Fort New Salem Foundation
Dulcimer Festival
August 8-10, 2008
General Information
Fort New Salem is a representative log house settlement of the frontier period (1800-1900) of West Virginia. It is located in Salem, WV on US Route 50 between Parkersburg and Clarksburg. It is currently owned and operated by the Fort New Salem Foundation.
The dulcimer weekend features hands-on music workshops during the day for all levels of players. The workshops will be primarily on mountain dulcimer and hammered dulcimer with additional workshops on penny whistle, bowed psaltery and others. There will be a coffee house style concert featuring many of the workshop leaders on Friday evening. The Saturday night concert will feature Stephen Humphries on Hammered Dulcimer and Shelley Stevens on mountain dulcimer. Our workshop leaders/performers are experienced musicians from Ohio, West Virginia and beyond. They include Marge Diamond, Jeff Fedan, Guy George, Heidi Muller, Patti Looman, Jerry Rockwell, Bill Schilling, Linda Sigismondi, AbNormal Sines, Steve K. Smith, Shelley Stevens, Steve Stapleton, and Tish Westman.
Vendors will be available throughout the weekend to sell dulcimers and supplies. They include JCR Music, Timbrehill Dulcimers (Paul Conrad), Steven Stapleton and Winsome Expressions. There will also be books and CDs available from many of the workshop leaders.
Hotels are available in Bridgeport at the junction of US 50 and I79. A limited
number of spaces will be available for small campers on site. Please register
early.
Pre-Register by Mail (discount if by August 1, 2008)
Festival Information: Linda Sigismondi, Festival Director, 740-446-9244, lsigismondi@att.net
Note: Subject to revision as needed!
Friday, August 8, 2008
Times
Times
5:00
to
7:00
Registration
5:00
to
7:00
7:30
to
9:30
Coffee House Concert
Workshop Leaders: Marge Diamond, Jeff Fedan, Guy George, Heidi Muller, Bill Schilling, Linda Sigismondi, AbNormal Sines, Steve K. Smith, Tish Westman
Front Porch Stage
7:30
to
9:30
9:45
to
?
Late Night Jam Session
Linda Sigismondi/Bill Schilling
9:45
to
?
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Times
Old Kitchen
Farmhouse
McIntyres
Basketshop
Times
9:00
to
9:50
TBA
TBA
TBA
TBA
9:00
to
9:50
10:00
to
10:50
TBA
TBA
TBA
TBA
10:00
to
10:50
11:00
to
11:50
TBA
TBA
TBA
TBA
11:00
to
11:50
12:00
to
1:00
Lunch
12:00
to
1:00
1:00
to
1:50
TBA
TBA
TBA
TBA
1:00
to
1:50
2:00
to
2:50
TBA
TBA
TBA
TBA
2:00
to
2:50
3:00
to
3:50
TBA
TBA
TBA
TBA
3:00
to
3:50
4:00
to
4:50
TBA
TBA
TBA
TBA
4:00
to
4:50
5:00
to
7:00
Dinner
5:00
to
7:00
7:30
to
9:30
Evening Concert
Stephen Humphries and Shelley Stevens
Stage
7:30
to
9:30
9:45
to
?
Late Night Jam Session
Linda Sigismondi/Bill Schilling
9:45
to
?
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Old Kitchen
Farmhouse
McIntyres
Basketshop
9:30
to
10:20
Song Circle
Patty Looman
9:30
to
10:20
10:30
to
11:20
TBA
TBA
TBA
TBA
10:30
to
11:20
11:30
to
12:30
Lunch
11:30
to
12:30
12:30
to
1:20
12:30
to
1:20
1:30
to
2:20
TBA
TBA
TBA
TBA
1:30
to
2:20
2:45
to
3:15
All Participant Finale
Linda Sigismondi/Bill Schilling
2:45
to
3:15
Note: Subject to revision as needed!
5:00-7:00 Registration
7:30 - 9:30
Coffee House Concert
Workshop Leaders: Marge Diamond, Jeff Fedan, Guy George, Heidi Muller, Bill Schilling, Linda Sigismondi, AbNormal Sines, Steve K. Smith, Tish Westman
Meeting HOuse
9:45-? Friday Night Jam
Saturday
Abbreviations:
Saturday, 9:00 A.M. -9:50 A.M. Workshops
TBA
Saturday, 10:00 A.M. -10:50 A.M. Workshops
TBA
Saturday, 11:00 A.M. -11:50 A.M. Workshops
TBA
Saturday, 12:00 P.M. -1:00 P.M. Lunch
Saturday, 1:00 P.M. -1:50 P.M. Workshops
TBA
Saturday, 2:00 P.M. -2:50 P.M. Workshops
TBA
Saturday, 3:00 P.M. -3:50 P.M. Workshops
TBA
Saturday, 4:00 P.M. -4:50 P.M. Workshops
TBA
Saturday 7:30-9:30
Stephen Humphries and Shelley Stevens
Front Porch Stage
Saturday, 9:45 P.M. -?, Late Night Jam
Steve K. Smith at late night jam.
Sunday
Sunday, 9:30 A.M. to 10:20 A.M. Song Circle
Song Circle - This is a time to gather on Sunday morning and share some music in an informal session. Each person in the circle will be given a chance to play a song, request a song or to just listen.
Patty Looman leading Song Circle.
Sunday, 10:30 A.M. -11:20 A.M. Workshops
TBA
Sunday, 11:30 P.M. -12:20 P.M. Lunch
Sunday, 12:30 P.M. -1:20 P.M. Workshops
TBA
Sunday 1:30-2:20 Workshops
TBA
Sunday, 2:45-3:15 Finale
Finale - The festival will conclude with an all-participant gathering in which everyone is invited to join in to sing and play as we end the festival in song and perhaps harmony.
Bill Schilling and Linda Sigismondi leading finale at Dulcimer Festival 1995 with help from David Schnaufer on right
2008 Featured Performers
Hammered Dulcimer
Stephen Humphries
Stephen Humphries, 2007 National Hammered Dulcimer Champion, is quickly becoming one of America’s premier hammered dulcimer soloists and clinicians. Stephen recently completed his time as a student at Presbyterian College in Clinton, South Carolina. There he earned his Bachelor of Arts in Music with an emphasis in Percussion studies. With this education, along with previous study under Mark Wade (1998 National Hammered Dulcimer Champion), Stephen brings a solid percussive, classical, and contemporary approach to the hammered dulcimer.
At present, Stephen has released four recordings: By the Pond, Landrum &
Humphries (with guest artist Dan Landrum), Let Earth Receive Her King, and Hosegrass.
His recordings have been featured in multiple issues of Dulcimer Players News
(www.dpnews.com), and his transcriptions and articles will be featured in June
of 2008 on Mel Bay’s DulcimerSessions.com.
Mountain Dulcimer
Shelly Stevens
Shelley Stevens has been playing music for most of her life. She began piano lessons when she was 6 years old and progressed to classical finger style guitar when she was in college in the 60’s. Shelley was introduced to the Appalachian lap dulcimer in 1984 and has been in love with the instrument ever since. She has arranged music of many styles to the instrument and has taught workshops at festivals in the Eastern US including Appalachian State University at Boone, NC, Morehead University at Morehead, KY, Ozark Folk Center at Mountain View, AK, Shady Grove Dulcimer Camp at Urbana University in Urbana, OH, Heritage Dulcimer Camp in Kansas City, MO and Kentucky Music Week at Bardstown, KY. Shelley also teaches all levels privately.
Shelley’s first dulcimer tablature book “O’Carolan Harp Tunes
for the Mountain Dulcimer” was published by Mel Bay Publications in 1993
and she has published other books through Tweetwater Productions. Among these
are “The Three String Orchestra Volumes I and II” dulcimer books
of all classical music arrangements and “The Baker’s Dozen”
a series of dulcimer tablature books. In 1998 her book “Stephen Foster
for the Mountain Dulcimer” was published by Mel Bay Publications. Shelley
was also included in Mel Bay’s “2000 Dulcimer” compendium
and Susan Trump's “Masters of the Mountain Dulcimer Volume 2”.
In 2004 Shelley completed her first solo album entitled "Songs of Life,
Love and Laughter" which includes music from Classical to Country &
Ragtime to Rock as well as music to tickle your funny-bone! This is an enhanced
album which contains photos and links to her
website and email.
In 2006 Shelley completed a book unlocking the secrets of the One 1/2 fret entitled
"Using the One 1/2 Fret". This book is a necessity for anyone who
has the extra fret and is struggling with how to make the most of it.
In 2007 Shelley saw the need to "rescue" baritone dulcimers that were
languishing unused in closets and under beds . To bring them out to the jam
sessions she wrote "Jamming with the Baritone Dulcimer in the key of D"
using the ADA tuning.
Shelley is a founding member of SWEETWATER, a trio of women who have played
and sung their way across the United States, Canada, Ireland and the British
Isles. They have recorded several albums on their Tweetwater Productions label.
As well as doing lead and harmony vocals, Shelley plays several instruments
with SWEETWATER including the mountain dulcimer, stand-up bass and guitar. Shelley
also performs as a solo artist and with other bands.As of March 2008 Sweetwater
is no longer performing. It was a 22 year ride and it was a GOOD ONE!!
2008 Workshop Leaders
Marge Diamond began playing mountain dulcimer in the mid eighties
with virtually no music background but tons of enthusiasm. Through attending
dulcimer workshops and getting in touch with the playing styles of established
dulcimer players from all over the country, she found the greatest tool for
making friends and having a great time. That is what she teaches others to do.
Her early efforts emphasized the playing of fiddle tunes and taking part in
a square dance band, ‘The Bentwood Rockers’. She then moved on to
playing songs that required a little more arranging. Currently Marge plays with
“The Oberlin Dulcimer group”. Marge has performed and taught dulcimer
workshops since 1987. She has been on hand teaching and performing at all of
the Dulci-More festivals, at the past 13 Fort New Salem Festivals, at several
of the Kent State Folk Festivals and has been on hand for some of the COFF festivals.
Marge has one recording “Beyond Cabbage” which is now available
on CD. She also sells T-shirts featuring original dulcimer and other instrument
designs. Marge's Homepage
Jeff Fedan lives in Masontown, WV and learned to play the hammered dulcimer from his teacher and mentor, Patty Looman, who has given him the gift of music. He is especially interested in the old time repertoire of northern West Virginia, the music of Worley Gardner and Russell Fluharty and others. He was once a West Virginia Folk Arts Apprentice with Patty Looman through the Augusta Heritage Center at Davis and Elkins College. He is the founder and co-organizer of "PattyFest," the old-time music festival held annually in Morgantown as a tribute to Patty Looman."
Guy George from Cleveland, Ohio, is a rhythmic, melodic hammered dulcimer player with a definite jazz influence to his playing style. Guy comes from a background in jazz and performance on the saxophone, having studied at Berklee College of Music in Boston; honing his skills playing with many jazz influenced musicians in the Boston and New York area. He has settled outside Cleveland, Ohio and presently plays hammered dulcimer, tenor, alto and soprano saxophones, flute, steel drum and keyboard. He tours throughout the United States and Canada performing and recording and teaching workshops on the hammered dulcimer and penny whistle. His most recent recordings are with Maddie MacNeil on her latest CD "As Time Goes By"; David Moran and Joe Morgan on their latest CD "I Wish They Hadn't Done That"; Tull Glazener on his latest CD "Plays Well With Others"; and his own creation "Dream Castle." Guy's Webpage
Patty Looman is a resident of Star City, West Virginia. She teaches and plays both lap and hammered dulcimers. She plays primarily Appalachian heritage tunes on both instruments. She is the 2007 recipient of the Vandalia award. Patty has been teaching and performing at the Fort New Salem festival since it's start in 1991. She also has several tunebooks and recordings available.
Heidi Muller has played and taught dulcimer for over 20 years. She is also a songwriter and guitarist with 6 CDs, three dulcimer songbooks and a book of oral histories and songs about Big Ugly Creek, WV named Patchwork Dreams. Her tune “Leaving the Methow” was included on the CD, Masters of the Mountain Dulcimer, Volume II. Heidi helps coordinate the Music Mentors dulcimer-teaching program for at-risk children in Charleston, WV. She has performed and taught at dozens of dulcimer festivals, folk festivals and music camps nationwide, and has been featured in Dulcimer Players News.
Jerry Rockwell is one of a handful of folk musicians who,
since about 1970, have been national and international advocates for the mountain
dulcimer. He is an accomplished player, teacher, and custom builder of this
American folk instrument. His currently available recordings are Favorite American
Folktunes (CD with extra Roots Project tracks recorded in 2000 featuring mostly
solos on historic mountain dulcimers), and The Blackbird and the Beggarman (CD
produced by Pete Sutherland originally for the Wizmak label in 1994). He has
also written instructional texts for mountain dulcimer, including four titles
available from JC Rockwell Music Publishing: Dulcimer Solos volume II, arrangements
for intermediate level players; Beginner's Tunebook in D-A-A and D-A-D, with
emphasis on rhythmic foundations; and Music Theory and Chord Reference for the
Mountain Dulcimer. Jerry concentrated on music theory and composition at Ohio
State University. He lives and works in the Appalachian foothills of southeast
Ohio, and regularly teaches mountain dulcimer at workshops across the country.
Jerry's Webpage
Bill Schilling has been singing and playing various folk instruments (at least 20 with variations of several) for over 35 years. He has performed for audiences of all ages in many settings from coast to coast. His high-energy performances may include songs, slide programs, and/or stories selected specifically for your group. His performances often involve members of your group with audience participation songs or activities. Bill often performs with others including Linda Sigismondi with whom he has recorded “Songs from Canal Days”. Since Bill believes that his music should be inclusive, he is involved in many groups which share music. A few of them are: Dulci-More: Folk & Traditional Musicians (Bill is the founder and leader (called Fearless Leader) of this group); the annual Dulci-More Festival (Bill is the director); the Canton Folk Song Society (Bill is one of the original members); the Dulcimer Society of Trumbull County (Bill has reorganized and leads this group); Folknet (Bill is a charter Executive Committee Member & Vice-President); and Folk Music at Weatherbury Farm (Bill is one of the originators of this program and a workshop leader). His “Dulci-More Public Domain Songbooks “(in several variations) are used by clubs around the country.Bill's Webpage
Linda Sigismondi is a mountain dulcimer player and folksinger
from Gallipolis, Ohio. Her music includes traditional Appalachian tunes, Celtic
tunes, folk dances, traditional and contemporary folk music, and original compositions
that feature environmental themes. Linda has played at Fort New Salem, West
Virginia, for the Harvest and Christmas Festivals for many years. She also organizes
the music and workshops for the Fort New Salem Dulcimer Festival. Linda has
taught workshops and performed at many folk music festivals in West Virginia,
Ohio and New York. Linda is also the leader of the Banks of the Ohio Dulcimer
Club in Gallipolis, Ohio. Linda has written several books (and companion CDs)
of mountain dulcimer tab and has recorded a CD, "Songs from Canal Days"
with Bill Schilling. Linda's Webpage
AbNormal Sines (Dayton) is now Gary and Joni Sines. The original trio taught and performed at various festivals throughout Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee since 1987. Gary is a guitarist and unreformed rocker. Joni has classical piano background, but was easily converted to a “folkie” as a “child of the 60’s”. In addition to teaching and performing with the group, she has been teaching dulcimer at the University of Dayton’s Institute for Learning in Retirement for the past 6 years. They have 2 recordings to their credit including many of their original songs. Joni has written 7 dulcimer instructional books.
Steve K. Smith is an instrumentalist on the Mountain Dulcimer who has been learning, composing, teaching, and recording since 1983. His music includes many styles, and comes from a variety of sources, from traditional folk tunes to Renaissance era English music, to the blues. Steve writes much of the music that appears on his recordings, and enjoys improvising melodies. Steve's homepage
Steve Stapleton has been handcrafting musical instruments since 2004 and selling them at festivals since 2006. He specializes in mountain dulcimers, bowed psalteries, plucked psalteries, and thumb pianos. Steve is from Columbus, Ohio. His instruments can be seen on his web site www.stapletonwoodcrafts.com, and he can be contacted at 614-457-9771
Tish Westman is a bowed psaltery player from Renick, WV, currently
living in Beckley at Tamarack. She and her husband Greg are one of five resident
artists currently at Tamarack, an arts and crafts retail facility in southern
WV. She demonstrates and sells bowed psalteries at many festivals in WV, OH
and surrounding states. She has written 5 books of repertoire for the bowed
psaltery. Westman Instruments Webpage
Links to Other Events
Pattyfest - A music gathering near Morgantown, WV to celebrate teacher/performer Patty Looman
Dulci-More - A festival in Lisbon, Ohio that features workshops and concerts on dulcimers and other instruments.
Last Updated: June 3, 2008