DULCIMER
Well documented from the 15th century, little is known of the dulcimer before then. It is thought to have originated in the Middle East and appeared in Europe in the 11th century. In medieval Europe the strings were in single or double courses and parallel to each other in the same plane with a single bridge.
By c.1600 the courses were triple and a second bridge appeared, with the strings passing alternatively over one bridge and under the other, being angled in such a way as to give the performer more ease in striking. More bridges, or individual smaller ones, were used to suit individual requirements eventually becoming fully chromatic.
Because of considerable variations in dulcimers, prospective customers are invited to discuss their requirements with us to take into account the period, tuning, courses, number of strings, bridges, decoration and style of hammers.
A quotation will then be given, without obligation.
The image above shows a dulcimer with a range of four octaves, of which the central two are fully chromatic. There are nineteen courses with four strings in each course. The front is stained a dark reddish brown to make the strings more visible for playing. There are three fruitwood roses inlaid in the front. The beech frame is necessary to take the tension of the strings
SPECIFICATIONS
Length: 520mm
Width: 970mm narrowing to 500mm
Depth: 100mm
Tuning: C-c'''