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Dulcimer players in East Anglia
Research news and developments
A dulcimer is a large stringed instrument, trapezoid in shape, and dates from at least the medieval period. The strings run in courses of 3-5 strings, tuned in unison, and it is played with beaters of varying design, or sometimes plucked with plectrums or fingernails. Related instruments found across the world are the hackbrett (Austria), cymbalom (Eastern Europe), santouri (Greece), yangqin (China) and santoor (India). In the British Isles, the dulcimer is known to have been made and used in the Midlands, Scotland and Ireland as well as East Anglia. Until recently little was known about the regional variations and history of this instrument - see David Kettlewell's website (in the links section) for some information from his doctoral researches. In the 1970s, the instrument was taken up by a number of people in both Britain and the USA, as part of the folk revival. In North America, it became known as the "hammered" dulcimer in order to distinguish it from the "mountain" or "Appalachian" dulcimer, and it is now frequently known by this name on this side of the Atlantic as well, although older British players referred to it just as a "dulcimer".
The instruments played in East Anglia vary in their tuning method to those from other areas. They were played with cane beaters, bent and bound with wool. The instruments from this region also have a distinctive styling, painted black with gold decoration, and with a small stand to enable them to be played while sitting at a table.
Dulcimer players in East Anglia
From the early 1960s, recordings were made by folk music enthusiasts and collectors, of the older generation of traditional musicians, and these included two masters of the dulcimer, Billy Bennington and Billy Cooper, both from the same area west of Norwich. Our research has revealed around 100 other players in the eastern counties from about 1850 onwards, most of whom were never recorded. This research has been carried out from snippets of information, interviews, photographs and sometimes clues from the instruments themselves.
Norfolk: Billy Cooper (Hingham), Billy Bennington (Barford) & Mollie Whittaker (Wells-next-the-Sea). These three influential players are all featured in our Personal Profiles webpages, and recordings are available of all of them: see the Personal Profiles, or our online shop. Our recent researches have revealed many more players in Norfolk, which was a veritable hotbed of dulcimer playing between 1850 and 1920. Currently Richard Blake (Melton Constable) is carrying the baton for the Norfolk tradition of dulcimer playing, and plays with Rig-a-Jig-Jig.
Suffolk: Reg Reader (Leiston), Charlie Philpots (Yoxford) & Tom Knight (Oulton Broad). Three generations of the same family: Reg Reader came to prominence in the late 1970s, and continues to play regularly. He has acted as mentor to many other players, including his grandson Tom Knight, who is still in his teens and plays many of the old family tunes as well as being the current owner of Billy Bennington's last dulcimer. Reg learned to play from his own grandfather, Charlie Philpots. Recordings featuring Reg Reader are available on the Old Hat label - see our online shop.
Cambridgeshire: Around the Thriplow / Haslingfield / Comberton area there were several players - George Wilmott Lawrence (d.1929), his son Herbert and nephew Will, who played at the Fairs and village feasts, and Willis Barnard. Barnard, George and Will Lawrence all made dulcimers.
Essex: Oswald Stammers from Saffron Walden played a dulcimer he inherited from his aunt, that was made by his grandfather Jimmy Stammers in Westhall Suffolk c. 1880.
Research news and developments
Interviews and correspondence from Billy Bennington have provided many clues to further researches. EATMT also holds notes and correspondence relating to dulcimers from the researches of Dr Russell Wortley in the 1950s and 60s, thanks to his widow Diana Hillman. In 2005, as part of the Playback project, we began a more in-depth research into the makers and players of the instrument, initially in Norfolk, but this has spread into the neighbouring counties of Cambridge and Suffolk, and also Essex. Long-term plans are to publish the research on the internet.
Above: dulcimer discovered during research. Above: Willis Barnard's signature on back of dulcimer.
In 2005, EATMT ran a year-long project in Norfolk. This included a Dulcimer Day, with concerts and workshops as well as a display of privately-owned instruments. An account of the day can be found here.
David Kettlewell's website includes lots of information about the history of the instrument and some research into the East Anglian tradition, from his 1976 doctoral thesis: click here
The Nonsuch Dulcimer Club was established in 1990, and their website has much of interest.
What are the musical traditions of East Anglia?
Traditional Music Day Melodeons & More Workshops, classes & schools Community Projects
Profiles of traditional musicians Research Jig Dolls Dulcimers Stepdancing