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Mountain Dulcimer Worship Recordings
Michael Shull. Dulcimer Praise (Glory Productions 1998)
The 12 instrumental
selections on Michael's debut recording are arranged and mixed
to plainly hear the sweet sounds of Michael's lyrical playing.
(39:02) We met at the national competition in Winfield in 1998
where we discovered a 
common love of playing hymns on mountain dulcimer.
Including: Joel Shull (Keyboard strings, Bass & Flute) & Dennis Steele (Guitar)
Available from: Michael Shull, 412 Ermine RD, West Columbia, SC 29170 (803)796-2559, email: Mshull1@aol.com, Website: www.michaelshull.com
Tunes: Be Thou My Vision/Savior Like a Shepherd + Lord Jesus, I Love Thee/I'd Rather Have Jesus + When I Survey the Wondrous Cross + Holy, Holy, Holy + Near the Cross + Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring + His Eye Is On the Sparrow + What a Friend We Have In Jesus + On Jordan's Stormy Banks/ When the Roll is Called Up Yonder + Mansion Over the Hilltop + It Is No Secret + Invitational Medley + Be Still My Soul
Debbie Porter. Grace Is Amazing (Lyric's Mama Music 1999)
While this recording
does have a strong dulcimer presence (6 cuts with Mountain Dulcimer,
1 with Hammered Dulcimer) it more accurately features the clear,
sweet vocals of Texas diva Debbie Porter. "Angelic",
"soothing", 
"crystal" are adjectives that come to mind
when seeking to describe her voice. Combine these with the virtual
"who's who" in the dulcimer and acoustic music world
playing a combination of old favorite & new hymns; add an
original song and the result is a very pleasing audio experience.
Debbie's faith is the loom upon which these tunes are woven. My
favorites: "Wings of a Dove" (dig those high harmonies!),
the Hawaiian/blues feel of "His Hand In Mine" and "Nearer
My God to Thee".
Including: David Schnaufer, Stephen Seifert, Sue Carpenter, Maddie MacNeil, Neal & Coleen Walters, Stephen Bennett (of Harp guitar fame).
Available from: Lyric's Mama Music, Rt 6, Box 89B, Pittsburg, TX 75686, email: lyricsmama@aol.com, (877)856-2714
Tunes: Wings of a Dove + Softly and Tenderly + His Hand in Mine + My Mother's Faith + Poor Wayfaring Stranger + Just a Closer Walk With Thee + Nearer My God To Thee + Touch of the Master's Hand + Farther Along + In the Garden + In the Sweet By and By + Grace is Amazing + Amazing Grace
Mark Tindle. Blessed Assurance: Hymns of Promise (Wood 'N Strings 1999)
The old favorites
feel fresh, sweet and gentle in this release by two-time national
champion Mark Tindle. (40:33) His arrangements preserve
the beauty of the acoustic mountain dulcimer up front, while tastefully
adding 
the voices of the accompanying instruments.
The track that caught my ear was #5 "O the Deep, Deep Love
of Jesus"--no surprise since it is in a minor mode, but the
arrangement has a wonderful, haunting old feel!
Including: Steve Tindle (penny whistle, native american flute), Milo Deering (fiddle, mandolin, dobro, guitar), Shirley Darrow (cello), Roland Kirkland (bass), Russell Cook (hammer dulcimer) & Tom Smith (keyboard).
Available from: Wood 'N Strings, 1801 Peyco Drive South, Arlington, TX 76001-6711 (888)752-9243, Website: www.wnsdulcimer.com
Tunes: Blessed Assurance + What A friend We Have In Jesus + Praise the Lord, The Almighty/O Worship the King + It is Well With My Soul + O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus + Leaning on the Everlasting Arms/Standing on the Promises + Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing + 'Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus + Be Thou My Vision + When We All Get to Heaven + O Sacred Head, Now Wounded + To God Be the Glory + Fairest Lord Jesus/I'd Rather Have Jesus + Nothing But the Blood
To the Dulcimer-Friendly Worship Page
Steven B. Eulberg. Hark, the Glad Sound! (Owl Mountain Music 1999)
Mountain dulcimer
ensembles playing hymntunes from Advent--the season of preparation
before Christmas(52:35) Backed up by guitar, hammered dulcimer,
percussion (Irish Bodhran & African Ashiko drum and shekere),
bowed psaltery and soprano and 
tenor recorders. Companion to Dulcimer-Friendly Worship,
Vol I, a tablature book.
Including: Pamela Robinson (whose voices help make the walls speak)
Available from: Owl Mountain Music, 1015M S. Taft Hill RD #144, Fort Collins, CO 80521 (970)472-1352, email: owlmntnsbe@aol.com, Website: www.owlmntnmusic.com
Tunes: O Come, O Come Emmanuel + My Lord, What A Morning + Hark, the Glad Sound! + Comfort, Comfort Now My People + They King Shall Come + Prepare the Royal Highway + Rejoice, Rejoice, Believers + Savior of the Nations, Come + Stir Up Your Power, O Lord + Soon and Very Soon + Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus (Jefferson) + Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus Medley + O Savior, Rend the Heavens Wide + Fling Wide the Door + Who Will Set Us Free? + Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory
Michael Shull. Swinging the Gospel (Glory Productions 1999)
There is a lot
of toe-tapping inspiration in these 12 instrumental selections
by award-winning dulcimer player Michael Shull. (43:36) Michael
shows his versatility by also playing hammered dulcimer and guitar
on this recording which 
showcases how well mountain dulcimer can "play
with others." "Joshua Fit the Battle of Jerico"
is my favorite.
Including: Joel Shull (keyboard, strings, & wood flute) & Dennis Steele (guitar & bass), Danny Harlow (fiddle), Andrew Gowan (flute & clarinet) and Randy Lucas (banjo)
Available from: Michael Shull, 412 Ermine RD, West Columbia, SC 29170 (803)796-2559, email: Mshull1@aol.com, Website: www.michaelshull.com
Tunes: Down By the Riverside + Shall We Gather At the River + Just A Closer Walk With Thee + Morning Has Broken + When They Ring Those Golden Bells + Come Thy Fount/There is a Fount + I've Got the Joy, Joy, Joy/When We All Get to Heaven + He Leadeth Me/Joyful, Joyful + Joshua Fit the Battle of Jerico + We Are One in the Spirit/I Will Rise and Go to Jesus + In the Sweet Bye & Bye + Victory in Jesus
Linda Brockinton. Celtic Spirits (2000)
Linda says her
original instrument was flute (she is a former member of the Arkansas
Symphony) but since being given a mountain dulcimer by her husband
on her honeymoon she has become well-known for her full chord
fingerpicking style of playing. In
fact, she won the Southern Regional Championship in 1999 and the
National Mountain Dulcimer Championship in 2001! Why have I included
this recording in a list of worship music? The style of this recording
is deeply spiritual, weaving together Linda's flute, dulcimer,
tin whistle and Irish Lap Harp playing in solo and duet arrangements
that are interspersed with lovely celtic-style blessings. Use
this one for meditation!
Including: Linda Odena (mountain dulcimer) and Rev. Debbie Freeman who reads original celtic-style blessings at intervals throughout the recording.
Available from: Linda Brockinton (501)316-2055
Tunes: Star of the County Down + She Moved Through the Fair + Give Me Your Hand + Bridget Cruise + Flowers of Edinburgh + I Know Where I'm Going + Nancy + Come My Love(Siu'il a Ghr'a) + Lord Inchquin + Skye Boat + Be Thou My Vision + Planxty Drew + Aaron Boat Song + The Poor Little Irish Boy + Ashgrove + Southwind (A Ghaoth Aneas) + O'Carolan's Concerto + Foggy Dew + Loch Lomand + Lament of the Three Marys + Ye Banks and Braes of Bonnie Doon
Steven B. Eulberg. Dulcimer-Friendly Worship, Vol II:
a service of Evening Prayer
(Owl Mountain Music 2000)
A Contemplative
setting of Evening Prayer, led by mountain and hammered dulcimers,
backed by recorders, percussion, bass and guitar. Companion recording
to the tablature books and congregational edition. (41:33) 
Including: Kaitlin and Connie Winter-Eulberg (vocals)
Available from: Owl Mountain Music, 1015M S. Taft Hill RD #144, Fort Collins, CO 80521 (970)472-1352, email: owlmntnsbe@aol.com, Website: www.owlmntnmusic.com
Tunes: Service of Light + The Day You Gave Us + Abide With Me + Let My Prayer Rise As Incense + I Lift Up My Eyes + Come, Bless the Lord + Our God Is Love +Prayer Responses
Michael Shull. His Amazing Grace (Glory Productions 2000)
These 28 instrumental
selections by award-winning dulcimer player Michael Shull. (44:36)
once again show Michael's instrumental talent as he plays baritone
mountain dulcimer and hammered dulcimer. The arrangements here
are lush, in a
background music, muzak-style. The sound of the dulcimers on this
recording are clear, more electric sounding.
Including: Joel Shull (Bass,strings, & keyboard), Dennis Steele (guitar,bass & high string guitar), Dan Williams (guitar) & Karen Lyle (Harp & Fiddle)
Available from: Michael Shull, 412 Ermine RD, West Columbia, SC 29170 (803)796-2559, email: Mshull1@aol.com, Website: www.michaelshull.com
Tunes: Amazing Grace + Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior + It Is Well With My Soul + Whispering Hope + Farther Along + Great Is Thy Faithfulness + Blessed Assurance/Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring + Sweet Hour of Prayer + Leaning On the Everlasting / Down at the Cross + There Shall Be Showers of Blessings + Are You Washed in the Blood / There is Power in the Blood + Since Jesus Came Into My Heart
Michael Shull. Come Into His Presence (Glory Productions 2001)
"Gentle confidence"
and "unhurried" are words which characterize this release
by the prolific award-winning dulcimer player Michael Shull. (56:06)
He returns to his earlier acoustic sound in a concept album intended
to guide and support the listener in 
quiet meditation. The mountain dulcimer is
clearly the leader here.
Including: Dan Williams (Guitar), Steve Scearce (guitar), Dennis Steele (guitar), Karen Lyle (harp), Mike Clemmer (acoustic bass) & Ronnie Davis (acoustic bass).
Available from: Michael Shull, 412 Ermine RD, West Columbia, SC 29170 (803)796-2559, email: Mshull1@aol.com, Website: www.michaelshull.com
Tunes: Sweet Hour of Prayer + Be Thou My Vision + Savior, Like A Shepherd + My Jesus, I Love Thee + What a Friend We Have in Jesus + Nearer My God to Thee + Softly and Tenderly + We Are Climbing Jacob's Ladder + When I Survey/Wondrous Cross +Were You There+ I Surrender All _ I Need Thee Every Hour + Trust and Obey + Holy, Holy, Holy + I've Got Peace Like A River + Jesus Loves Me + I Am Thin, O Lord + Near the Cross + Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee + Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus + Have Thine Own Way, Lord + Where He Leads Me + Leaning On the Everlasting Arms + Only Trust Him + Shall We Gather + Lily of the Valley + Blessed Be the Tie That Binds + God Be With You
Hammered Dulcimer Dulcimer Worship Recordings
Lucille Reilly. Thus Sings My Soul (Shadrach Productions 1998)
The 16 instrumental
tracks on this release by National Hammered Dulcimer and International
Autoharp champion Lucille Reilly are organized according to an
Order of Worship. (42:24) Hammered Dulcimer is the featured instrument
in 6 of them. Lucille's focus on technique
is evident in the clean playing heard here and her musicality
is superb--tune choice, arranging--very satisfying sounds for
worship, meditation and inspiration.
Available from: Shadrach Productions, PO Box 7338, Denver, CO 80207-7338, email: lucille@dulcimerlady.com. Website: www.dulcimerlady.com
Tunes: Christ, Mighty Savior + Morning Has Broken + I Sing the Mighty Power of God + Sweet Hour of Prayer + My Shepherd Will Supply My Need + Lo, He Comes with Clouds Descending + Stand Up for Jesus + How Great Thou Art + O'Carolan's Concerto + Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence + There Is a Fountain + Wondrous Love + There Is a Balm in Gilead + Amazing Grace + Standing on the Promises + Fisher's Hornpipe
Kendra Ward and Bob Bence.
Some Glad Morning! (Upcreek Productions 1994)
The 13 instrumental
tracks on this release feature Kendra Ward on Hammered and Mountain
Dulcimer. She is joined by husband Bob Bence on Guitar and Martha
Ward on accordion. (42:55) Arrangements for some of these tunes
are found 
in her book "That Old-Time Religion"
(enjoyed by a number of my beginning Hammered Dulcimer students!)
The spotlight is on the Hammered Dulcimer in this cleanly-played
recording
Available from: Upcreek Productions, 1681 Upcreek Rd., Bidwell, OH 45614, (614)388-8542
Tunes: I'll Fly Away + When the Roll is Called Up Yonder/I'll Be Somewhere Listening + Whispering Hope + The Unclouded Day + Amazing Grace + Do Lord/Old-Time Religion + When the Saints Go Marching In + Almost Persuaded + The Sweet Bye and Bye + Blessed Assurance + Will the Circle Be Unbroken/I Saw the Light + Simple Gifts + God Be With You