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 TBA. Our workshop leaders/performers are experienced musicians from Ohio, West Virginia and beyond. They include TBA.

 

Vendors will be available throughout the weekend to sell dulcimers and supplies. They include TBA. 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.
 

Registration/Information

Pre-Register by Mail (discount if by August 1, 2008)

Festival Information: Linda Sigismondi, Festival Director, 740-446-9244, lsigismondi@att.net

 

Tentative Schedule of Events (Overview)

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:

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

TBA

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

TBA
TBA
TBA
TBA

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

 

Tentative Schedule of Events (Details)

Note: Subject to revision as needed!

Friday

5:00-7:00 Registration


7:30 - 9:30

Coffee House Concert

Workshop Leaders: TBA

Meeting HOuse


9:45-? Friday Night Jam

 

Saturday

Abbreviations:

MD=mountain dulcimer, also known as lap dulcimer
HD=hammered dulcimer
B=beginner-no previous playing experience required.
AB=advanced beginner-is familiar with tuning, knows some basic strumming and fingering and can play several songs with ease.
I=intermediate-knows basic chording and harmony playing, can read and learn from tablature or standard music notation, and has a growing repertoire of songs in a variety of styles.
A=advanced-knows a wide variety of techniques and songs, can read and learn from tablature or standard music notation, and has experience playing in a variety of situations.
ALL=workshop is open to any instrument and skill level.

 

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

TBA

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

TBA

 

 

Mountain Dulcimer

TBA

 

 

2007 Workshop Leaders (Note these have not been updated for 2008 but I anticpate many of them returning)

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."


Doug Felt is from Marengo, Ohio. Doug has taught classes on the mountain dulcimer, pennywhistle and bodhran for a number of years in the Midwest, South and East. He is an accomplished dulcimer player with a CD entitled "A Little of This and A Little of That". He and his wife, Lee Felt, sell dulcimer bags and other accessories at many festivals as well as online. Doug and Lee's Web Site.

 

Darlene Fox is from Salem, WV and enjoys being able to share her music in the area. She has been playing hammered dulcimer for several years under the apprenticeship of Patty Looman, leaning the old time music and styles of playing. She also plays mountain dulcimer. She wants to share with others and keep the heritage music going to the younger generations.

 

Sally Hawley of St. Albans, WV a veteran hammered dulcimer performer, teacher and workshop leader has been a part of the Salem dulcimer festival since its conception. Her repertoire includes traditional old-time, Celtic, gospel, contemporary, original, and classical music. Sally has available three recordings, and her book, "The Hammered Dulcimer Treasury Of Tunes", published by MelBay, Inc. which is on their best seller list. Also a member of the "Presby Pickers", she has available their Appalachian historical CD, "The Spirit Of The Mountains".

 

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.

 

Northern Cross is Ed Bray and Elaine Koehler. Ed hales from Akron, Oh. and Elaine, from Louisville, OH. They perform at many festivals & gatherings throughout the state of Ohio. Ed plays guitar, 5-string banjo, mountain dulcimer, autoharp, various other instruments and sings. Elaine, who also sings, plays 12-string guitar, tenor banjo, mandolin and some mountain dulcimer.


Mike and Marlene Oliver of Lancaster, Ohio, bought their first mountain dulcimers in 1988. They have performed, taught and competed across Ohio and in the surrounding states. They founded the Standing Stone Strings & Things dulcimer club and the Harmony Harvest dulcimer festival. They have been known for a number of years as Lower Lights. Mike plays dulcimer and bodhran while Marlene plays dulcimer and tin whistle and sings.


John Sackenheim has been playing the mountain dulcimer since his introduction to the instrument in May of 1999. He attended his first dulcimer workshop/festival in January of 2000 (Kentucky Music week Winter Weekend). He has performed in various venues in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan, and Minnesota. He has also performed in Nursing Homes, churches, and AARP meetings and other events in the Hamilton/Oxford, Ohio area. He is the author of a 1-3-5 tab book entitled, “New” Old Hymns and has released a first CD, entitled "It’s About Time".

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.


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: May 7, 2008