Born in Delaware and raised in Maryland, Scott Williams took up the hammered dulcimer in college after a spontaneous purchase of one at the Maryland Renaissance Festival. A few months later, he was playing Christmas carols for the family church Christmas Eve service.
With Celtic, colonial, medieval, rock, and Renaissance influences, Scott has developed a repertoire of songs on the hammered dulcimer which he now performs at Downtown Disney, corporate events, private parties, street and Renaissance festivals, and shopping malls throughout Orange County, Central California, Las Vegas, and San Diego. His medieval renditions of Metallica are always a head-turning event at festivals, and an album titled 'Dulcitallica' consisting of 100% Metallica songs will be available in Summer 2009.
As a multi-instrumentalist, Scott plays and records the majority of what he calls his "backing tracks." These tracks are studio mixes of guitars, cello, bass, drums, mountain dulcimer, mandolins, and synthesizers to create the foundation of his music. He then performs live with the hammered dulcimer to combine the sounds for a presentation of what sounds like a full ensemble.
Scott has four studio albums, The Burning of the Piper's Hut (American folk / colonial), The Road to Lisdoonvarna (Celtic), Home for the Holidays (Christmas), and Tristan of the Western Sea (massage / yoga / meditation).
Since the hammered dulcimer is such an unusual instrument, people are very drawn to it. Children, especially, find it mesmerizing. "It's perhaps the best part of this adventure," Scott says, "…watching the expressions on children's faces, talking to them, and the best is letting them play the dulcimer. There are always several that leave an impact on me whenever I play. It's very heartfelt and magical."
The new CD, Tristan of the Western Sea, is an instrumental combination of hammered dulcimer and Celtic Harp with cellos, guitars, world drums, and strings accompanying. The music is good for relaxing the mind, soaking in a bubble bath, and unwinding children.
Read more...