Before cousins Debi and Peter left, they brought out their instruments. Peter played the small psalmodikon and demonstrated the larger one.
He has researched the history of these instruments and could easily tell you far more than you could remember. He showed John something about the more common dulcimer.
Debi plays them, as well as the hammered dulcimer. She didn’t bring it with her, but I love to hear her play.
There was just time for a quick visit with the neighbor horses before they left. Some people like horses at a distance, but Debi gave them a treat in order to see them up close.
Mehrling Muse 
Loved the horses!
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Oh, and how fun that you have us tagged as “interesting relatives.” LOL
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There are lots of other excellent adjectives, but I thought “interesting” might make people want to know more. You may know other folks who play old instruments, but I don’t.
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Good Heavens, how lacking i my education. I’ve never heard of a Psalmodikon either large or small and I thought they stopped playing the dulcimer in the middle ages and again I’ve never heard of a hammered dulcimer, just the common one. They must be very talented musicians. I’m glad the visit went so well..
xxx Humongous Hugs xxx
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Debi and Peter are lots of fun to be with. Maybe Debi will bring her hammered dulcimer nest time.
xxx Musical Hugs xxx
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A wonderful time together and nice to know about the Psalmodikon.
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Thanks for commenting. If we had had time, I would have tried to get a short video so that you could hear the sound of a Psalmodikon.
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I listened to one in YouTube and liked the music very much. Thank you
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That is great. Not many people would look it up on YouTube.
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Wow – I am surprised that is even a word and have no idea how to pronounce it – I bet the demonstration was fascinating. I think I will bookmark this and show it to my daughter -the musician- She loves all musical instruments. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
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Peter has done research on the instruments and knows a lot about them.
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Dulcimers and horses! Now those are two subject I would not have immediately put together, and yet– here you’ve done so. With style!
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LOL! Dulcimers and horses do not belong together, but I wasn’t going to do two posts. Thank you for seeing the amusing side of it.
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Music makes everyone happy.
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Love the pictures, and the comments on your blog! The instrument is pronounced “sal-MOWD-i-kon,” and it sounds a little bit like a cello sometimes (and a rusty gate at others). I’m linking to an article I wrote for the American psalmodikon society’s newsletter a couple of years ago, and you can hear a very good Swedish folk musician named Gunnar Fredelius playing it by googling keywords: gunnar fredelius psalmodikon. http://www.psalmodikon.com/Documents/2016-Spring.pdf
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That’s marvelous, Pete. Thank you very much.
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I learned something new today. I have never heard of a psalmodikon before. Thank you!
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Oh those sound like interesting instruments. I’ve never heard of them before
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I have never heard of those instruments! Music is such a gift and I so admire those who can make the music. Love the photo of the horse as well!
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One of these days, I hope Debi and Peter have time to let me try to play the psalmodikon. There are numbers instead of notes, so anyone should be able to do it.
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I’ve heard of dulcimer but not the psalmodikon – who says blogging is just fun, there is always new info to be gleaned as well!
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I think the dulcimer had a wider audience than the psalmodikon.
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It is easier to spell as well. 🙂
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Oh, I love interesting instruments. In Alabama, the locals would meet once a month, first Fridays, to this farm that had a barn where inside it was like the grand ol’ opry. Everyone who played an instrument brought them and went to “jam” and have a great time. Those of us who didn’t play brought treats and snacks to share and sang along where possible. It would go on into the late night or until we tired. I was revved the first time I went to one, it was like something you’d see in a movie.
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What a lovely time you had! Thanks for sharing that. I had no idea it would happen in Alabama. We’ve heard old timers used to have jam sessions like that here in the mountains of NC.
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If you ever learn of a place that does that, check it out. For me it was like going back in time to a by gone era where those kinds of events were common place.
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I’ve never heard of this instrument, but if it’s anything like the dulcimer, then I’d feel more familiar with it, as I have a couple of Jean Ritchie records I enjoy. I like “Shady Grove” – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDUNdRm5Toc
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Both the Psalmodikon and dulcimer are plucked, so there would be a similarity of sound.
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