Chromatic or not?

[telynor54]

I would like to get a bigger dulcimer with a larger compass. Is it worth buying a large chromatic? I play folk but would like to play some Baroque music too. I find that most British makers seem to use plywood soundboards ( or laminated, as they prefer to call it) but I feel I would like a solid wood soundboard. Does anyone have any thoughts about makers and woods for the soundboard? Does anyone have a particular preference for certain woods and string layouts? As I will probably have to order from the US any information would help in deciding what to buy and not make an expensive mistake!
Thanks,
Telynor54.

[Nikita]

Hi Telynor.
If you want to play Baroque, you'll need definitely a chromatic instrument. The Baroque HD "stars" like Margit Ubelacker play on sazburger hackbrett, which are fully chromatic, but with a layout that doesn't allow a great range. Here in Switzerland we have hackbretts with all the noted from three to four and a half octaves... and thay're built with a solid wood sound board. Check those sites : www.saitenart.ch, or hackbrett.ch for a more traditionnal built. But then they are very expensevie (swiss prices...). If you're in the USA, you should find a maker who can do it for you. But the best thing would be to rent or borrow a chromatic instrument, to try it. As for strings layouts, everyone will boast his is the best... I do think once you've got the habit, it worrks anyway : some key will flow nicely, some will be murder... I play on a swiis traditional layout, but for chromatic stuff, actually the chinese Yang Quin layout is very interseting... and they play Bach on it !
Good luck and Happy new year ;D

[gypsy]

Your dulcimer can NEVER be too big. Figure out what you can afford, add 25%, and get one that will last ye.

[ceadach]

Hello Telynor!

While there is quite a bit of earlier music from the medieval and renasisance periods you can play on a standard fifth interval dulcimer with little hassle, if you are serious about playing baroque music you will need a chromatic instrument.

The Hackbrett is great option to consider. They are "user friendly" and the tone of the hackbrett is well suited to this style of music. Perhaps this is because the modern hackbrett evolved from the types of dulcimers commonly used in the baroque period in central Europe. Moreover, decent instruments are available from several makers worldwide and learning material is not terribly hard to find for it.

As Nikita points out there are a number of different layouts that you can consider. Each layout has it's pros and cons but are based around similiar ideas.

Remember too, the range of baroque violin was only about three octaves from a fourth below middle c. and much of this music works well on dulcimer, so you don't feel you need a giant instrument straight away.

There too are a number of other modern chromatic dulcimers available from different makers, like the "piano dulcimer" by Rizzetta and Blanton or James Jones "Linear Chromatic" instruments. The tsimbali and cimbalom family of dulcimers are also capable of playing this type of music. I have yet to hear baroque music played on these instruments however; perhaps others on the list can weigh in on them.

If you really want to go all out, you can investigate reproductions of baroque dulcimers. They sound much like a small hackbrett retuned to one of the early temperments. There are several makers of them now. Gillian Alcock of Austrailia makes lovely antique style "salterio" amongst the other types of dulcimers she builds.

www.netspeed.com.au/gillian.alcock/

Chad