Album Notes

In A Branch of May (also released as part of Mel Bay's English Songs and Ballads for Appalachian Dulcimer book/cd package), Lance uses the instrument as part of an ensemble. A Branch of May features two of the finest singers of English and Celtic music in the country, Robin Banks and Nancy Curtin.

"Contributing considerable musical skills are some of the best musicians of the Portland-area British Isles "scene" ... Lance plays dulcimer, guitar, cittra, and synthesizer, as well as singing vocals on select songs ... Robin [Banks] particularly embellishes the melody with wondrous decorations!" [Refering to Vocals]
-Kathryn LaMar, Bay Area Folhlore Society 2001

"One of the most enjoyable things to come across my CD player in sometime!"
-Wayne Seymore (Conan the Librarian)

Lance Frodsham is one of the top mountain dulcimer players in on the West Coast today. His love of traditional music comes through in his unique way of using this "simple" instrument in English, Celtic and World Music.

While in high school, Lance hitchhiked up the California Pacific Coast Highway in search of Richard Fariña. Disillusioned to discover that Fariña had died two years earlier, Lance nevertheless moved to Monterey and bought his first dulcimer off of a street person on Cannery Row. Lance put out his first recording Dulcimer / Songs and Dances of the British Isles (KM 227) on the Kicking Mule label in 1983. It was produced by master fiddle player Kevin Burke. In 1994, Lance, along with multi-instrumentalist Sylvia Hackathorn, released WhistleStops & Dulcimers on the Wizmak label. Lance is a regular of the Kindred Gathering , a group of dulcimer enthusiasts who have been convening for over twenty years . He has taught workshops at several festivals including the California Traditional Music Society. Lance is a former member of the Portland, Oregon band No Seamus . He lives in the Pacific Northwest with his wife and family.