RICK THUM
Hammered Fiddle Tunes
Golden
Slippers – Home Sweet Home – The Meeting House – Missouri – Soldier’s
Joy – Ragtime Annie/Whiskey Before Breakfast – Blackberry Blossom –
Circle Be Unbroken/Old Joe Clark – Country Dance/Petite Valse – Flop
Eared Mule – Liberty/Seneca Square Dance
The Hammered
Dulcimer is a very interesting musical instrument. It’s actually the
forerunner to the piano. It’s played with mallets striking the double
strings, much the same as a piano, except the musician ‘controls’ the
mallets, and therefore he/she can control the volume level of each note,
the number of times possible to ‘bounce’ on the strings, the freedom of
physical motion that makes this instrument not only a lovely one to
listen to, but for the artist a lovely one to play. Rick Thum has
selected a marvelous list of old-time fiddle tunes to emulate. The
‘tradition’ of keeping this incredibly delightful music alive demands a
‘poet’ at the mallets, and an ‘engineer’ of the ultimate sound
produced. Rick grew up listening to old-time music. Even as a child he
carried a stack of 78rpm records around instead of a security blanket.
He bought his first Hammered Dulcimer in 1989. He had played guitar
before that, but abandoned all to the beauty of this most interesting
musical instrument. It’s a historically old music maker from Europe.
Rick does a magnificent job keeping that traditional sound alive and
well with these old fiddle tunes. It’s also a way to keep the tunes
alive and well. He’s joined occasionally by banjo player Steve Craig,
especially nice on ‘Home Sweet Home’ and ‘Soldier’s Joy.’ I used to
play 12-string guitar behind old-time fiddler’s here in the upper
Midwest. At first it was a little difficult, they didn’t want
12-strings on a guitar. BUT, I could play backing rhythms very good,
and it didn’t take long for the fiddler’s to mosey up and ask if I’d
like to pick a little. I’m sure this has happened many times to Rick
Thum, who also played a 12-string guitar. So did Michael Nesmith, and
he turned into a Monkee. Rick isn’t turning into anything, he’s already
there with his magnificent playing ability. This album is strictly an
instrumental one, but it’s a delight to listen to. You will instantly
‘remember’ some of the tunes Rick plays so grandly. “Blackberry
Blossom” slowed down a little from the fiddle version, takes us into the
‘high notes’ of the Dulcimer. What a treat. Steve Craig comes in with
old-time banjo on this one too, and it’s a just-right addition. I’m not
familiar with the song “Country Dance/Petite Valse ” but my imagination
takes me to olden days in France perhaps, where dancing was something
other than jumping up and down like a frog which we see so much of
today. Sure enjoyed the addition of an acoustic bass on “Flop Eared
Mule” even though we do not know who it is. In total, this is one of
the best “Hammered Dulcimer” presentations I’ve ever heard. Off this
one goes to the Rural Roots Music Commission for their appraisal. Good
luck Rick Thum, you are at the head of your class.
www.music-savers.com RECORD REVIEW BY Bob Everhart, President, National Traditional Country Music Association for Country Music News International Magazine & Radio Show