The jean ritchie story introduction through interviews and recordings, kets mountain born. Jean ritchie the dulcimer book folkcraft instruments. Jean ritchie has been an inspirational pioneer and advocate for the mountain dulcimer and it is a pity that the marketing of both these products could have been better. Jean ritchie, folk singer obituary musician who introduced the mountain dulcimer to the wider world and traced the appalachian ballads of her youth to britain jean ritchie. The book includes information on jean ritchie and her family, research on where the dulcimer came from or rather what other instruments it evolved from, how to tune it and play it traditionally, and includes some folk songs to introduce various modes. This book gives the entire background of this fascinating instrument. The dulcimer book by jean ritchie the dulcimer book music sales america. When jean ritchie, who has died aged 92, emerged on to the. Songs, tutorials, jam locations, builders, history. Anyone, regardless of musical experience, will be able to play the songs and tunes that jean.
Playing dulcimer with feathers playing dulcimers with feathers i had one of these a friend gave me. Jean ritchie sheet music and music books at sheet music plus. Hammered dulcimer s companion by phillip mason mel bay presents. Its a great time to upgrade your home music studio gear with the largest selection at. Find the latest tracks, albums, and images from jean ritchie. Born and raised in viper, kentucky, jean was the youngest in a musical family of fourteen children born to bailis and abigail ritchie. My second favorite to jeans classic is the appalachian dulcimer book by michael murphy, another long out of print but available online volume. This months exhibit featured items from the jean ritchie collection in the new york state library. Jean ritchie brought a mountain dulcimer out of the hills of kentucky to new york city where it was discovered by an entire new generation of musicians. This book teaches beginners how to tune a play the dulcimer, and features illustrations, drawings, and recollections of the dulcimer s local history. This book presents traditional and original blues tunes that have delighted his. This book teaches beginners how to tune and play the dulcimer, and features illustrations, drawings, and recollections of the dulcimers local history.
You will learn the basics of music, including tunings, modes, strums, accompaniment techniques and other essential knowledge. The dulcimer book jean ritchie history, instruction, sheet music. The dulcimer book by jean ritchie softcover sheet music. The jean ritchie story not only chronicles the life of one folk singer and songwriter, but also introduces viewers to broader issues regarding the role of the traditional musician in. Liner notes provide a complete transcription of jean s spoken instructions, along with a lengthy biography. For those of us who have a passion for this great instrument and the history that surrounds it, jean ritchie s dulcimer people is an essential source. Shop traditional mountain dulcimer taught by jean ritchie book jean ritchie. Jean ritchie s dulcimer people bridges the gap between the old time players and the folk revival. Britain, stemmed from ritchies playing, her tutorial the dulcimer book 1974. These include books of dulcimer music, books on dulcimer building and books on folk music throughout the world. Includes the words and music of 16 traditional songs such as go tell aunt rhodie, old joe clark, and pretty polly, plus tuning instructions for six modes. This book teaches beginners how to tune a play the dulcimer, and features illustrations, drawings, and recollections of the dulcimers local history.
When jean ritchie moved from eastern kentucky to new york city fortyodd years ago, she brought along 300 folk songs. Among others, she published the books a garland of mountain song 1953, singing family of the cumberlands 1955, the dulcimer book 1964, jean ritchie s swapping song book 1964, folk songs of the southern appalachians 1965, and jean ritchie s dulcimer people 1975. Not only does this book teach you how to play the instrument, but youll also learn how to tune it in multiple variations. Jean ritchie writes beautifully of her own history with the dulcimer, a history that any dulcimer lover will want to know. Jean ritchie december 8, 1922 june 1, 2015 was an american folk singer and appalachian dulcimer player. Youll find a wide selection of jean ritchie sheet music, songbooks, and music books at sheet music plus. This dulcimer method book offers clear, basic instructions for tuning and playing your instrument.
By 1949, ritchies playing of the appalachian dulcimer had become a hallmark of her. There are sixteen traditional songs with lyrics, as well as tuning. Fun with the dulcimer instruction book by virgil hughes. See all books authored by jean ritchie, including singing family of the cumberlands, and the dulcimer book dulcimer, and more on. The dulcimer book jean ritchie a clear instruction method on how to tune and play the dulcimer.
This book gives the traditional background and history of the moutain dulcimer in her kentucky hometown, as well as its distant ancestors in europe. Barbie probertwright, jean ritchie, anna troberg translator 3. Roy book binder has been singing, playing guitar, and writing songs since the 60s. Being a book about the threestringed appalachian dulcimer, including some ways of tuning and playing, some recollections in its local history in perry and knott counties, kentucky, some observations on the probable origins of the instrument in the old countries of europe, with plentiful photographic illustrations and drawings, and with words and music for some sixteen songs from the ritchie family of kentucky. May i just say that i love how beautiful and morbid and often highly amusing folk songs are. Dulcimer experiences, news, memories, snapshots, playing styles, tuning an. Anyone, regardless of musical experience, will be able to play the songs and tunes that jean teaches.
Jean ritchie the dulcimer book, 1974 and others have speculated that the appalachian dulcimer is related to similar european instruments like the langeleik and scheitholt. It focuses more on history than specific instructions, so this book would be better as a supplement to another instruction book. The dulcimer book was written by the acclaimed mother of the dulcimer jean ritchie. Jean ritchie singing shady grove and playing the mountain dulcimer in the 1960s, folk music became a major force in american popular music. George did the finishing and jean did the tuning and soon they had sold 300 dulcimers. Open library is an open, editable library catalog, building towards a web page for every book ever published. The dulcimer book by jean ritchie 1967 oak publications. Her career formed a kind of bridge between the traditional and modern forms of folk music. As well as work songs and ballads, jean knew hymns from the regular baptist church she attended in jeff, kentucky. Jean ritchie december 8, 1922 june 1, 2015 was an american folk music singer, songwriter, and appalachian dulcimer player.
She recorded numerous albums for folkways, elektra, and many other. Traditional mountain dulcimer taught by jean ritchie book. There are sixteen traditional songs with lyrics, as well as tuning instructions for six modes. The dulcimer book by jean ritchie 1992, paperback for. Singing them in her pretty, untrained voice while accompanying herself on mountain dulcimer, she sparked a nationwide. Included are chapters on playing countermelody, fingerpicking, and singing with the dulcimer. It also includes music and lyrics for 16 songs from the ritchie family of kentucky.
Traditional mountain dulcimer by jean ritchie, other. Jean ritchie the appalachian dulcimer an instructional. One of the classics, the dulcimer book by jean ritchie is not only a good purchase but is also a great classic in the literature for the mountain dulcimer. Perhaps no one has done more to popularize the mountain dulcimer than the great jean ritchie. This site contains a lot of information about the appalachain mountain dulcimer and the hammered dulcimer. The dulcimer book by jean ritchie this book teaches beginners how to tune a play the dulcimer, and features illustrations, drawings, and recollections of the. The dulcimer bookjean ritchie hobgoblin music has provided musicians with otherwise hard to find folk instruments, celtic instruments and acoustic instruments for 40 years, and has grown to be the largest source in europe, and probably the world. Box set which comes with lyric and instructional booklet, and with jean ritchie s the dulcimer book printed by oak publications isbn 0825600162. Through interviews and recordings, kets mountain born.
Playing a traditional way to play the instrument is to lay it flat on the lap and pluck or strum. Jean ritchies dulcimer people by jean ritchie editor. I have always loved jean ritchies music and her way of teaching the dulcimer is very traditional. She writes knowingly and well about many dulcimer players and makers, providing background information that can only come from someone who knew these people.