no formal training in any musical instrument but always was involved in music through composition. Most of my compositions are for the piano. I’ve been working on a symphonic piece and an opera which I hope to complete in the future.
What made you take up the hammered dulcimer?
I was born with 2 sticks in my hand… No, really… when I heard the hammered dulcimer played for the first time at Roscoe Village Dulcimer Days, I felt that my musically talented wife would enjoy playing one. I purchased a dulcimer for her, but I couldn’t keep away from it. Soon after, I bought one for myself and began to pursue my technique seriously. After six years of playing, I find myself learning (or wanting to learn) something new every day.
I discovered that the hammered dulcimer repertoire need not be limited to traditional music. I’m enjoying experimenting with many different styles of music such as polkas, musicals and movie and television themes.
Marty, what is your musical background?
I started singing in the church choir at the age of 5 and have enjoyed performing ever since then. I learned to play the guitar when I was 13. I played along with all of Peter, Paul and Mary’s albums. During high school and college I performed mostly traditional folk music. If I had to pick my favorite songs to perform, the Child ballads would be on the top of my list. More recently I have added some bluegrass, country and soft rock. Wayne introduced me to tunes by O’Carolan, which are so beautiful and melodic.
Marty, why did you choose to play the dulcimer?
In high school I acquired a pretty, small, 3-string fretted dulcimer. I had no idea how to hold it, much less play it. After I finally figured out that you lay it flat on your lap or a table, it became much easier and more pleasant to play. I added the mountain dulcimer to my concert repertoire, and found that nearly everyone was interested in the history of this sweet sounding instrument. In the past year, inspired by Wayne’s unbelievably beautiful and intricate playing, I have added the hammered dulcimer to some of my performances.
Tell us something about Wildwood Music, Marty.
I am very proud of my music store. Wildwood is a very large dulcimer dealer. We usually keep 30-40 dulcimers in stock. We are the largest C.F. Martin guitar dealer in a 40 state area.
We love our customers! Without a doubt, music lovers are the nicest, friendliest people in the world. There is such joy in matching up a person with the guitar, mandolin, banjo, violin, Autoharp, dulcimer that is just right. Many of our customers drop in from time to time to chat and jam together.