Post by Dick Glasgow on Jul 16, 2007 13:20:03 GMT 1
The Tennessee Music Box
Tennessee Music Box
When one thinks of an Appalachian dulcimer, the vision is usually of a light, delicate, and graceful instrument featuring hourglass or teardrop curves and made of thin hardwoods such as walnut or cherry.
These may have been the common styles in the mountainous regions of West Virginia, Virginia, and Kentucky, but the farming communities of southern Middle Tennessee produced an instrument that found its grace in the sound it made rather than its outward appearance.
While the reasons for this development are still in part a mystery, the instruments themselves speak of the ingenuity of the builders and the importance of music in the everyday life of Tennessee's pioneers.
Tennessee Music Box - History, Mystery and Revival
When one thinks of an Appalachian dulcimer, the vision is usually of a light, delicate, and graceful instrument featuring hourglass or teardrop curves and made of thin hardwoods such as walnut or cherry.
These may have been the common styles in the mountainous regions of West Virginia, Virginia, and Kentucky, but the farming communities of southern Middle Tennessee produced an instrument that found its grace in the sound it made rather than its outward appearance.
While the reasons for this development are still in part a mystery, the instruments themselves speak of the ingenuity of the builders and the importance of music in the everyday life of Tennessee's pioneers.
Tennessee Music Box - History, Mystery and RevivalThe Sounds of the Tennessee Music Box
Over 100 years ago, farming communities in middle Tennessee produced a folk instrument unique to the area.
Similar to a dulcimer, the instrument -- called a Tennessee music box -- had a crude appearance but a rich, full tone.
In the final part of Performance Today's series on the connection between folk music from around the world and western classical music, Stephen Seifert performs Conni Ellisor's concerto for the instrument, Blackberry Winter.
Paul Gambill conducts the Nashville Chamber Orchestra.
*Listen to the story, and hear the Tennessee music box being played at:
The Sounds of the Tennessee Music Box
Over 100 years ago, farming communities in middle Tennessee produced a folk instrument unique to the area.
Similar to a dulcimer, the instrument -- called a Tennessee music box -- had a crude appearance but a rich, full tone.
In the final part of Performance Today's series on the connection between folk music from around the world and western classical music, Stephen Seifert performs Conni Ellisor's concerto for the instrument, Blackberry Winter.
Paul Gambill conducts the Nashville Chamber Orchestra.
*Listen to the story, and hear the Tennessee music box being played at:
The Sounds of the Tennessee Music BoxTennessee Music Box
Most authorities on the Mountain Dulcimer credit it origins to the Scheitholt, a zither type instrument found in colonial Pennsylvania.
Each region of Appalachia seems to have taken that basic instrument and added their own style and characteristics.
In Virginia the instrument took the single bout shape common to the teardrop.
In Kentucky it took the double bout shape or hourglass design.
In south central Tennessee, the instrument retained its rectangular shape and became known as a Tennessee Music Box.
Its simple lines and big, deep soundbox produce a beautiful sounding instrument with a strong, rich voice.
Tennessee Music Box - Greibhaus Instruments
Most authorities on the Mountain Dulcimer credit it origins to the Scheitholt, a zither type instrument found in colonial Pennsylvania.
Each region of Appalachia seems to have taken that basic instrument and added their own style and characteristics.
In Virginia the instrument took the single bout shape common to the teardrop.
In Kentucky it took the double bout shape or hourglass design.
In south central Tennessee, the instrument retained its rectangular shape and became known as a Tennessee Music Box.
Its simple lines and big, deep soundbox produce a beautiful sounding instrument with a strong, rich voice.
Tennessee Music Box - Greibhaus Instruments
