Music from the backwoods Dulcimer players jam on string

instruments

By RON LARSEN

Journal Staff Writer

WEST NEWTON -- It was like a dulcimer "jam" in a little country store back in the hills of Tennessee at the Harkin Store Sunday afternoon.

Seven members of the recently formed Blue Prairie Dulcimer Club of Mankato were strumming their hearts out on their elongated string instruments to the accompaniment of an electronic keyboard played by an eighth member.

The group's play list was heavy on gospels because those are the songs most often played on dulcimers in southeastern Appalachia, said Bill Warmack of Mankato, the group's founder.

"The kind of music they play are the easy, little songs or religious music," Warmack explained.

He had discovered the beauty of the music that springs from the three or four strings of the dulcimer which he encountered in mission field trips into the backwoods areas of Tennessee.

"It's a soft sound, almost haunting, and it's very beautiful," he said.

For Warmack, there's another benefit to choosing a dulcimer to play.

"They're quite easy to learn to play, even for older folks, and in southern Appalachia, they even teach it in their schools," Warmack said, with a grin.

Because dulcimer enthusiasts may be few and far between in the neighborhood, Warmack said it can be kind of a lonely undertaking "if there is no support group."

Warmack had noticed in his seven years of visiting Tennessee that people there often got together to "jam" with their dulcimers.

So, about 18 months ago, the Blue Prairie Dulcimer Club was formed.

"When I first started, I played all alone in my own home, but (now the club is in operation) it's kind of fun to sit down and play as a group."

Warmack usually plays a three-string dulcimer for "chording" because the third string is easier to hold down.

"On a four-string, the third and fourth strings are close together and held down as one which is more difficult than holding down a single string. If you're picking, then the four-string gives you more variations."

Even if you don't care to play it, a dulcimer -- particularly the ones made from wood -- makes an interesting home decorations, Warmack noted.

Warmack himself now owns three dulcimers and is working on building a kit model.

"You don't have to spend a whole lot of money. While a good custom-built runs around $300, you can get a good kit for around $160."

Or you can simply make your own out of scraps of wood or even cardboard. That and strings of 1/12,000, 1/14,000 or 1/22,000 diameter puts you into the dulcimer music business, Warmack said.

"D-A-D and D-A-A are two common tunings," he added.

Making their first appearance as a club at the Harkin Store were Warmack, Donna and Jerry Ewert, Marci Fast, Marion Carrison, Shirly Lieske and keyboardist June Hughes, all of Mankato. Lorraine Dunn of Winnebago has been a regular dulcimer performer at the Harkin Store in the past.

"We have been practicing once a month on the second Monday at the Hilltop United Methodist Church at 7 p.m. We're planning to go to twice-a-month practices soon. Anyone out there is welcome to join us," Warmack said.

"If anyone is interested in learning to play the dulcimer, tell them that they can contact us at 507-388-7544 or billw@mnic.net."

Next Sunday, the Harkin Store will be the scene of a buttonbox jamboree, and the store will be open Friday, Saturday and Sunday during the first two Oktoberfest weekends in October, Manager Opal Dewanz said.