Carol of the Bells / God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen – A Celtic Christmas Single
Dec 23, 2010 Announcements, Recordings
A Celtic Christmas Single on Hammer Dulcimer
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Total Track Time: 4:29
MP3 Download – $1.25
Comfort and Joy, (Christmas music) by Ted Yoder
Dec 17, 2010 Announcements, Recordings
Check out (and buy, of course) Ted Yoder’s new Christmas release, Comfort and Joy. Excellent recording! Rhythmic, melodic, with a modern-pop twist. Very, very cool.
GET IT.
Desire for Departure review by Matthew Warnock
Dec 15, 2010 Announcements, Recordings
The Hammer Dulcimer is often associated with down-home folk music, the type played around the table in a log cabin up in the hills of Colorado or Tennessee. Its folksy nature has allowed it to become a mainstay in the traditional music of America, ingrained as deep as the harmonica, acoustic guitar and mandolin. While the Hammer Dulcimer is usually partnered in our collective conscious with simple, folk-based melodies and harmony, when this stringed-percussion instrument is placed in the hand of a master performer its simplistic character is transformed into an instrument of seemingly endless possibilities, an instrument that more closely resembles a harp or piano than anything else.
Composer, arranger and performer Joshua Messick is one such virtuoso on the instrument, and his album Desire for Departure is a masterful collection of 14 songs that showcase the harmonic, melodic and tonal possibilities of the Hammer Dulcimer. Take the song “Flames of Joy” for instance. Here, Messick’s arpeggiated harmonic progression, countered with a reverb-tinged melody line, come together to sound more like a piano or harpsichord. What is truly captivating about his performance, on this song and the rest of the album, is how big Messick can make the Hammer Dulcimer sound. “Innocent Lament” is a great example of the wide range of timbres that Messick is able to coax out of his instrument. Accompanied by a native American sounding drum beat, as well as a Middle-Eastern inspired background phrase, Messick is able to carefully accent specific notes in the Dulcimer line that sound as if he is playing with two hands on a piano, rather than with mallets on a Dulcimer.
It is moments like this where Messick’s musicality shines through. Many virtuosos make their reputation by simply playing faster or more complex than their peers, but players such as Messick define their virtuosity through the subtle ways in which they manipulate the sound of their instrument. Messick is a composer and arranger of the highest caliber, skills that only accentuate his mastery of the Hammer Dulcimer, not take away from his playing in any way. Few people can write or play at the level that this Kansas resident does, and even fewer can do both during their musical careers.
While some people might shy away from buying an album of instrumental Hammer Dulcimer music because of their preconceived notions or previous experience with the instrument, Desire for Departure is not your typical folk-country Dulcimer album. Messick’s music is well-written, carefully arranged and performed at a world-class level, everything one would ask for in any album, regardless of the instrument or genre classification. Interestingly, the album has been classified by iTunes as being “Religious.” While it is true that Messick is a person of faith and his faith influences his music and compositions, this shouldn’t deter people who are not interested in Religious music from checking out this album. Regardless of one’s spiritual beliefs, or thoughts on Religious music, the songs on this record transcend any kind of categorization or genre. They are just good songs written from the heart.
Review by Matthew Warnock
Rating: 5 stars (out of 5)
About Stillness
Jun 17, 2009 Recordings
Stillness was released in 2004 after a year-and-a-half of preparation and work in a professional studio. Featuring some of the most difficult songs ever executed on the hammer dulcimer, Stillness is an exquisite showcase of Joshua’s musical artistry, showing Joshua’s passion for communicating the full range of emotion in each piece. Technically perfect, this is incredibly soothing music at its best.
Joshua states, “The hammer dulcimer is profoundly beautiful. I decided to create a CD that would help a person to relax after a long day, as well as demonstrate the versatility of the instrument. I wanted to branch away from the traditional folk and bluegrass music that is often associated with the hammer dulcimer and create a unique blend of varied instrumentation that would keep a person’s attention. It was amazing to hear how well the album came together when it was finished. I am grateful to God for helping me to ‘orchestrate’ Stillness.”
Stillness includes an outstanding cast of support musicians that include national finger-style guitar champion John Standefer and nationally recognized cellist Max Dyer. “God blessed me with some of the finest supporting musicians. Each performer on this CD is incredibly accomplished. I am grateful to them for contributing their talents and being dedicated to help make this recording exceptional,” relates Joshua. The instruments included are cello, guitar, flute, penny whistle, piccolo, French horn, bassoon, clarinet, and acoustic bass.
What the listeners say …
“The CD arrived today, and the music is beautiful. Thank you. I thought I was going to check it out while I did other chores tonight. Wrong. I wasn’t halfway through Beauty and the Beast before I had to sit down and immerse myself in the music.”
“I have sat down and listened to your music. I really enjoy it. More than you can imagine. Your music has an anointing to it that draws me to a quiet place to meet God”.
“I’m listening to Stillness for the second time. It’s a marvelous album and really shows what can be done with a hammer dulcimer.”
“Beautiful, Dude. Beautiful.I especially liked the classical stuff with your own unique spin. For example, Fur Elise. Weirdly cool. Very. I dug that one totally. The “extra” instrumentalists were very good, added positively to the mix, didn’t overpower the main reason for me listening (to hear the hammer dulcimer), and lended an additional facet of creativity that worked very well with the rest of your arrangements. Kudos to you for taking enough time to do it right.”
“I absolutely loved your “Stillness” CD! The music is so beautiful! It’s so inspiring to listen to the arrangements of the various songs. Keep of the good work!”
“I purchased the cd, Stillness, for myself in a little shop called Mountain Made Music in Nashville, Indiana. It’s a touristie type place with lots of little shops. In fact, my sister and I went in specifically to purchase dulcimer music, and listened to your cd, along with several others. I was struck with the uniqueness of your selections. Who knew Beauty & the Beast would be so lovely on dulcimer. My daughter heard me playing the cd and insisted we’d be fighting over it. Probably right.”