www.BowedDulcimer.com

Website promoting information, instructions, hints, helps, upcoming events, photos, on the bowed dulcimer built by Ken Bloom

 


 

About Ken
Contact Info

PMBDF-2008
PMBDF-2007
PMBDF-2006PMBDF-2005
WCU Week
Ken's Schedule

Instruments
Recordings

F A QPhoto Gallery

2004 Unicoi PICS
YouTube Links
Links

Tune from St. Andrews
Simple Gifts 3-parts

BD Tablature
 

 

 

Welcome to www.BowedDulcimer.com
This site is devoted to those people who are already playing a bowed dulcimer, who are interested in playing a bowed dulcimer, or wonder what a bowed dulcimer is.  This site features Kenneth Bloom: luthier, performer, teacher and friend. 
As you can see we are just beginning, but we will be adding information, pictures, instructions, and exciting information about Ken and the bowed dulcimer in the near future.


 

Hi Everyone,

Can you believe it? The 4th Annual Bowfest - 2008!!!
is over, but we are looking forward to next year with the help of Ben and Cammie. We'll post information here as soon as we get it. Here's hoping you can all make it.

Ken

 


 

ANNOUNCING NEW BOWED DULCIMER CD!!

   I am very pleased to announce the release of my second bowed dulcimer CD. It has a fine selection of music from all over the world and goes further than the last CD in demonstrating the versatility of the bowed dulcimer. For  further information and ordering please go to:
http://www.bolick.net/bloom

 


NOTE FROM GAIL:  To help in keeping our website up-to-date we ask that you email me (gwest1955@aol.com ) with your exciting news that you would like to share.  Any ideas, suggestions, photos, etc. would be greatly appreciated.  Burt has graciously taken pictures and caught our sound since the beginning - for now I would like to put the links here...


Ken Bloom's arrangement and explanation of the Napoleon Suite performed by the 2007 ensemble (large file)

 

Ken Bloom's comments only for the above


 

Burt Kahn has sent you a PhotoShow!

Hi to all, Please share the photo show link with other bowed dulcimer and mountain dulcimer players. Turn on your speakers and enjoy! Burt

Title: Bowed Dulcimer Jam & Dulcimer Ensemble
By: Burt Kahn
Date: Jul 01, 2007

If you cannot click the link or button above, copy and paste this address into your web browser.
Watch show: http://www.photoshow.net/watch/NZ8bV8TK



Click here for a large view of Ken and the first Bowed Dulcimer PardessusHere is a photo of Ken and the first Bowed Dulcimer Pardessus <Click here for more photos and information>

 

 

 

The December, 2004 DULCIMERSESSIONS.COM webzine issue featured an article by Ken Bloom...<Click here> for more on the article.

 

Since the 1st Annual Pilot Mountain Bowed Dulcimer Festival, we have a Bowed Dulcimer Friends Yahoo Group.  You have the option to receive each individual email, a daily digest, or only special announcements.  We hope to use this group to keep in touch, get to know each other, and help each other.  It is a great way to share information.  If you need help to join, just email gwest1955@aol.com .  Please remember - you don't have to post, but we would love to have everyone join.  An easy way to join is to enter your email address in the box below...Yahoo will then send you an email that you just have to hit Reply and Send. 

Subscribe to BowedDulcimerFriends
Powered by launch.groups.yahoo.com

 

Items of interest:

2005 Bowed Dulcimer Class at the NFGDA festival in Unicoi pictures

Video of Ken playing St. Andrews, a.k.a. John Roy Lyall (please note the fluidity of Ken's wrist as he pulls the bow, the relaxed bow hold, loose wrist, flowing, steady movements)

Listing of Bowed Dulcimer models
Video Snippets and pictures from the 1st Annual Pilot Mountain Bowed Dulcimer Festival
The 2nd Annual Pilot Mountain Bowed Dulcimer Festival (March 31- April 2, 2006)

2005 Western Carolina University Mountain Dulcimer Week Bowed Dulcimer Class

An introductory DVD/video will soon be available
Lots of tips and help

Bowed Dulcimer Music/Tablature

 

Please come back soon.  If you have pictures, advice, or ideas to share on this website please email them to Gail at gwest1955@aol.com.


 

 

The "3rd Annual Pilot Mountain Bowed Dulcimer Festival"  was held the weekend of April 13-15, 2007 in Pilot Mountain, North Carolina.  Thanks to Ken, Cammie and Ben Collier for getting things ready for us.    
We have updated details for the "4th Annual Pilot Mountain Bowed Dulcimer Festival <here>

Info Box

NEW!!! The 14th annual Winston-Salem Dulcimer Festival will take place at College Park Baptist Church in Winston-Salem, NC Friday, May 2 - Saturday, May 3, 2008. Ken Bloom will be teaching several workshops for the  bowed dulcimer.  For more information < click here >

Info Box

2008 Western Carolina University Mountain
Dulcimer Week 

June 22-27, 2008
Cullowhee, NC

Ken Bloom will be teaching the following 13-hour course at WCU Mountain Dulcimer Week. 
Register through the WCU website with easy on-line registration at http://dulcimer.wcu.edu

"PLAYING THE BOWED DULCIMER"

Kenneth Bloom, instructor.
Prerequisites: Some bowing experience highly recommended.
If you are a complete beginner at bowing it is recommended that you take the “Introduction to Bowing” afternoon elective, for which you need no prior bowing experience.
Background: The bowed dulcimer is growing in popularity. This recently revived manner of playing the dulcimer is gaining many new enthusiasts. Starting in the 18th century, this was a common way to play dulcimer until the 1940s. Interest has grown in the last ten years along with heightened interest in many of the more traditional approaches to playing the dulcimer.
Skills taught: This class will concentrate on good bowing techniques, efficient left-hand methods, and go on to examine all that is needed for playing expressively on the bowed dulcimer. We will be using music from both American and European traditions. The music will be broken down for three different playing levels, experienced, intermediate, and people who have been playing but feel they want to concentrate on fundamentals before moving on to more challenging parts.
If you have any questions about the course, the music, or the bowed dulcimer, contact Ken at kgbloom@advi.net 

<Click here> for more information.

Info Box

The "1st Annual Pilot Mountain Bowed Dulcimer Festival" was held the first weekend in April, 2005 in Pilot Mountain North Carolina. There were 17 participants and  a great time was had by everyone! Thanks to Ken, Cammie and Ben (Sawbriar Acoustic Club)  Click here to read what we did.

Info Box

The December, 2004 DULCIMERSESSIONS.COM webzine issue is archived online and features an article by Ken Bloom...

<Click here> for more information.

 

.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Copyright © 2008 Kenneth Bloom and Gail West / Ruth Rhandle- All rights reserved. Revised: .