Description
“The use of the dulcimer in worship services takes us back to a simpler, unhurried time. In our society we tend to think that music needs to be played louder and faster. The sweet song of the dulcimer tells us to relax, take a deep breath and listen for that still, small voice.” (from the Foreword by Esther Kreek)
Includes SUPPLEMENT: Hymns in DAd tuning (all the DAA hymns are arranged for DAd tuning as well). The Supplement also includes an Outline for an Advent Chorale Worship Service. (18 pp.)
Recommended for:
Dulcimer Players with a basic level of playing experience who wish to expand their repertoire to include hymns of faith.
Dulcimer Teachers whose students want to play the hymns and songs of their faith.
Pastors and Church Musicians who seek to expand the congregation’s experience of worship, recapture and enliven the cultural traditions of the congregation, so they can appreciate the new cultural gifts from other people in our midst; and those who seek to include other instrumentalists and voicing in the congregation’s worship.
About the Author
Steve Eulberg won 2nd place in the 1998 National Mountain Dulcimer Championship at the Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, Kansas and hosts a monthly Slow Jam for Hammered Dulcimers in northern Colorado.
Born in Pemberville, Ohio, Eulberg is a veteran of numerous vocal and instrumental ensembles. He has participated in and led worship and musical programs in over 19 states. He has arranged worship services led solely by dulcimers as well as arranging for acoutical ensembles where dulcimer were a part of the leadership team.
After 6 years of piano and 7 years of school band, Eulberg applied his musical knowledge to learning the many acousitcal insturments he plays. He has had formal schooling in ear training and arranging at the Conservatory of Music–Captial Unviersity (Columbus, OH) where he earned a B. A. in History. He received the Mastor of Divinity degree from Trinity Lutheran Seminary, also in Columbus.
An award-winning multi-instrumental song-writer, his music may be heard on 5 recordings by Owl Mountain Music. He is also the author of a volume of poetry and of Dulcimer-Friendly Worship, Vol II: a Service of Evening Prayer and editor and contributor to 2 collections of worship music.
He is currently the Director of Music at the Lutheran Campus Ministry @ Colorado State University–St. Thomas Chapel.
Table of Contents (Listening Samples are from the recording Hark, the Glad Sound!)
BEREDAN VÄG FÖR HERRAN
HAF TRONES LAMPA FÄRDIG
NUN KOMM, DER HEIDEN HEILAND
FREU DICH SEHR (Psalm 42)
JEFFERSON
ST. HILLARY
HYFRYDOL
STUTTGART
PUER NOBIS
WINCHESTER, NEW (CRASSELIUS)
MACHT HOCH DIE TÜR
CONSOLATION (MORNING SONG)
VENI EMMANUEL
CHESTERFIELD (RICHMOND)
O HEILAND, REISS DIE HIMMEL AUF
STIR UP
BURLEIGH
VERY SOON
BATTLE HYMN OF THE REPUBLIC
ST. ANDREW’S
steve@owlmountainmusic.com –
Dulcimer Friendly Worship, Volume 1 by Steven Eulberg is a treasure for dulcimer players who wish to play familiar and new advent hymns. Steven has present much more than a collection of sixteen hymns. He has done extensive research on the text and tunes and has included very interesting historical background for each. In addtion to offering several different melodies for many of the hymns, he has provided multi-leveled arrangements thus allowing dulcimer players the option of playing the melody, or chordal accompaniments. Even the accompaniments range in difficulty from easy to more challenging arrangements. He has presented an assortment of tunings including Ionian (DAA), Aeolian (DAC), and Dorian (DAG).
Steven has chosen a nice variety of hymns, ranging from modern to older style hymns. He has even shared an original entitled, “Stir Up Your Power, O Lord,” which is beautifully arranged and is sure to become a favorite. His harmonizations are very pretty, and fit the style of each particular hymn. He has done some very innovative and creative harmony for “The King Shall Come” by providing arrangements in Aeolian and Dorian tunings which can be played together.
His scholarly approach to the background and classification of this collection is truly impressive. The appendices will be very useful to church musicians, choir directors and those wishing to locate collections which contain the original hymns and settings.
The words I would use to describe Dulcimer-Friendly Worship, Volume 1, are versatile and complete. This book contains some beautiful dulcimer music which is well presented and will be enjoyed by individual players, dulcimer “choirs,” and congregations and/or community groups who have the privilege of hearing the living music which Steven has shared with us. I will look forward to the next volume in the series.” — Susan Trump, Dulcimer Player and Teacher
steve@owlmountainmusic.com –
“Good Preface and playing tips! Good tuning explanation in your appendix! Reading did help me understand a bit more about the dulcimer in addition to giving me some text and tune history.” — A new dulcimer player in Missouri
steve@owlmountainmusic.com –
“This music book is wonderful! Great concept and loads of information. As a dulcimer player I welcome such resources. And what better season to play the soft tones of the dulcimer than in Advent, a season of quiet anticipation. I especially like the chording offered on each piece. Thanks for this wonderful resource.” — A pastor in Missouri
steve@owlmountainmusic.com –
“When my (dulcimer) club President handed me your order form, she knew I was searching for music to fill the long Advent serice season at my very small, very quiet Church (which) has less than 80 members. We have a small organ but have no organist and canned music is getting old. My husband and our children began playing dulcimers. It was a way to introduce and stay in touch with my Appalachian roots. Before your book arrived I had already begun to transpose from Lutheran Worship but you saved me a lot of hassle. Would you consider another DFW volume, perhaps oriented to Lent?Thank you for providing this wonderful Advent resource.” — A church musician in Kentucky
steve@owlmountainmusic.com –
“Wow! This tells you everything and it is interesting to read.”– A pastor in Kansas, who now desires to get his unstrung dulcimer back into service