Hammered Dulcimer Recording From 1908!

Here’s an Edison cylinder recording of a hammered dulcimer solo recorded in 1908! No big, fancy dulcimer with extend range, additional chromatic notes or damper pedals here, just the skill of a player on an instrument that sounds like it had between 9 and 12 treble courses and possibly a smaller number of bass courses.

I am increasingly drawn to smaller, simpler hammered dulcimers. At first I missed the lower bass notes but there is a sense of freedom, ease and intimacy I experience when playing a simpler, smaller instrument.

William Moriarity – Hammerd Dulcimer Solo – “Ain’t Dat A Shame Medley”

[audio:AintDatAShameMedley1908.mp3]