Album Notes

Rick Fogel is a distinguished hammer dulcimer performer, luthier and teacher. At festivals and venues across the country, Rick displays virtuosity in his performance of classical, traditional, Celtic, and original compositions.

Rick captivates an audience with his mastery of the hammer dulcimer and his passionate enjoyment of music. The Whamdiddle Full Harmonic features Rick playing three hammer dulcimers, with a span of over seven octaves. His musical tastes are diverse, covering a wide range of styles and traditions, changing easily from old-timey to classical. Whether powerful or tender, Rick's music moves the spirit.

Rick brings exceptional technique and sensitivity to the dulcimer on his latest recording with the Whamdiddle Quintet. Their well-received album, Through the Looking Glass, highlights Rick's innovative performance on the dulcimers he designs and builds. Listening to Rick solo or in ensemble is a delightful experience.

In 1975, Rick first learned to build and play the dulcimer in Charlottesville, Virginia, after receiving a masters degree in nuclear physics. He has since founded the Whamdiddle Dulcimer Company, built hundreds of dulcimers, performed and taught workshops at the Augusta Heritage Center in West Virginia, the Wisconsin Stringalong, Northwest Folklife in Washington, and collaborated with the Seattle Symphony on a movie score and recording. Most recently, Rick was featured in a TV documentary for PBS and NHK Japan on the "Craftsmen of the World" series.