| September 26, 2003 | Nov. 6, 2001 |
| August 26, 2002 | Summer 2001 |
| July 2002 | April, 2004 |
| July, 2004 | August 2005 |
Greetings everyone,
You can tell summer is rounding the bend into autumn when the walnut tree drops its leaves. They're starting to flutter now, amidst the tiger and monarch butterflies wafting around the butterfly bush. Katydids and crickets sing their night watch. What a lovely stretch of deep summer!
This year has brought some exciting new friends and experiences via the Augusta Heritage Spring Dulcimer Week in Elkins, WV, the Fishtrap writers' conference in Wallowa Lake, OR, and August Dulcimer Daze in Dover, VT. I'll soon be off to teach at the Dulcimer Chautauqua on the Wabash. Seems the map is always out on the table... Speaking of maps and roads, I finally sent the old Subaru into retirement at 301,000 miles. Now there is a Forester with lots to live up to.
Here's something exciting -- Bob Webb and I are close to finishing our new CD! It's named "Seeing Things", after a song I wrote this past spring about changes along the backroads of home. There is strong dulcimer presence on the album and a mix of instruments including guitar, mandolin, cello, slide guitar, fiddle, harmonica, and percussion. Some of the folks playing on the CD include Pacific NW-ers Janis Carper and Paul Elliott; and in Charleston we've been graced by several members of the Mountain Stage Band plus former-Texan-now-Nashvillian, Melissa Javors. Most of the songs are new ones I wrote in the last two years. There are road songs, history songs, love songs, instrumentals. We expect to release the CD by late October. We'll be hitting the road again then to play in Washington and Oregon - from Leavenworth to Tri-Cities, down to Enterprise, and up to Newport. Watch the tour schedule for updates!
I'll be teaching dulcimer again in Charleston, WV this fall as well. Bob and I got a grant to work with young children at an after-school program in the city. We may also get down to Big Ugly again to teach guitar and dulcimer, and that songbook we hoped to create after writing the Patchwork Dreams songs last year is getting closer to being funded. I also still teach adults in the Charleston area, and represent McSpadden Dulcimers as a dealer there.
Hope to turn this space into a Blog at some point... keep your eyes out for that!
More news when the CD comes out... thanks for listening....
Heidi
Happy Fall!
As I write this, I’m looking forward to three weeks in the Pacific Northwest where I’ll be seeing many old friends and breathing in the cool misty air once again. My friend Bob Webb will be coming with me to accompany many of my songs. He plays wonderful electric cello, mandolin, guitar and mountain dulcimer. For those of you who know the Mountain Stage show broadcast worldwide by West Virginia Public Radio, you might find it interesting to know that Bob was a founding member of the Mountain Stage band. He backed up some of folk’s biggest names over nine years with the band, including Odetta, Tom Paxton and Arlo Guthrie.
It will be great to share three concerts with some of my closest musical friends from the Northwest – I’ll be performing with Janis Carper on Oct. 7, Dan Maher on Oct. 12 and Tracy Spring on Oct. 19. See the Tour Page for details.
New: Between the Water and the Wind now available
on CD!
My first cassette recording made
in 1985 was a ten-song, 33-minute long project back when LP’s carried 17 minutes
of music per side. I didn’t think I’d ever bring it out on CD, but I ran out
of cassette copies long ago. Thanks to new technology, I've had a change of
heart. I've had the old recording remastered to remove the old tape hiss,
reset volume levels and switch around a couple of songs, making it better
than ever! I decided I would resize the graphics myself and produce this as
a more “homemade” product than my other CDs. It will sell for $10 on this
upcoming tour and be available here on my Order Page. Please see the Discography
Page for the list of song titles.
This just came in an email from my radio friend Beth Bush, who came to my
Cocoon Coffeehouse show last week:
“I just have to tell you how
thrilled I am with 'Between...'! You were absolutely right to get it into
shape for distribution. Alot of times artists early efforts are mainly of
interest to their devoted fans, and although, as you mentioned the other night,
your voice has changed a bit, your marvelous sense of balladry and song-rendering
was with you from the git-go! Really, I can't wait until you and Bob return
from the West with the songs you've worked up together. Enuf gushing...really,”
Beth
WNTI 91.9 FM “Free Form Radio”
Hackettstown, NJ
By the way, WNTI streams over the web so you can hear it anywhere! Beth and Jules’ show “Free For All” airs Fridays 10 am-Noon, Eastern Time.
Note: Orders mailed in during October will be filled when I get home from tour in early November.
Thanks so much for stopping by, and I hope to see you at one of my concerts soon!
Heidi
The new Masters of the Mountain
Dulcimer CD is out! Volume Two of Susan Trump's compilation series featuring
top mountain dulcimer players is another lovely, varied collection of instrumental
dulcimer music. My original piece
"Leaving the Methow" is included! First recorded for my Gypsy Wind
CD, it's a waltz with fingerpicked dulcimer and guitar played by myself, and
backed by the wonderful fluid fiddle lines of Spokane musician Arvid Lundin.
There are
seventeen different artists and styles presented on this CD and you can order
it by mail from me. For details of performers and song titles, please see
my Books and CDs page, and to get one for yourself, just print the Order Form
and send it in with your payment. For more information on the Masters series,
see www.dulcimermasters.com.
Susan is a wonderful dulcimer player, too, and you can find out more about
her music at www.susantrump.com.
Greetings everyone,
The summer is starting off with a bang this year! Not only am I thrilled to be teaching dulcimer at Kentucky Music Week, Shady Grove, Heritage Dulcimer Camp and Fort New Salem, I’m proud to announce the publication of two new songbooks! Hot off the presses are:
So Sang the River – Songs
of Bill Staines, Vol. I
Arranged for the Mountain Dulcimer by Heidi Muller
and
Dance with Orion – Twelve Original Songs and Tunes By Heidi Muller
I’ve been a fan of Bill Staines’
music for over 25 years. His wonderful songs like “Roseville Fair” and “River”
have been sung for decades by lovers of folk music all over the country, as
well as recorded by Nanci Griffith and many others. So many of them play beautifully
on the mountain dulcimer. I thought it was time to offer them in tablature
to the dulcimer community. I’ve found close to 40 songs that work well, so
I split them into two groups and have put 18 into this first book. I wrote
two arrangements of each one – one that can be played instrumentally and sung
if desired, and one that features chord accompaniment for singing. I also
recorded a
demonstration CD which is included with every book. On the CD are short versions
of each song, showing how to play and sing along on verses, choruses and bridges
as well as instrumental breaks.
My second book is a collection
of my own songs and instrumental tunes written for mountain dulcimer over
the years. It’s about half songs and half tunes – songs like “My Old Cat”
and “Cassiopeia” and tunes including “The Methow Suite”, “Jackalope Jig” and
“Winter’s Turning”. Many of these songs have been requested by my folk concert
audiences, and they do include guitar
chords if folks want to play along without having to play dulcimer. This book
does not come with a companion recording; rather most of the songs are already
found on my CDs. “Jackalope Jig”, which I didn’t yet record, is
available in a terrific version on John Blosser’s Coyote Dulcimer CD, which
you can get from John himself at coyoteb1@aol.com.
I’ve had a wonderful year so far,
full of travel and music. On my concert trip to Washington State in May I
took along my tab work. I loved working with Connecticut musician Heidi Cerrigione
to create these books – she’s a whiz at putting them into a computer music
program. Kelly LaGrutta out in
Spokane, WA did a wonderful job on the covers. I’m amazed at the convenience
of computer technology that makes it possible to work on these projects with
people all over the country. It’s so exciting! My next project is a book of
ensemble works for dulcimer, and then later on the second book of Bill Staines
songs.
Have a great summer of festivals, picnics and new music! Hope to see you at a concert or music camp soon.
Heidi
NEW RELEASE!! GYPSY WIND AVAILABLE NOVEMBER 23!!
To order now for Christmas, go to Ordering page.
I'm excited to announce that my fourth CD, Gypsy Wind, is finished and about to be released in time for the holidays! Started on August 1, its creation was made possible by contributions from generous listeners in my audience across the US who've signed up on my mailing list over the years. Thank you to everyone who helped and continues to do so, by coming out to concerts, playing my music on the radio and sharing it with your friends.
This new album was a bicoastal effort using recording studios in both New Jersey and Washington State, plus studio musicians from both the East Coast and the Pacific Northwest. Gypsy Wind is a contemporary folk CD made in my usual style combining seven original songs and two original dulcimer instrumentals with two cover tunes and a traditional song. The theme reflects the inner journey - songs of love, unity, strength, humor, creativity and empowerment.
I was thrilled to work with fabulous musicians such as Spokane's Arvid Lundin, who played hardanger fiddle on "Acres of Clams/Rosin the Beau". He played traditional fiddle on "The Methow Suite", a pair of jigs and a waltz I wrote inspired by my good times in the Methow River valley of Washington State. Ruthie Dornfeld played a smoky, haunting violin solo on "Gypsy Wind", complementing the passionate Spanish guitar lead of Will Reedy. Percussion touches were added by Linda Severt with congas, shakers, and bells; Teresa Morgan played the Catpaws (wooden spoons) and bodhran on "Twisp River Jig" and "Ray's Good Garlic". John Grahor drove all the way up from Maryland to play upright bass on "Gypsy Wind" and "Voice of Love", and his bowing on "Acres of Clams" provided just the right mood to conjure up that misty, long-ago feeling. Cary Black's bass on "This Much I Know" will make you want to dance, not to mention the incredible lead guitar licks by Rod Cook, on loan from the Laura Love Band. Seattle mandolinist Tom Moran added spunk and flair to "Big Ideas" and "Voice of Love". Mark Iler's harmonica is a sweet complement to the dulcimer on Lorraine Lee Hammond's song "Love Has a Life of Its Own". You'll undoubtedly recognized the distinctive voices and styles of my background vocalists -- Puget Sound's Tracy Spring and Larry Murante on "Gypsy Wind" and "This Much I Know", Patrice O'Neill on "Voice of Love", and New Jerseyan Steve Yeager on "Big Ideas" and "Love Has a Life of Its Own."
There are some simple, quieter songs, such as "Lie Easy" written by Maine's Anne Dodson, which I sang only with mountain dulcimer as accompaniment. The "Stitchery Song" is its usual a cappella version, recorded while my friends Susan and Carolyn were literally sewing at my feet! "Winter's Turning" is a waltz I wrote in January 2000, written for two dulcimers and guitar which I play myself on the CD. I brought in New Jersey harmonica player Guy DeRosa to add streetwise accents to my fingerpicked guitar on "Real Change". Another fingerpicked song is a little country-flavored tune I wrote for my mother, "Mama You're Always There".
Having recorded my basic tracks at Sound Master Studio in Blairstown, New Jersey, vocals and overdubs were added mostly in the Northwest. Studios included Acoustic Chambers, David Lange Studios, the Recording Lair, Lundin Studios and Big Twig Studios. All the pieces were then put together by my project engineer, Chris Midkiff at Sound Master Studio. Chris and I did the mixing and sequencing. We enlisted the experienced ears of trusted musician and radio friends to give us valuable feedback. After the final tweaks, just in time for Halloween, I enjoyed one more treat -- I was able to line up Grammy-winning David Glasser at Airshow Mastering, who worked with me on my Giving Back CD, to master Gypsy Wind.
We go on to the visuals... songwriter and graphic artist Kelly LaGrutta of Spokane was working on the cover design and graphics all during this time. With photos by renowned New England folk photographer Susan Wilson and Seattle's Jayne Muir, Kelly came up with a beautiful contemporary design. It's centered on the symbol of fire, which to me best depicts the passion at the heart of Gypsy Wind. (When you're in Spokane, be sure to drop by Kelly's new gift and plant shop on W. Garland called A Bohemian Heart... all my CDs will now be available there, along with Kelly's unique creative finds.)
Finally, the manufacturing was deftly coordinated with a delightfully quick turnaround by Andrew Ratshin at NW Discs in Seattle. And now I gleefully await the arrival of many boxes... just in time for turkey dinner, my birthday and the holidays of light. (pssst! -- and concert dates! don't forget to tell about them!) Ah, yes... please be sure to check out my tour schedule for CD release concerts starting later this month.
Thank you for visiting my website... drop me an email if you have comments or would like to be added to my mailing list. I wish you a warm holiday time and hope this finds you well and winterized, living the life you love, and spreading peaceful thoughts throughout your world.
Musically-merrily,
Heidi
What's
New - Summer 2001
It's been a great year so far both musically and personally. I've spent
it mostly in the northeast where I've been working on music while being near
family. These days find me driving backroads near the Delaware River with
numbers like 46, 402 and 97. I hang out with farmers, artists, librarians,
musicians and ministers. Gardening and cats call my name when I'm not at the
computer or heading to the next gig.
I've had greater visions for this website, which has recently expanded and
improved thanks to web maven/songwriter Janis Carper. This page is one
of the new features besides updated photos and info. Let me know how you like
the new look! Janis will soon be offering her web design to the world
at large. If interested, you can email her at jc@janiscarper.com
or see www.scpweb.net.
Gigwise, I started the year in Uxbridge, Mass. in the midst of a snowstorm, but the coffeehouse faithful were undaunted and we had a good crowd. February took me to the palm beaches of South Florida for concerts and workshops. Through spring I performed in New Jersey, Connecticut, and New York State. I joined Lorraine Lee Hammond, Gail Rundlett and others at the Cambridge, MA Spring Dulcimer Festival. The end of May found me once again at the Kerrville Folk Festival in Texas, soaking up songs under the tarp at Camp Coho. In June, I was privileged to headline the week-long Northeast Dulcimer Symposium in Blue Mountain Lake, NY as this year's mountain dulcimer teacher and performer. For more information on NDS, see www.nedulcimer.org. This summer, I'm looking forward to teaching at the Cranberry Dulcimer Gathering and Vermont Dulcimer Daze. Be sure to check out my tour page for details.
2001 has become quite a dulcimer year. I'm pleased
and honored that Dulcimer Players News is featuring me on the cover of the
July issue! This quarterly magazine, now in its 26th year, has a great
website at www.dpnews.com and copies are available almost anywhere you find
dulcimers for sale. I also was honored to be invited to participate
in the Masters of the Mountain Dulcimer, Vol. II CD project. Susan Trump,
a wonderful dulcimer player and folk musician in the Albany, NY area, is the
producer of this highly successful CD series which has taken mountain dulcimer
music of all genres to new listeners. My original waltz, Winter's Turning,
will be included on the compilation CD to be released later this year.
You'll find more information at www.susantrump.com.
Speaking of recording, my work has been featured on
three other CDs this year. The Seattle Folklore Society released a wonderful
compilation entitled A Musical Doorway, which is now available from me at
concerts and on this website by mail. On it I sing one of my most-requested
songs, Gypsy Wind, which brought me the second place award in the Lakefolkfest
songwriting contest. This CD is the result of three concerts
SFS recorded live in Seattle. For the list of artists and a sound clip of
Gypsy Wind, please see my Discography page. SFS' website is found at www.seafolklore.org. The second recording I took part in is a fun,
many-faceted CD called Coyote Dulcimer by Florida dulcimer champion John Blosser.
Besides playing the daylights out of a little tune I wrote called Jackalope
Jig, John asked me to play on Monica's Reel and a medley of Loreena McKennitt
tunes. John doesn't have a website yet, but you can email him for more
info at coyoteb1@aol.com.
Third, I was invited to sing on the CD project of prolific songwriter/pianist
Mel White, who is the music director at the First Church of Religious Science
in Morristown, NJ. Mel had a number of her friends come in to sing solo,
duet and group arrangements of her inspirational songs on this collection
she named Joyful. Mel hosts a website with more information on her CDs and
those of other uplifting artists at www.smilingheartmusic.com.
Hello there!
As warmer winds are blowing over the farms and mountains of northwest New Jersey, I've just put in my first hour of yard work. What's that old saying I heard the other day, "When forsythia's in bloom, the roses are pruned"? I've been out snipping away. Our resident groundhogs are also out and about, and this year we've got a blonde one in the yard!
I had a great time teaching
at the Buckeye Dulcimer Festival in Ashley, Ohio in March. Steve Eulberg and
I taught two day-long Intermediate-Advanced intensive classes in mountain
dulcimer, plus weekend workshops along with many other instructors. It was
great to reconnect with Dan Duggan, an effervescent
hammered dulcimer player I hadn't seen since we taught at the Flower Carol
festival 14 years ago.
Here's something new: the Dance with Orion Companion CD! Winter projects included recording a new solo-dulcimer CD to go with my Dance with Orion songbook. The new Dance with Orion Companion CD is available on my Order Page. It includes every tune and song from the book played up-to-speed, and has my only recorded versions of Jackalope Jig, March of the Nutcracking Crows and the Blue Mountain Lake Waltz.
I'm also working on the new Bill Staines tab book -- Volume II -- to be out by June. Volume I, So Sang the River, has been selling very well and is now available from dulcimer-friendly businesses including Prussia Valley Dulcimers and Missigman Music.
And, saving the best news
for last, there's something I'm very excited about! I have received an Artists
& Communities grant from the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation to do a special
songwriting project entitled Patchwork Dreams in the community of Big Ugly
Creek in southern West Virginia. Between May and October I will work with
children and adults to collect family and regional stories, and then we'll
create songs together. Other folks will help on a special quilt project in
which each block illustrates one of the songs. We'll have a performance and
quilt showing in mid-October, and eventually put together a songbook and CD!
The host organization, Step By Step, has a website describing
its work at the Big Ugly Community Center at www.wvdreamers.org.
Check it out! And for more information about the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation,
visit www.midatlanticarts.org.
Hope I'll see some of you at Kentucky Music Week... be sure and take a look at my tour schedule for concerts and activities. Bob Webb and I are performing together quite a bit, playing for weddings, churches and community events in addition to the usual folk concerts and dulcimer teaching. We hope to get back to the Northwest at least once a year. In the meantime, we can travel easily within the Appalachian and mid-Atlantic region. Feel free to email us for booking information, we'd love to perform or teach for you!
Enjoy the spring,
Heidi