The music of the mountain dulcimer, planted in antiquity and rooted in the rich culture of Europe and the British Isles, found a home in the hardscrabble lives of mid-nineteenth century American pioneers. A century later, folk music revivalists loosed the dulcimer from the seclusion of the Southern highlands. Today this beautiful instrument enjoys a unique and important place in American music.

When the Internet and World Wide Web burst into modern life, the community of the mountain dulcimer benefited through the phenomenon of an active, gratifying dulcimer discussion group called Sweet Music Digest. It's participants communicate via e-mail to pique the imagination and provide information and encouragement to one another.

Sweet Music Index is designed to complement Sweet Music Digest as a reference source, for answers to recurring questions about the dulcimer and its music, and a guide to resources on the World Wide Web. It is a servant to the living music and creative musicians of the mountain dulcimer. Its contents are assembled from active musicians of all sorts -- traditional and progressive, popular and sacred, professional and amateur -- our mutuality is found in our enjoyment of the sweet shape and sound of the mountain dulcimer.

The Index is by no means exhaustive nor does it aspire to be the authority on all things dulcimer. That privilege is reserved for the entire community of mountain dulcimer enthusiasts, including the contributors to the Index who have graciously donated their articles for the benefit of the reader. If you have comments or questions about any of these articles, please contact the respective author through the e-mail address provided at the end of each article. The editor and webmaster of Sweet Music Index, like the authors, are participants in the Sweet Music Digest e-mail discussion group, but do not administer the e-mail list.

Daniel Partner, Editor

Traveler's Aid -- How to Get Around in the Index

For information about:
Copyright see: A Primer on Copyright;
Sweet Music Digest see: Discover Sweet Music Digest;
Contributing to the Index see: Investigate Sweet Music Index.

Design: Copyright 1998 -- Sweet Music Index
Articles: Copyright 1998 -- individual authors

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