This week, here comes Dulcimer Jamboree once again! Each year, dulcimer players from all over come to the Ozark Folk Center State Park in Mountain View, Arkansas for a weekend of learning, listening, and loving all things dulcimer. Each evening of the event features concerts by world renowned dulcimer teachers and performers. We’ll enjoy highlights recorded from these live performances featuring both mountain dulcimers and the more ancient hammered dulcimers.

Artists performing this year include: OHR guest contributor, renowned traditional folk musician, writer, and step dancer Aubrey Atwater; world champion mountain dulcimer player and multi instrumentalist Duane Porterfield accompanied by vocalist Alex Prince; world champion mountain dulcimer artist, singer and educator Sarah Kate Morgan; hammered dulcimer master and educator Rick Thum; world famous hammered dulcimer Jedi and internet sensation Ted Yoder.

In this week’s “From the Vault” segment, OHR producer Jeff Glover offers a 1981 archival recording of Ozark originals Tommy & Jean Simmons performing the traditional tune “Bonnie Lass,” from the Ozark Folk Center State Park archives.

Author, folklorist and songwriter Charley Sandage presents an historical portrait of the people, events and indomitable spirit of Ozark culture that resulted in the creation of the Ozark Folk Center State Park and its enduring legacy of music and craft. In this episode, Charley explores the history of McSpadden Dulcimers, the iconic mountain dulcimer manufacturer located right next door to the Ozark Folk Center State Park for over 50 years.

Ozark Highlands Radio

OHR Presents: Dulcimer Jamboree 2024!

This week, Hindman, Kentucky writer, educator, vocalist and world champion mountain dulcimer Jedi Sarah Kate Morgan recorded live at the Ozark Folk Center State Park.  Also, a special performance by the 2024 Ozark Folk Center Mountain Dulcimer Contest winner Melinda McMillan of Martinsville, IN.

“Born of Appalachian soil in Sharps Chapel, Tennessee, Sarah Kate Morgan sings, plays, and writes like she’s been in these hills since the dawn of time. She’s had plenty of varied influences, beginning with hearing a classical music CD belonging to her family and going on to discover old time music through a dulcimer built by her grandfather. She began playing dulcimer at age 7. 

This proved to be a pivotal moment. At 18 years old, Sarah Kate placed 1st at the 2012 National Mountain Dulcimer Championships in Winfield, Kansas. She’s gone on to build a unique personal style which honors mountain dulcimer giants such as Jean Ritchie while working across genres to build something new. Her dexterous approach to the instrument is one that only masterful artists can bring to the table; much like Bruce Molsky and the fiddle, having been a dedicated student of the dulcimer’s complexities Morgan is able to distill them into a beautifully polished package. 

Well-known and widely respected as one of the leading experts of the mountain dulcimer, Sarah Kate is also a first-rate singer and songwriter. Her earthy and poetic lyrics embrace the highs and lows of southern Appalachian life while her voice does the same – moving between alto and soprano parts with ease. Her crystal-clear but rootsy vocal style combines the best of country, old time, bluegrass, and gospel influences who, like Morgan, foreground their cultural roots. All of this goes hand in hand to create a musical experience akin to a sonic baptism.” - https://www.sarahkatemorgan.com/bio-1

In this week’s “From the Vault” segment, OHR producer Jeff Glover offers a 1981 archival recording of Country Music Hall of Fame and Grand Ole Opry member Ramona Jones fiddling out a square dance on the traditional tune “Liberty,” from the Ozark Folk Center State Park archives.

In his segment “Back in the Hills,” writer, professor and historian Dr. Brooks Blevins profiles self-promoting Ozark folk artist and entrepreneur L.L. Broadfoot.

OHR Presents: Sarah Kate Morgan

I have the privilege of participating in a Blues Workshop presented by Bing Futch at the Ohio Valley Gathering 2015.  Bing and I are playing an example of 12-Bar Blues.

Blues With Bing

From my new album "Unresolved Blues", this tune was inspired by no-one in particular, but we all know them well.

Listen Closely Mama - Mountain Dulcimer Blues

From my 2013 album "Dive!", this song deals with the walls that we put up to protect ourselves.

I Keep My Distance - Alternative Mountain Dulcimer

Fallen Angel - EDM Native American Flute

Earth Mother - Native American Flute

New Year's Night - Mountain Dulcimer

Lutung bingung is one of repertoar music degung classic that adapting from "Lutung Kasarung" story, part of the story taken when Guruminda become a Lutung down to earth, and when he (lutung) come to earth, like confused about that a new place.

In this song, Parahyena is not alone. We are assisted by a guitarist who usually plays classic degung tones, namely Agus Rukmana. He has been exploring, developing and making innovative classic Sundanese tones on classical guitars. Agus Rukmana has also made a recording of souvenirs to 120 countries at the 50th Asia-Africa Summit, at this moment he is devising a method of learning 'ngadegung ku guitar' (playing degung by guitar) and making recordings. 

The playing patterns of music performed by Parahyena and Agus Rukmana, Lutung Bingung song are transformed from pelog and gamelan patterns, but the fingering style technique uses modulation to western conventional chord. In practice, the song is cultivated and recorded live. Audio and visual capture is important, so in this song selected live session for the launch of Parahyena’s new single. 

Lutung Bingung is a collaboration of various types of art that we feel interesting to combine, as for the wayang (Dalang), Arts Dance, and mapping. Great hope this song is acceptable to all circles, especially people outside tatar sunda. Parahyena and Agus Rukmana want to introduce this technique as a Sunda tone game, and this technique can be applied to any musical instrument. 

New single "Lutung Bingung" already be enjoyed on Parahyena Youtube Channel www.youtube.com/parahyena

Lutung Bingung Feat. Agus Roekmana

All instruments and vocals by Winter Walker. This was a total blast.

FUTURE TENSE (cover)

Winter Singing Pop Medley

Ozark Highlands Radio is a weekly radio program that features live music and interviews, recorded at Ozark Folk Center State Park’s beautiful 1,000-seat auditorium in Mountain View, Arkansas.  In addition to the music, our “Feature Host” segments take listeners on a musical journey with historians, authors, and personalities who explore the people, stories, and history of the Ozark region.

OHR Presents: Dulcimer Jamboree 2024!

Ozark Highlands Radio

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