This collection is drawn from Ken Kolodner's extensive library of arrangements for the hammered dulcimer, developed from over 30 years of teaching thousands ofworkshops. This first book in this two-book companion collection includes traditional and original dance tunes including reels, jigs, hornpipes and polkas. The repertoire draws primarily from traditional music of the United States (Old-Time), Quebec (French-Canadian), Ireland, Scotland and beyond. Each tune is presented as a simple melody with chord progression along with one or more detailed arrangements, offering a wide range of levels of complexity. Backup and harmony parts are provided for many of the pieces. Included is a discussion of over 20 arranging ideas/techniques. The book is intended to be a lifetime resource for players of all levels. Kolodner is widely known as one of the most prominent teachers and performers of the hammered dulcimer and is especially known for his teaching of arranging techniques.

How I chose the tunes

Four skill areas

Backup and harmony parts

My three arranging approaches: individual techniques, the full model, and the kitchen sink

Caution: always learn just the melody and keep moving!

Hammering choices

Using the arrangements

TWENTY (or more!) ARRANGING IDEAS

 Using the full range of your instrument

 Hand separation or hand independence

 Two-note chords

 Three-note rolled chords

 Tremolos

 Hammered and bounced triplets

 Valley rolls

 Arpeggio fills and color notes

 Drones or pivot notes

 Melodic runs

 Ghost notes

 Note replacement

 Replacing phrases with brief passages of harmony

 Chord theory and substitutions

 Swing

 Accent shifts

 Additional rhythm ideas

 Borrowing from harmony and backup

 Dynamics

 Combining and varying ideas and improvisation

THE TUNES

Are You Sleeping Maggie (Scotland): melody

Are You Sleeping Maggie (Scotland): arrangement

Beaumont Rag (US): melody

Beaumont Rag (US): arranging ideas

Big Scioty (US): melody, accompaniment

Big Scioty (US): arranging ideas

Bill Cheatham (US): melody

Bill Cheatham (US): variations

Billy in the Lowground (US): melody and accompaniment

Billy in the Lowground (US): variations

Black Nag, The (England): melody

Black Nag, The (England): variations

Carnaval (Quebec): melody

Carnaval (Quebec): variations and accompaniment

Cuckoo’s Nest (US): melody, accompaniment

Cuckoo’s Nest (US): arranging ideas

Cumberland Gap (US): melody

Cumberland Gap (US): arrangement #

Cumberland Gap (US): arranging ideas

East Tenneessee Blues (US): melody

East Tenneessee Blues (US): arrangement #

East Tenneessee Blues (US): arrangement #

Eagan’s Polka (Ireland): melody

Eagan’s Polka (Ireland): arrangement

Fly Around My Pretty Little Miss (US): melody

Fly Around My Pretty Little Miss (US): arrangement #

Fly Around My Pretty Little Miss (US): variations

Frenchie’s Reel (Ward Allen and Mel Lavigne, Canada): melody, harmony, accompaniment

Frenchie’s Reel (Ward Allen and Mel Lavigne, Canada): arranging ideas

Galway, The (Ireland): melody

Galway, The (Ireland): arranging ideas

Grub Springs (US): melody

Grub Springs (US): arrangement #

Grub Springs (US): more arranging ideas

John Brown’s March (US): melody

John Brown’s March (US): arranging ideas

Johnny Cope (Scotland, US): melody, harmony

Johnny Cope (Scotland, US): arrangement #

Johnny Cope (Scotland, US): variations

Kitchen Girl (US): melody

Kitchen Girl (US): arrangement #

Kitchen Girl (US): arranging ideas

Lad O’Bierne’s (Ireland): melody with harmony

Lad O’Bierne’s (Ireland): arranging ideas

Lonesome John (asa Clinch Mountain Backstep) (US): melody, accompaniment

Lonesome John (asa Clinch Mountain Backstep) (US): arranging ideas

Missouri (Mike Dappert, US): melody, harmony, accompaniment

Missouri (Mike Dappert, US): melody, alternate accompaniment

Missouri (Mike Dappert, US): variations

North Carolina Breakdown (Arthur Smith, US): melody

North Carolina Breakdown (Arthur Smith, US): variations

O’Sullivan’s (Ireland): melody

O’Sullivan’s (Ireland): arrangement

Oklahoma Rooster, The (US): melody

Oklahoma Rooster, The (US): variations

Old Favorite, The (Ireland): melody

Old Favorite, The (Ireland): arranging ideas

Over the Waterfall (US): melody

Over the Waterfall (US): arrangement #

Over the Waterfall (US): variations

Reel du Nord (Quebec): melody

Reel du Nord (Quebec): arranging ideas

Reel St Joseph’s (Quebec): melody, accompaniment

Reel St Joseph’s (Quebec): arrangement #

Reel St Joseph’s (Quebec): variations

Rights of Man (James Hill, Ireland): melody

Rights of Man (James Hill, Ireland): arranging ideas

Road to Banff, The (Scotland): melody

Road to Banff, The (Scotland): arranging ideas

Roof for the Rain, A (Ken Kolodner, US): melody, accompaniment

Roscoe (US): melody, harmony, accompaniment

Roscoe (US): variations

Sail Away Ladies (US): melody

Sail Away Ladies (US): arranging ideas

Saint Anne’s Reel (Quebec, US, Ireland): melody, accompaniment

Saint Anne’s Reel (Quebec, US, Ireland): variations and arranging ideas

Salmon Tails up The Water (Ireland): melody

Salmon Tails up The Water (Ireland): arrangement

Shenandoah Falls (US): melody, harmony and accompaniment

Shenandoah Falls (US): variations

Silver and Gold Two-Step (US/Canada): melody

Silver and Gold Two-Step (US/Canada): arranging ideas

Snow Drop (US): melody

Snow Drop (US): arranging ideas

Swift House (Ken Kolodner, US): melody only

Tom Morrison’s (Ireland): melody

Tom Morrison’s (Ireland): arranging ideas

Washington’s Hornpipe (The Stony Steps or Good for the Tongue) (England/Ireland): melody, harmony

Washington’s Hornpipe (The Stony Steps or Good for the Tongue) (England/Ireland): arranging ideas #

Washington’s Hornpipe (The Stony Steps or Good for the Tongue) (England/Ireland): more arranging ideas

Willafjord (Shetland): melody, harmony/accompaniment, arranging ideas

Wren’s Polka, The (Ireland): melody

Wren’s Polka, The (Ireland): arrangement

YZ Hamilton’s Breakdown (US): melody

YZ Hamilton’s Breakdown (US): arrangement

APPENDICES

I INDEX OF TUNES BY TYPE OF TUNE

II INDEX OF TUNES RECORDED BY KEN KOLODNER

III SELECTED DISCOGRAPHY

IV ABOUT KEN KOLODNER