Jean ritchie books list of books by author jean ritchie. The jean ritchie story introduction through interviews and recordings, kets mountain born. May i just say that i love how beautiful and morbid and often highly amusing folk songs are. Included are chapters on playing countermelody, fingerpicking, and singing with the dulcimer. 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. 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. George did the finishing and jean did the tuning and soon they had sold 300 dulcimers. Her career formed a kind of bridge between the traditional and modern forms of folk music.
She writes knowingly and well about many dulcimer players and makers, providing background information that can only come from someone who knew these people. You will learn the basics of music, including tunings, modes, strums, accompaniment techniques and other essential knowledge. Jean ritchie sheet music and music books at sheet music plus. It focuses more on history than specific instructions, so this book would be better as a supplement to another instruction book. My second favorite to jeans classic is the appalachian dulcimer book by michael murphy, another long out of print but available online volume. The dulcimer book jean ritchie a clear instruction method on how to tune and play the dulcimer. The dulcimer book jean ritchie history, instruction, sheet music. 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. Singing them in her pretty, untrained voice while accompanying herself on mountain dulcimer, she sparked a nationwide.
Anyone, regardless of musical experience, will be able to play the songs and tunes that jean teaches. Hammered dulcimer s companion by phillip mason mel bay presents. Songs, tutorials, jam locations, builders, history. Jean ritchie december 8, 1922 june 1, 2015 was an american folk singer and appalachian dulcimer player. These include books of dulcimer music, books on dulcimer building and books on folk music throughout the world. The dulcimer book was written by the acclaimed mother of the dulcimer jean ritchie. 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. Traditional mountain dulcimer by jean ritchie, other. There are sixteen traditional songs with lyrics, as well as tuning instructions for six modes. 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.
Youll find a wide selection of jean ritchie sheet music, songbooks, and music books at sheet music plus. 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. Fun with the dulcimer instruction book by virgil hughes. Roy book binder has been singing, playing guitar, and writing songs since the 60s. 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. The dulcimer book by jean ritchie 1967 oak publications. Britain, stemmed from ritchies playing, her tutorial the dulcimer book 1974. Perhaps no one has done more to popularize the mountain dulcimer than the great jean ritchie. It also includes music and lyrics for 16 songs from the ritchie family of kentucky. Its a great time to upgrade your home music studio gear with the largest selection at. This dulcimer method book offers clear, basic instructions for tuning and playing your instrument. Jean ritchie writes beautifully of her own history with the dulcimer, a history that any dulcimer lover will want to know.
This book teaches beginners how to tune a play the dulcimer, and features. The dulcimer book by jean ritchie the dulcimer book music sales america. Born and raised in viper, kentucky, jean was the youngest in a musical family of fourteen children born to bailis and abigail ritchie. 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. I have always loved jean ritchies music and her way of teaching the dulcimer is very traditional. Dulcimer experiences, news, memories, snapshots, playing styles, tuning an. When jean ritchie, who has died aged 92, emerged on to the. Playing dulcimer with feathers playing dulcimers with feathers i had one of these a friend gave me. This book teaches beginners how to tune a play the dulcimer, and features illustrations, drawings, and recollections of the dulcimers local history. Shop traditional mountain dulcimer taught by jean ritchie book jean ritchie. This book gives the entire background of this fascinating instrument.
There are sixteen traditional songs with lyrics, as well as tuning. Find the latest tracks, albums, and images from 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. This months exhibit featured items from the jean ritchie collection in the new york state library. This site contains a lot of information about the appalachain mountain dulcimer and the hammered dulcimer. As well as work songs and ballads, jean knew hymns from the regular baptist church she attended in jeff, kentucky. Through interviews and recordings, kets mountain born. The dulcimer book by jean ritchie 1992, paperback for. This book teaches beginners how to tune and play the dulcimer, and features illustrations, drawings, and recollections of the dulcimers local history. 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 the dulcimer book folkcraft instruments. 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. This book presents traditional and original blues tunes that have delighted his. 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.
Box set which comes with lyric and instructional booklet, and with jean ritchie s the dulcimer book printed by oak publications isbn 0825600162. Liner notes provide a complete transcription of jean s spoken instructions, along with a lengthy biography. Barbie probertwright, jean ritchie, anna troberg translator 3. Open library is an open, editable library catalog, building towards a web page for every book ever published. 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. She recorded numerous albums for folkways, elektra, and many other. I found it to be both a basic but charm ii i am beginning to the mountain dulcimer, as well as a fine foundation for playing stringed instruments. Anyone, regardless of musical experience, will be able to play the songs and tunes that jean. 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. See all books authored by jean ritchie, including singing family of the cumberlands, and the dulcimer book dulcimer, and more on. 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. Playing a traditional way to play the instrument is to lay it flat on the lap and pluck or strum.
When jean ritchie moved from eastern kentucky to new york city fortyodd years ago, she brought along 300 folk songs. Jean ritchie s dulcimer people bridges the gap between the old time players and the folk revival. Jean ritchies dulcimer people by jean ritchie editor. By 1949, ritchies playing of the appalachian dulcimer had become a hallmark of her. Jean ritchie december 8, 1922 june 1, 2015 was an american folk music singer, songwriter, and appalachian dulcimer player.