History of the Original Dulcimer Players Club |
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In September 1963, Elgia C. Hickok founded the ORIGINAL DULCIMER
PLAYERS CLUB in Michigan. It was the first dulcimer club in America.
Through this club, many people were introduced to the captivating sound of the
dulcimer. There is some surviving documentation of the early years of the ODPC, such as this list of club meeting dates and locations, and a brief summary of the club hsitory, written in 1975 by Silas Braley. From the bylaws, the purpose of the Original Dulcimer Players Club is to: 1. Promote and preserve the art of playing the Hammered Dulcimer. 2. Provide an organization where dulcimer players can exchange information and knowledge regarding the instrument, with each other. 3. Provide for workshops, seminars and concerts. 4. Make this instrument better known to the public. 5. Perpetuate the art of construction and playing this instrument so that the knowledge can be of benefit to future generations. The outstanding role of Elgia C. Hickok and the ODPC in the revival of dulcimers in America is documented in the Smithsonian publication, The Hammered Dulcimer in America, by Nancy Groce, published in 1983. The ORIGINAL DULCIMER PLAYER'S CLUB created a market for the instrument and prompted builders to begin building again. The younger generation learned from the older generation to build and to play. And so, the dulcimer revival began and continues today. |
Throughout Michigan, dozens of community-based, dulcimer clubs have
sprung up patterning themselves after the ODPC. The growth of the dulcimer
community has extended to other states such as Kansas and Florida which boast
chapters of the ODPC. The ORIGINAL DULCIMER PLAYERS CLUB boasts a membership of 600+ families. As a result of the ODPC and the Funfest, the hammered dulcimer is considered to be more popular in Michigan than any other place in the entire country. There was even a bill introduced to recognize the hammered dulcimer as Michigan's State Instrument. The unique ODPC Funfest runs officially for three and a half days but many people come days or even weeks earlier just to jam and visit. The festival always begins on the Thursday before the third full weekend in July. As many as 750 camping units pull into the fairgrounds, some arriving a month and a half before the start of the event. Stage shows,vending areas and workshops highlight the festival. The cost for the whole event including the 220 workshops and printed program is $5. Volunteers make it happen. Michigan is the center of the hammered dulcimer world because of the ORIGINAL DULCIMER PLAYERS CLUB. |
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