Southern Appalachian Studies
Mountain Dulcimers with Mike Clemmer
Monday, July 24, 7 p.m., Sharon Lawson Room
Mike Clemmer, whose dulcimers are played internationally, will be the featured speaker and musician of the Mountain Dulcimers program. He will give a brief history of the mountain dulcimer, simple instructions on playing the instrument, and will discuss building techniques he has used over the years.
An experienced guitar and bass repairman, Clemmer came into his current occupation of dulcimer builder and player by accident. As a result of an acquaintance asking Clemmer to help him get caught up on dulcimer orders, Clemmer moved to Townsend and learned the art of dulcimer building. He says, “It’s been a labor of love ever since.”
Handcrafted from walnut, cherry, butternut, sassafras or wormy chestnut, Clemmer’s dulcimers are as pleasing to the eye as they are to the ear. Clemmer also crafts the Ban-Jammer, an instrument of his own original creation, which combines elements of the banjo and dulcimer.
A builder of dulcimers since 1976, Clemmer and wife Connie, have owned and operated Wood-N-Strings Dulcimer Shop in Townsend, Tennessee, for 21 years.
This program is part of the Southern Appalachian Studies series.
Open to the public, this program is hosted by Blount County Public Library, located at 508 N. Cusick Street, Maryville. For further information about library programs or services, call the library at 982-0981 or visit the Web site at www.blounttn.org/197.
