What is a Hammered Dulcimer?

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 My hammered dulcimer, built by Jerry Reed Smith, Song of the Wood Dulcimers

 

The hammered dulcimer is the western version of one of the oldest and most basic of instruments, originating in the Middle East in about 900 A.D.  It is a trapezoidal wooden box with two long bridges, and 60-some strings spanning across them, played by little mallets, or "hammers".  It is not the same instrument as the Appalachian or mountain dulcimer (played by Joni Mitchell, Jean Ritchie and others), though they share the name "dulcimer".  It is, however, related to an instrument called the psaltery (similar in appearance, but strings are plucked rather than hammered), and some believe that the psaltery and the hammered dulcimer were the forerunners of the early piano.

 

The sound of the hammered dulcimer is captivating, as it has both a soft, harp-like ethereal sound as well as a percussive tone (since it is played with hammers).  Versions of the hammered dulcimer are played throughout the world, from China through the Mideast and Asia, Central and Eastern Europe, the British Isles, and more.  They are often tuned differently and have a different tonal character but are true to the meaning of the word "dulcimer" - or "sweet melody".

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Though this instrument has been around for centuries, it became re-popularized in the United States in the early 20th century.  Among its enthusiasts was Henry Ford, who in the 1920s formed "Henry Ford's Early American Orchestra", consisting of a violin, a double bass or tuba, a cimbalom and a hammered dulcimer!  The late 20th century through today has ushered in a strong revival of the instrument.