Conversations With Mountain Dulcimer Players

  I only know Dennis, virtually, through Geoff Black’s Nova Scotia Zoom sessions and, when I saw and heard him, was immediately fascinated by his choice of material and his song arrangements. I began this conversation by asking him for a bit of background: DENNIS: I’m 73, living with my wife and a steady stream of nephews, currently a 10 year old. (I have been) folk musically inclined since high school during the “Great Folk Scare.” My parents acquired a wretched Kay guitar for a generic gift, that my three brothers didn’t want. I played “This Land is Your Land” once in the high school choir on it. I have made a rather substantial collection of lp’s (300±), audiotapes, many of radio shows and live performers, and cd’s (1000?), and songbooks of folk music. And glean for songs and musical ideas that satisfy my tastes, with an eye out for things I can play that are unusual and sustain my interest. I rather admire Martin Simpson, Tom Rush, Steve Baughman, Robbin Bulloch, Neal Hellman...

  Geoff Black is a mountain dulcimer player, dealer and tutor (not necessarily in that order) from Herefordshire, England. He has played the dulcimer on and off since the 1980s, but more seriously since 2009. You will find him at Nonsuch Dulcimer club gatherings as well as teaching at a number of folk festivals in the UK. He’s also a regular teacher on the online dulcimer festival circuit, teaching with his playing partner Duncan Gibbs (who lives in Wales). STEVE: Where to start? You are a man of many talents Geoff, so if you’re happy to do this can we start with Revels Music? When did you start up and was it solely to deal in mountain dulcimers? GEOFF:    Well, it started with my four children and the desperate search for playable and affordable instruments when they were growing up. They were into woodwinds (despite my best efforts!) and I ended up importing cheap old band instruments from the USA. So it was natural, later, when I found it difficult to get decent ...

  INTRO: I met Gianna Williams (very briefly) at the Nonsuch Dulcimer Club’s annual weekend in October 2023. Gianna is the first mountain dulcimer player I know of from Italy. I asked her to tell me something of her background: GIANNA: I’m based in the region of Liguria which is just over the border from the French Cote d’Azur, so we enjoy a very pleasant climate here and the best of Mediterranean and Alpine landscapes. What confuses people is that I’m a native English speaker because I was born in Australia, then when I was seven we moved to Chicago, Illinois and then moved again, this time to London, when I was 14. I moved ‘back’ to Italy permanently in 2001. I’ve been playing the mountain dulcimer for almost 10 months, so I’m technically a beginner I suppose! But I’ve taken it very seriously from day one and have worked hard on making progress as quickly as possible. STEVE: The dulcimer is a fairly uncommon instrument in the North of England, where I live, and I guess it is ve...

  I first met William when I was helping Liz Conway with the Nonsuch Spring Fling of 2019 and he hitched a lift with me up to Allendale from Hexham train station. Since then our paths have crossed many times, virtually and in person, and he now helps me considerably with the organisation of the re-located Newcastle Spring Fling. So, we have had many a chat but none as I can recall, William, about your music and what motivates you to play the dulcimer. Let’s remedy that now. First of all, how did you get into music – what’s your back-story? WILLIAM: Now as you mention it, Steve, I have fond memories of that Spring Fling in Allendale – great music and camaraderie high up in the magnificent North Pennines. I won’t forget the Sunday night concert in Sinderhope Hall featuring Liz Conway and her “Midsummer Blue” ensemble. That’s also when I first met our good friend Erin Mae Lewis (who joined Úna and me, with her husband Justin, for an evening’s music and craic in Belfast a couple of ...

Paul modestly said at the start of our conversation that he was not really sure he was important enough to be featured, but was keen to put over what it’s like to be an enthusiast. Not important enough? Of course you are Mr.Crocker - give over! I asked Paul to tell us a little about himself: My name is Paul Crocker, a Bristolian, now residing in nearby Bath. For approximately forty years, I have been an enthusiastic fan and amateur player of all things resembling a Mountain Dulcimer. I have always played at home for relaxation; enjoying working out how to play any tunes or music I hear about me that I like. I have recently enjoyed the recent development and availability of ‘Stick Dulcimers’, which allow me to play my repertoire upside down! Steve: What first drew you to the MD? Paul: I was very fortunate to grow up with MDs and with parents with a wide taste in music: Mum - ecclesiastical, Dad - Folk and 1970s Folk Rock. Together we watched the brilliant TV series ‘How to ...

Tony Gillam is a Worcestershire-based writer, musician, mental health nurse and senior lecturer. For many years he worked as a mental health nurse and now teaches mental health nursing part-time at the University of Wolverhampton. Tony told me a bit more of his musical background: I play guitar and mountain dulcimer as part of indie-folk duo Fracture Zone. I've been playing dulcimer, on and off, for over 30 years so I should be better at it than I am! When I'm not playing as part of Fracture Zone, I perform solo and, last year, released a solo album called Lazy Oceanography. I've also been known to teach beginners' dulcimer workshops and run improvisational 'music for wellbeing' groups. Steve: What first drew you to the MD? Tony: In 1981-82 I spent a year living in Brittany, working as an English Assistant in a couple of schools. (I was doing a degree in English and French, so this was my 'year abroad'.) I saw a dulcimer in the window of a...