SYDNEY MARTIN
AWARD-WINNING INSTRUMENT BUILDER AND RECORDING ARTIST
*National Traditional Country Music Performer of the Year Award
*National Gospel Songwriter Award
*Colorado State Mountain Dulcimer Competition finalist
*Songwriter's Award of Excellence - Colorado Composers Classic
*Grand prize instrument builder
BOUNTIFUL HARVEST CD
by Sydney Martin
Traditional Tunes featuring
mountain dulcimer, autoharp, mandolin,
bowed psaltery, guitar and acoustic bass
Sydney Martin
mountain dulcimer,bowed psaltery,guitar,lead vocals
Laurie Sky
chorded zither (autoharp),acoustic bass,harmony vocals
Bill Sky
guitar, mandolin,harmonica,harmony vocals
My Dear Companion * In The Pines * Put My Little
Shoes Away * Little Moses * Wayfaring Stranger *
Rosewood Casket * Bountiful Harvest * Little Old Log
Cabin In The Lane * When You and I Were Young,
Maggie * Give Me The Roses * The Cuckoo/Shady Grove
"A beautiful expression of fine talent and extraordinary
songs. This wonderful piece of light stringed, gentle
and passionate music deserves a round of applause
and should be in all acoustic music lovers libraries."
Bob Everhart, National Traditional Country Music Association President
SOFTLY AND TENDERLY CD
Dulcimer Instrumental Gospel and Inspirational Arrangements by Sydney Martin
Sydney Martin - mountain dulcimer
Jim Hudson - hammered dulcimer,guitar,keyboard,bass
*Morning Has Broken
*Blessed Assurance
*Till The Storm Passes By
*Trust And Obey
*Amazing Grace
*Will The Circle Be Unbroken/
*I Saw The Light/I'll Fly Away
*Softly and Tenderly
*Sweet Hour of Prayer
*What A Friend We Have In Jesus
*Holy Holy Holy/Fairest Lord Jesus
"Lovely to listen to and the most soothing antidote
to a stressful day one might hope to find."
Phyllis Walbye, Loveland Reporter-Herald Entertainment Editor
BOUNTIFUL HARVEST BAND
Are you looking for a band that's fun, exciting, and draws in crowds? Then you need Sydney Martin's Bountiful Harvest Band for your festival or special event!
What makes them so different? To start with, they have a unique and fresh approach to traditional, bluegrass and gospel music. Yes, they still play many of the old favorites. And often the gentle, string-band sound emerges that fans of award-winning mountain dulcimer player, Sydney Martin, expect to hear. Martin's Colorado good nature shines through the music as the band delivers unusual arrange-ments that bring the dulcimer to the forefront of their performance. This early American instrument is also referred to as a lap dulcimer since most players lightly strum or fingerpick the strings while holding it in their lap. But Martin plays stand-up style, enabling her to move onstage as she presents driving rhythms and exciting lead breaks not normally associated with the dulcimer. Bountiful Harvest's sound is further cemented by great guitar backup and lead breaks of Don Davis, precise fiddle intonation of Barbara Merrell, solid bass of Toni Davis, lovely lead and harmony vocals, and a great selection of tunes! These musicians move from sweet and simple melodies to raw and powerful drones with the ease of a greased pig wallowing in a mud puddle!
In addition to some of the songs from Martin's Bountiful Harvest CD, Bountiful Harvest Band offers a variety of music ranging from the sweet-sounding "Smokey Mountain Smoke" to an emotionally moving "Wayfaring Stranger", a fast-paced, driven arrangement of "Two Coats", and frolicking fun with "Pig In A Pen". They mix
well-known tunes with rarely heard and original material, and it is obvious that they love to work the crowds and involve their audiences. According to Martin's description of the band, "We ain't real pretty and sometimes sound half baked. We like to try different recipes and mix up the ingredients. Some turn out soft and mushy, others deep-fried and crispy. When we crank up the heat, we really cook!" It's no wonder that the band sells, in addition to CDs, a cookbook appropriately titled "Bountiful Harvest". Another band product, the "Bountiful Harvest Home-Prayer-Plaque", is a framed color print of the Martin family farm with lyrics from the Bountiful Harvest song's prayer chorus printed beneath. Instead of hawking T-shirts as many bands do, they sell barbecue aprons imprinted with the words "Bountiful Harvest ... Cookin' Country". They even offer fly swatters which bear the band logo along with a warning to those nasty little critters that invade cookouts, "Shoo fly. That's my pie!"
Martin received a National Traditional Music Performer of the Year Award in 1993 and a National Gospel Songwriter Award in 2003. She has been recognized at state and national levels as a builder of mountain dulcimers. Barbara Merrell plays violin with Colorado's Longmont Symphony and is now a zealous convert - of fiddling and old-time music, that is! The somewhat sick, but clean humor of Don Davis gets him into trouble with bass player, Toni, who is also his wife. She might threaten not to let him come home after the show when he announces before an audience, "I can tell this stage is set up really good and level 'cause Toni's drooling from both sides of her mouth!" But Toni Davis is also the band's "Miss Congeniality" and just loves talk-talk-talking to fans after the show, making each one feel like they've been her best friend forever.
Martin performs with various musicians throughout the country and as a solo artist. Her "Softly and Tenderly" CD of inspirational gospel music features mountain and hammered dulcimer instrumentals and her "Bountiful Harvest" recording features traditional string band music with award-winning Ozark Mountain musicians, Bill and Laurie Sky. For information and sound bites, log on to www.cdbaby.com and enter artist name Sydney Martin. To book Martin or Bountiful Harvest Band for your festival or other special event, call 303-774-7950 or e-mail dulcidrone@aol.com.
DEDICATED TO THE PRESERVATION OF TRADITIONAL AMERICAN MUSIC
HANDCRAFTED INSTRUMENTS BY SYDNEY MARTIN
BOWED PSALTERIES
†The BOWED PSALTERY was probably developed in Europe in the late 1800s and is a descendant of an earlier type of medieval zither. It is also related to the ancient biblical plucked psaltery played by King David and referenced in Psalms. Its triangular shape is said to represent the Christian Trinity. Because it is so easy to play, it is often used as a tool for teaching music to young children. Visually set up similar to a piano, it has natural notes along the right side and sharps and flats on the left. It is played with a bow, one note at a time, and has a mysterious violin-like sound. More advanced players may wish to try "double-bowing" the instrument. This enables the playing of two notes at the same time to create beautiful harmonies.
My bowed psalteries combine the qualities of solid bookmatched hardwood backs (walnut, cherry, or exotic woods) and hard maple pinblocks with the finest solid spruce tops. Matching hardwood top binding enhances the beauty and protects the spruce edges. Custom soundholes feature a variety of delicately woodburned soundhole designs. Bow, rosin, tuning wrench, and tuning and playing instructions are included.
Alto Model (2 octave, 25 strings) ..... $275.00
Models with exotic hardwood backs and matching binding are slightly higher in price. Extra bow ....$35.00
Custom Tenor Models (up to 4 octave) are also available. Prices start at $475.00.
MOUNTAIN DULCIMERS
Appalachian settlers developed the MOUNTAIN DULCIMER
during the mid-1800s based on memories of earlier folk instruments of their native lands. This new "American" instrument emerged, representative of mountain life with its simplicity and sweet song. Traditionally played with a turkey quill as a pick and a noter, or short wooden rod, moved along the treble string(s), it is perhaps the easiest of all fretted instruments to play.
My dulcimers are designed for a clear, well-balanced response. The hourglass model features bookmatched, solid hardwood back and sides of walnut, cherry, or exotic wood and solid spruce top with matching hardwood binding. Channeled fingerboard is appointed with pearl position markers and includes the 6½ fret. Nut and compensated bridge are of micarta, a durable, ivory-like material,
and nut is notched to accommodate four strings with doubled treble strings or four equally spaced strings. Fine precision gears ensure accuracy and ease of tuning.
Please inquire about availability. Prices start at $600.00.
Track List:
1. My Dear Companion
2. In The Pines
3. Put My Little Shoes Away
4. Little Moses
5. Wayfaring Stranger
6. Rosewood Casket
7. Bountiful Harvest
8. Little Old Log Cabin In The Lane
9. When You & I Were Young, Maggie
10. Give Me The Roses
11. The Cuckoo/Shady Grove
Suggested CDs:Other Genres:
AWARD-WINNING INSTRUMENT BUILDER AND RECORDING ARTIST
*National Traditional Country Music Performer of the Year Award
*National Gospel Songwriter Award
*Colorado State Mountain Dulcimer Competition finalist
*Songwriter's Award of Excellence - Colorado Composers Classic
*Grand prize instrument builder
BOUNTIFUL HARVEST CD
by Sydney Martin
Traditional Tunes featuring
mountain dulcimer, autoharp, mandolin,
bowed psaltery, guitar and acoustic bass
Sydney Martin
mountain dulcimer,bowed psaltery,guitar,lead vocals
Laurie Sky
chorded zither (autoharp),acoustic bass,harmony vocals
Bill Sky
guitar, mandolin,harmonica,harmony vocals
My Dear Companion * In The Pines * Put My Little
Shoes Away * Little Moses * Wayfaring Stranger *
Rosewood Casket * Bountiful Harvest * Little Old Log
Cabin In The Lane * When You and I Were Young,
Maggie * Give Me The Roses * The Cuckoo/Shady Grove
"A beautiful expression of fine talent and extraordinary
songs. This wonderful piece of light stringed, gentle
and passionate music deserves a round of applause
and should be in all acoustic music lovers libraries."
Bob Everhart, National Traditional Country Music Association President
SOFTLY AND TENDERLY CD
Dulcimer Instrumental Gospel and Inspirational Arrangements by Sydney Martin
Sydney Martin - mountain dulcimer
Jim Hudson - hammered dulcimer,guitar,keyboard,bass
*Morning Has Broken
*Blessed Assurance
*Till The Storm Passes By
*Trust And Obey
*Amazing Grace
*Will The Circle Be Unbroken/
*I Saw The Light/I'll Fly Away
*Softly and Tenderly
*Sweet Hour of Prayer
*What A Friend We Have In Jesus
*Holy Holy Holy/Fairest Lord Jesus
"Lovely to listen to and the most soothing antidote
to a stressful day one might hope to find."
Phyllis Walbye, Loveland Reporter-Herald Entertainment Editor
BOUNTIFUL HARVEST BAND
Are you looking for a band that's fun, exciting, and draws in crowds? Then you need Sydney Martin's Bountiful Harvest Band for your festival or special event!
What makes them so different? To start with, they have a unique and fresh approach to traditional, bluegrass and gospel music. Yes, they still play many of the old favorites. And often the gentle, string-band sound emerges that fans of award-winning mountain dulcimer player, Sydney Martin, expect to hear. Martin's Colorado good nature shines through the music as the band delivers unusual arrange-ments that bring the dulcimer to the forefront of their performance. This early American instrument is also referred to as a lap dulcimer since most players lightly strum or fingerpick the strings while holding it in their lap. But Martin plays stand-up style, enabling her to move onstage as she presents driving rhythms and exciting lead breaks not normally associated with the dulcimer. Bountiful Harvest's sound is further cemented by great guitar backup and lead breaks of Don Davis, precise fiddle intonation of Barbara Merrell, solid bass of Toni Davis, lovely lead and harmony vocals, and a great selection of tunes! These musicians move from sweet and simple melodies to raw and powerful drones with the ease of a greased pig wallowing in a mud puddle!
In addition to some of the songs from Martin's Bountiful Harvest CD, Bountiful Harvest Band offers a variety of music ranging from the sweet-sounding "Smokey Mountain Smoke" to an emotionally moving "Wayfaring Stranger", a fast-paced, driven arrangement of "Two Coats", and frolicking fun with "Pig In A Pen". They mix
well-known tunes with rarely heard and original material, and it is obvious that they love to work the crowds and involve their audiences. According to Martin's description of the band, "We ain't real pretty and sometimes sound half baked. We like to try different recipes and mix up the ingredients. Some turn out soft and mushy, others deep-fried and crispy. When we crank up the heat, we really cook!" It's no wonder that the band sells, in addition to CDs, a cookbook appropriately titled "Bountiful Harvest". Another band product, the "Bountiful Harvest Home-Prayer-Plaque", is a framed color print of the Martin family farm with lyrics from the Bountiful Harvest song's prayer chorus printed beneath. Instead of hawking T-shirts as many bands do, they sell barbecue aprons imprinted with the words "Bountiful Harvest ... Cookin' Country". They even offer fly swatters which bear the band logo along with a warning to those nasty little critters that invade cookouts, "Shoo fly. That's my pie!"
Martin received a National Traditional Music Performer of the Year Award in 1993 and a National Gospel Songwriter Award in 2003. She has been recognized at state and national levels as a builder of mountain dulcimers. Barbara Merrell plays violin with Colorado's Longmont Symphony and is now a zealous convert - of fiddling and old-time music, that is! The somewhat sick, but clean humor of Don Davis gets him into trouble with bass player, Toni, who is also his wife. She might threaten not to let him come home after the show when he announces before an audience, "I can tell this stage is set up really good and level 'cause Toni's drooling from both sides of her mouth!" But Toni Davis is also the band's "Miss Congeniality" and just loves talk-talk-talking to fans after the show, making each one feel like they've been her best friend forever.
Martin performs with various musicians throughout the country and as a solo artist. Her "Softly and Tenderly" CD of inspirational gospel music features mountain and hammered dulcimer instrumentals and her "Bountiful Harvest" recording features traditional string band music with award-winning Ozark Mountain musicians, Bill and Laurie Sky. For information and sound bites, log on to www.cdbaby.com and enter artist name Sydney Martin. To book Martin or Bountiful Harvest Band for your festival or other special event, call 303-774-7950 or e-mail dulcidrone@aol.com.
DEDICATED TO THE PRESERVATION OF TRADITIONAL AMERICAN MUSIC
HANDCRAFTED INSTRUMENTS BY SYDNEY MARTIN
BOWED PSALTERIES
†The BOWED PSALTERY was probably developed in Europe in the late 1800s and is a descendant of an earlier type of medieval zither. It is also related to the ancient biblical plucked psaltery played by King David and referenced in Psalms. Its triangular shape is said to represent the Christian Trinity. Because it is so easy to play, it is often used as a tool for teaching music to young children. Visually set up similar to a piano, it has natural notes along the right side and sharps and flats on the left. It is played with a bow, one note at a time, and has a mysterious violin-like sound. More advanced players may wish to try "double-bowing" the instrument. This enables the playing of two notes at the same time to create beautiful harmonies.
My bowed psalteries combine the qualities of solid bookmatched hardwood backs (walnut, cherry, or exotic woods) and hard maple pinblocks with the finest solid spruce tops. Matching hardwood top binding enhances the beauty and protects the spruce edges. Custom soundholes feature a variety of delicately woodburned soundhole designs. Bow, rosin, tuning wrench, and tuning and playing instructions are included.
Alto Model (2 octave, 25 strings) ..... $275.00
Models with exotic hardwood backs and matching binding are slightly higher in price. Extra bow ....$35.00
Custom Tenor Models (up to 4 octave) are also available. Prices start at $475.00.
MOUNTAIN DULCIMERS
Appalachian settlers developed the MOUNTAIN DULCIMER
during the mid-1800s based on memories of earlier folk instruments of their native lands. This new "American" instrument emerged, representative of mountain life with its simplicity and sweet song. Traditionally played with a turkey quill as a pick and a noter, or short wooden rod, moved along the treble string(s), it is perhaps the easiest of all fretted instruments to play.
My dulcimers are designed for a clear, well-balanced response. The hourglass model features bookmatched, solid hardwood back and sides of walnut, cherry, or exotic wood and solid spruce top with matching hardwood binding. Channeled fingerboard is appointed with pearl position markers and includes the 6½ fret. Nut and compensated bridge are of micarta, a durable, ivory-like material,
and nut is notched to accommodate four strings with doubled treble strings or four equally spaced strings. Fine precision gears ensure accuracy and ease of tuning.
Please inquire about availability. Prices start at $600.00.
Track List:
1. My Dear Companion
2. In The Pines
3. Put My Little Shoes Away
4. Little Moses
5. Wayfaring Stranger
6. Rosewood Casket
7. Bountiful Harvest
8. Little Old Log Cabin In The Lane
9. When You & I Were Young, Maggie
10. Give Me The Roses
11. The Cuckoo/Shady Grove
Suggested CDs:Other Genres:
- COUNTRY: Traditional Country
- COUNTRY: Bluegrass
- TYPE: ACOUSTIC