Gathering in the Year

2025 certainly has been an eventful year in my life, and music had followed me all the way through my adventures and travels! Therefore, in lieu of monthly or seasonal updates, I offer you a review of my musical discoveries and recollections throughout this significant year, which has seen, among other things, a two-week long visit to England for Dulcimer and Halsway week and sightseeing, the long-anticipated release of my Irish music anthology for mountain dulcimer called Irish Emeralds for Mountain Dulcimer, and most recently the beginning of an intensive health journey throughout which music will continue to be a constant, through teaching, performing, and listening! Here are some of my favorite things I have listened to this year...

Katherine Priddy
"Indigo"

"Indigo" is an early composition by up-and-coming folk urban musician Katherine Priddy (admittedly the only one of hers that I've listened to!). My suspicion is that this track's sensuous and expectation-defying modal shifts, with their evocation of the elven-inspired "Aniron" and "The Council of Elrond" from the soundtrack of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, are no accident! The lyrics are a tribute to a beautiful old tree and the free spirit of a child in a forest, motifs that are indeed both elven and elemental...

Studio Ghibli film soundtracks by Joe Hisaishi and Cecile Corbel

Although I am a latecomer to the wonders of the films of Studio Ghibli, I have been delightfully surprised by the sophistication, depth, and often whimsy of their soundtracks and themes, especially those by Joe Hisaishi and Cecile Corbel. Here is a sampling of my favorites from the album "Joe Hisaishi: A Symphonic Celebration - Music From The Studio Ghibli Films Of Hayao Miyazaki," a live performance from the WDR Funkhausorchester, and the soundtrack for The Secret World of Arrietty:

"Merry-Go-Round of Life" from Howl's Moving Castle

This theme appears in a memorable scene from the film Howl’s Moving Castle in which the charming young wizard helps shy hatter Sophie to escape from the unwanted attention of some city guards by walking through the air… and stealing her heart in the process! “That’s my girl!”

"The Legend of Ashitaka" from Princess Mononoke

Prince Ashitaka, the leader of a nearly extinct indigenous tribe, must go on a great journey to make peace between the elemental forest world and the industrial world of humans and to cure the curse that is spreading throughout his body. The power, beauty, and dark majesty of this theme has deeply moved me ever since my teen years… Thank you, Jonathan, for bringing this music to my attention!

"A Town with an Ocean View" from Kiki's Delivery Service

This whimsical little theme accompanies the flight of apprentice witch Kiki and her black cat Jiji as they approach the new city where she, in her thirteenth year, is setting out into the world to make her own way… and a promising place it looks to be!

Cecile Corbel
“Arrietty's Song”
https://open.spotify.com/track/4F22XJWhfi1BHI0fOA9td6?si=6028f9e093214e77

“Arrietty’s Song” comes from a strikingly beautiful animated film based loosely on Mary Norton's "The Borrowers" called The Secret World of Arrietty. As with most of Miyazaki’s films, it pays unique attention to detail in the background scenery and environments in which the characters move. In the world of the Borrowers, flowers (which are beautiful and abundant) are as large as lamps; no bouquets are necessary, for a single blossom is centerpiece enough for their dimensions! Young Arrietty is full of wonder and a spirit of adventure, yearning for greater space in which to discover and become herself, and that sweet longing is captured enchantingly in her theme song. 

Val Cortoni

I had the pleasure of meeting and swapping albums with Val Cortoni in person this past May at the Dulcimers at Halsway week in Somerset, UK, and not only is his music exciting, exuberant, and expressive, but he is also a very friendly  human being as well! He takes the hammered dulcimer into refreshing, progressive territory but also remains connected with the ancient and traditional roots of the instrument. A fine example of this is his electronica-infused interpretation of "Carolan's Welcome"!

Full Album- Corelian: https://cortoni.bandcamp.com/album/cor-lian
 

Highlight: "Carolan's Welcome" (Similar to Sleepthief, Amethystium, Longing for Orpheus)

The Gallier Brothers

Among the albums of mountain dulcimer that I enjoy listening to the most for pleasure are the recordings by the Gallier Brothers! On the Wing, the first Gallier album I ever heard, was lent to me and my mom by a fellow attendee of Western Carolina University Mountain Dulcimer Week. I remember listening to this groundbreaking recording while driving through the Great Smoky Mountains, and it utterly exploded and expanded my paradigms for what was possible musically on the mountain dulcimer. Positive, upbeat, and even elegant in down-to-earth and engagingly minimalist ways... Among my favorite tracks from this album are "Gypsy Wind" and "Autumn's Shadow." Its follow-up, Craft of Kin, represents an even deeper commitment to their craft and an even richer variety of styles and instrumentation. All of it is the perfect soundtrack for creativity!

• Full Album: On the Wing (note that the clips for web streaming are lower-fi compared to the beautiful acoustics of the download and print editions): https://dulcimercentral.com/album/337801/on-the-wing
• Full album- Craft of Kin: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nstM7v0Vne_89Aaa1NG_9swKH1c0vEasE&si=TAuKMqjS7ST0ydmt

Highlight: "Merlin's Hornpipe" 

 

Two stunning artists with similar vocal types and instrumental accompaniments are the French artist Catherine Braslavsky and Canadian Kate Price.

Catherine Braslavsky

What a pleasant surprise it was to discover the music of Catherine Braslavsky, whose often uses the mountain dulcimer to accompany her rich, powerful, and deeply spiritual singing, including medieval chants, hymns, and troubadour songs. Her music gave me inspiration when I myself had the privilege of traveling to Europe with my dulcimer! I have grown  attached to the recording Chartres, which was recorded in the Chartres labyrinth, because it reminds me of the beautiful tradition at the University of West Florida of setting up a replica of the Chartres Cathedral labyrinth for meditative and prayerful walking…

Full Album- Chartres: The Path of the Soul: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mZHANTR7WSb3wqsd6aD7V3_Nx1OPXMGR8&si=jXPU7fLrORINCuLJ

  

Highlight- "Quant voi la flor novele" 
(medieval French troubadour song, features mountain dulcimer accompaniment!)

Kate Price 

Kate Price feels like a contralto/mezzo version of Loreena McKennitt, same lush and fearless Romanticism. In her recordings, she plays both hammered dulcimer and a relative of the mountain dulcimer, the hummel. If you can get your hands on a copy of The Time Between" (out of print), it is well worth it and is a perfect recording to listen to around Halloween. It is a first attempt, a bit rough around some edges, but for me, that only lends it authenticity... Some of its tracks are included on Songs from the Witches Wood: "Calling Me Home," "Peaceweaver," and "The Lady and the Eagle." 
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nO8qzfPJEiV4uImZHQlwT8eIekx1ti3Ow&si=uOuExwsEBbtFyGp5

The album Deep Heart's Core (still in print) is also wonderful: https://youtu.be/r64-P_aMB_4?si=aDpw6xDjObEm748B

Jan Duindam 

https://www.janduindam.com/

Jan Duindam is a Dutch musician whose career began in the folk movement of the 1970's but which only continued to deepen and mature through the influences of his spiritual studies and his dedication to Portuguese-style guitar playing. His profoundly meditative music and highly skilled musicianship deserve a much wider audience! He originally reached out to me because one of his students introduced him to my music, and I have been amazed at how kindred our spirits are musically! This time, we highlight his collaborative album The Three Pillars, which incidentally features a solo from Jan on another antecedent of the mountain dulcimer, the epinette des Vosges, called "Toward the One." 

Full album- The Three Pillars: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mT19ncNC4A7KXM26j3r07LH1yAtWugZao&si=JTa0pM75VxIt6ls1

Highlight: "Otoño" 

Some breathtaking buried treasures of acoustic musicianship have also surfaced among my Spotify playlists, including some work by guitarist Gabriel Lee and the progressive 1980s folk ensemble Trapezoid… 

 Gabriel Lee
“Nature Cycles Variations, Pt. 1”

The warm, passionate tones and recurring patterns of Gabriel Lee’s "Nature Cycles Variations, Pt. 1" reflect the steady cycle of changing seasons… perfect fireside listening for these cold months (and even if you have no fireplace, make a cup of tea instead!). This piece actually works very well on mountain dulcimer, too!  

 

Trapezoid

Amongst the lush experimentation that the group Trapezoid engaged in when they signed on to the Narada label are some instrumental tracks that capture timeless sentiment and elemental power. The pieces "Moon Run" and "Tal" both embrace similar sonic palettes, bringing to mind moonlit dances and the romance of yesteryear… so powerful and deeply moving! 

"Moon Run"

"Tal"

It is very close to both Halloween and Thanksgiving here in the United States, times for giving thanks for people who have accompanied us and things that have blessed us... so with that thought in mind, I want to express my gratitude to all of you for your engagement with music this year and for your kind support and friendship! I hope that this festive season will give you even more reasons to celebrate!

 

Many thanks,

Jessica Comeau

www.JessicaComeauDulcimer.com