A plucked dulcimer is a plank zither from central and Eastern Europe.
Make a wooden sound box. Add pegs and strings.
And now it’s a dulcimer.
Epinette, Vlier or Hommel in Flanders.
There are diatonic and chromatic dulcimers.
In addition to the three to four generally unison tuned melody strings,
there are dron- strings that can ‘sing along’ beautifully.
For 36 years I have been building dulcimers, for myself, and for others.
I have become friends with some passionate musical instrument makers, and our circle is growing.
It is a network of people who trust and respect each other. Beautiful friendships!
I make custom made dulcimers.
Besides respecting tradition, I add touches of innovation.
Together I search for additional sounds, and use new techniques, if they are meaningful.
This makes each instrument even more beautiful, and we serve the beauty of the instrument.
Gooik… a small place that has become like a second home …
I have the honor of teaching in the ‘Academie voor Muziek, Woord en Dans’ and in that enchanted village, on the summer-stage for traditional folk music.
Is your dulcimer my next project?
I built this chromatic dulcimer in Re-Sol, with a cedar top, in 2010.
The position of the melody strings remains stable thanks to a new application of two small ‘agrave pins’ for the melody-strings.