Up until now, if I was asked what my all-time favorite song was I would have said “Ode to Joy”. Now I’m not sure that’s the right answer!
This past weekend at the East TN BP Gathering the comment was made that a piece of sheet music titled “Ode to Joy” was really called "Joyful, Joyful". This raised my curiosity and I did a little research.
Beethoven wrote his 9th and final complete symphony over a 7 year period, 1818-1824. By that time he was considered totally deaf (some…
ContinueAdded by Donna Malus on November 7, 2013 at 5:32pm — 2 Comments
If I was still in school and the teacher asked me what I did on my summer vacation, I'd have to tell her about Violet.
Violet is a doll I made. She is all crochet and has her own bowed psaltery. As time allows I'm planning on making her some friends. Some of her friends will play bowed psaltery and some will play other folk instruments.
I hope you like her. She was very fun to create.…
ContinueAdded by Donna Malus on October 6, 2013 at 3:53pm — 9 Comments
A friend of mine loves to tease and poke fun at the bowed psaltery and my playing (maybe it's more about my skills then anything else ). It's not his type of music so I get it and ultimately he is supportive of my musical endeavors.
Recently he was at the airport and heard a familiar sound wafting through the air in an underground tunnel. He looked around and saw a woman playing a bowed psaltery with a jar out for donations. He approached her and asked if her…
ContinueAdded by Donna Malus on May 21, 2011 at 9:48am — 5 Comments
Our member, Jon Williams, made this comment and I think most, if not all, of us here feel this way. Jon, I hope you don't mind my quoting you.
" I am focusing on Bowed Psaltries because I can play them better, love the sound, the looks, the way it sounds like a violin in a cathedral. I have seen people shed a tear after playing Amazing Grace for the first time. I still love a well played mountain dulcimer but the bowed psaltry touches my heart. Also I can teach anyone able to breathe…
ContinueAdded by Donna Malus on March 26, 2011 at 9:11am — No Comments
Having friends to play music with is a gift.
Some of us are lucky enough to live in an area rich with music, some of us may be in such an area and not know it and of course some of us might just be out of…
ContinueAdded by Donna Malus on October 26, 2010 at 1:30pm — No Comments
I'm here in beautiful West VIriginia at Tamarack. The practice began this morning and we've taken a break for lunch. What a fun morning trying on a few of the songs we're scheduled to perform on Sunday. It's wonderful to be surrounded by people who love music and the bowed psaltery, very good energy in the group!
We have beginners to advanced players and we're working well together, it's comfortable and there are lots and lots of smiling faces.
Tamarack itself is a beautiful…
ContinueAdded by Donna Malus on April 16, 2010 at 12:03pm — 4 Comments
Here is a link to a video of my music teacher and Psaltery Strings member, Dona Benkert, at the Folk-Lore Center run by Dona and her husband Dan.
Please take note of the adorable American Eskimo, Biscuit the Wonder Dog! She is a music critic for sure!
Thanks for all your patience and laughter during lessons Dona !!!…
ContinueAdded by Donna Malus on March 9, 2010 at 7:30pm — 1 Comment
There are a lot of wonderful festivals and folk music events in this country (except where I live) but from my perspective, never enough and there will probably never be too many. Tish and Greg Westman are adding another one this year and hoping to make it an annual event.
The 1st Annual Bowed Psaltery Symphony will take place at Tamarack in Beckley, West Va. on April 16,17 and 18. If you're not familiar with Tamarack, here's a blurb from their web site and a link for more info:…
ContinueAdded by Donna Malus on February 21, 2010 at 7:22pm — 4 Comments
I was sending Richard a message today and I used the term psaltrist. At that point it dawned on me that I had no idea how a psaltery player would be referred to other than as a "psaltery player".
Dictionary.com and other searches found nothing for psaltrist, psalterist, psalterer or psaltress. There were a couple casual references using psaltrist and psalterer, but nothing that leads me to believe there is a specific suffix used for…
ContinueAdded by Donna Malus on February 8, 2010 at 6:28pm — 9 Comments
Amplified Psaltery with Cello Strings built by Rick Long
This video is a personal favorite because it shows a unique type of bowed psaltery with a gorgeous sound. When I heard it I broke out in goose bumps!
Spring Creek Psalteries - Sharon & Terry Kirby
http://www.springcreekpsalteries.com/
330-323-0618
From the Wood - Wayne Gaydos
http://fromthewoodsinstruments.com/
to see his work visit
http://shop.indianaartisan.org/collections/musical-instruments
Waynie Psaltery - Wayne Simms
http://www.wayniepsaltery.com/
Prairie Psaltery - Richard Celata
http://www.prairiepsaltery.com/
Loon Song Psalteries-Charlie Marshall
http://www.loonsongpsalteries.com/
New Tradition Dulcimers- Dan Daniels
http://www.newtraditionsdulcimers.com/index.html
Psalteries by Dave- Dave Lucas
Jon Williams Psalteries
(386) 853-0944
Westman Instruments - Tish & Greg Westman
http://www.westmaninstruments.com
Ringing Strings - Rick Long
http://ringingstrings.com
Michael J King Instrumetns - Diatonic Psalteries
http://www.michaeljking.com/psalterymaking.htm
Inspired Instruments – Carol and Joe Esch
http://www.windridgefarm.us/bowedpsaltery.htm
James Jones Instruments
http://www.jamesjonesinstruments.com/bowedpsaltery/bowedpsaltery.html
Omega Strings – Richard Spencer
http://www.omegastrings.com/
Master Works Bowed Psalteries - Russell Cook
http://masterworksok.com/
Paul G.Sykes - MS
Located in Hattiesburg
Contact Paul at
pgsykes1@hotmail.com
or call him at
601-583-4115
Gregg Schneeman - California
Contact Gregg here on Psaltery Strings
greggschneeman@psalterystrings.com
Peter Tommerup - California
San Francisco Bay Area
Bowed Psaltery and other Instruments
408-867-4324
ptommerup@juno.com
Celeste Howard Ray
Bowed Psaltery lessons via Skype
347-796-4484
Skype name celesteray88
Maureen Barnes - Illinois
Bowed Psaltery lessons in Bloomington, IL
309-828-7957
dulcimergal98@yahoo.com
http://www.dulcimerdreams.com/
Dona Benkert -
Illinois
Lessons at Old Town School of Folk Music, Chicago, IL
Phone: 773.728.6000
& Folk-Lore Center, Warrenville, IL
Phone: 630.393.1247
http://www.folk-lorecenter.com/
Tish Westman - West Virginia
Lessons at Tamarack, Beckley, WV. Wednesday workshops also available for individual classes and to teach at festivals.
Sunday "Jam" 3:30 to 6:00. All instruments welcome, play mostly Old Time, Celtic & Gospel Music, not opposed to trying any tune called, once did a rap on Bowed Psalteries.
1-304-575-0998
tishwestman@yahoo.com
www.westmaninstruments.com
Rick Long - Tennessee
Lessons at Rick's home/workshop in Clinton, 30 mins N of Knoxville
(865) 660-4026
http://www.ringingstrings.com/lessons.html
Karla Armstrong - Pennsylvania
Karla plays a variety of instruments and does workshops as well. Please visit her web site for additional information or contact her via the web site or the information below.
(717) 632-8099
karlaarms@upontheharp.com
http://upontheharp.com
Carol Esch - Kentucky
Lessons in Carol's home/workshop south of Lexington.
606-676-0128
esch@qx.net
http://www.windridgefarm.us/bowedpsaltery.htm
Honey Smith Walls - Florida
e-mail Honey for more info honey@offthewalls.us
Melbourne, FL
http://www.offthewalls.us/Psaltery.htm
Visit Friends of the Mountain Dulcimer
© 2022 Created by Donna Malus.
Powered by