In our “Worship On the Grounds” service this week, our service was going to be bookended with music by “The Southwind Players,” a hammer dulcimer quartet consisting of Jim Moore, Victoria Scarborough, Alice Showalter, and Peggy Tudor. Mother Nature, however, had alternate plans, and the rainy conditions are making the service impossible. Through the wonders of technology, however, the music they had intended to offer live will be in the YouTube service.
The dulcimer group will play three pieces in the service,
two familiar hymns – “Come, Christians, Join to Sing” and “Amazing Grace” – and
a tradition canon, “Dona Nobis Pacem.” This canon is quite possibly familiar to many
also. The Latin text of the canon translates to, “Grant us peace.” I certainly need
these words streaming through my mind these days!
When I began to think about hammer dulcimers this week, I
quickly realized I knew next to nothing about them. What are their origins?
When were they first made? And where? How are the strings set-up on the
instrument? Like a piano? Like a guitar? Why do they have the trapezoidal
shape? I could go on . . .
Luckily, the online Smithsonian Institution answered many of
my questions. Perhaps you will find this article interesting as well. Don’t
miss the links on the side of the page. Enjoy!
No comments:
Post a Comment