Find out about dulcimers, an ‘antidote to today’s obsession with a screen,’ at Saturday’s festival
Barbara Gershman, left, and Roberta “Bobbi” Adler display their dulcimers at Adler’s home in Garden Grove. Gershman has a hammer dulcimer and Adler holds a fretted dulcimer.
The string instrument sounds like the child of a harp and guitar and seems to help listeners travel back to medieval times.
Back in 1700s to mid-1800s, the dulcimer allowed young lovers to play duets and flirt while keeping their hands occupied, experts say.
For Roberta “Bobbi” Adler of Garden Grove and Barbara Gershman of Huntington Beach, the instrument provides camaraderie that calms both players and listeners.
“When you play you can’t think of anything else. You can’t worry about anything else,” said Gershman, who has been playing for 30 years and is the vice president of Southern California Dulcimer Heritage, a group of about 50 players.
The group will present its annual Harvest Festival of Dulcimers on Saturday in Costa Mesa.
The instrument is presented in two forms: fretted — which has fewer than five strings and is shaped similarly to a guitar but sits flat on the player’s lap — and hammered — which has more than 80 strings and sits like a table, with the player hitting it with two pieces of wood, similar to the way a xylophone is played.
The event includes afternoon and evening concerts, as well as workshops and vendors. Four dulcimers, valued at $150 to $600, will be raffled. Proceeds go to Dulcimer Heritage.
Adler, who has been playing for almost two decades and serves as president of the group, considers the instrument an “antidote to today’s obsession with a screen.”
“People are relating to computers and iPhones better than with other human beings,” she said. “In order to participate in these experiences with the music, you have to interact with other people.”
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IF YOU GO
What: Harvest Festival of Dulcimers
Where: Presbyterian Church of the Covenant, 2850 Fairview Road, Costa Mesa
When: Saturday from 9a.m. to 8p.m.
Cost: Free admission; $20 for evening concert ticket; $50 for workshops (registration required)
Info: scdh.org
Twitter: @BrittanyWoolsey
