Ted Yoder - National Hammer Dulcimer Champion

Artist: Ted Yoder
Album: Comfort and Joy
Review by Matthew Warnock
Rating: 4 stars (out of 5)


Growing up in a musical family in Indiana has sure helped to ingrain a deep sense of melody and musicianship in hammered dulcimer performer Ted Yoder. Receiving his first dulcimer as a wedding gift only 13 years ago, the talented musician has since grown to become the 2010 National Hammer Dulcimer Champion and his new release Comfort and Joy showcases the many reasons why Yoder has risen to the top of the dulcimer world in such a short time.

When most people think of the hammered dulcimer, the sounds of folk music dance through their heads, but Yoder takes the instrument in a unique and highly entertaining direction with his quasi-new age leanings and interesting use of reverb during the recording. Normally, anyone who has won a national music competition will have done so based on their sheer virtuosity, technicality and facility with their instruments, but while Yoder does possess great technique, it is his musicianship that soaks every track, bringing a level of emotion to each piece that makes an instant connection to the listener. Though he has the chops to tear through a piece of difficult music, his choices in texture and dynamics reflect the high level of musical maturity that Yoder possesses, something that fans of the instrument and Christmas music can thoroughly enjoy.

The album’s 10 tracks represent a wide swath of the standard Christmas repertoire, with a few surprises thrown in to keep things interesting. Each of these classic songs is given a new and creative arrangement, helping to differentiate this album, besides being played on a hammered dulcimer, from all of the other Christmas records on the market. Songs such as “Little Drummer Boy,” with its layers of notes and clever use of muting, brings a smile to one’s face while at the same time leave listener’s in awe of Yoder’s masterful performance. His use of rhythmic accents and note groupings is highly engaging, bringing to light yet another aspect of Yoder’s musical landscape.

As well, everyone’s favorite gothic sounding Christmas song “Carol of the Bells” is included in this collection and it is one of the album’s standout tracks. Integrating synthesizer, auxillary percussion and drum set, Yoder’s arrangement retains all of the classic elements of the original composition that have made it a holiday classic, while his personality is allowed to seep through, resulting in an arrangement that has the potential to become one of the best-known recordings of the Carol. Other tracks such as “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” and “We Three Kings,” jump to life with the instrument possessing a tone that one would expect from a piano, not an instrument as small as the hammered dulcimer. The variety of tones and timbres that Yoder is able to draw out of the dulcimer is one of the album’s strongest points, driving his music into exciting territory and avoiding any aural burnout that a listener might have.

Comfort and Joy is a solid effort by Yoder from both a performing and arranging standpoint. His high level of musicianship and creativity have brought new life to these oft-played, and sometimes over played Christmas classics. As well, the album acts as the perfect introduction to the hammered dulcimer, an instrument that sometimes doesn’t receive the credit it deserves from the musical community, and one that possesses a wider range of timbres and tones than most would have guessed. While most holiday albums receive airplay but once a year, with such a strong performance listeners might just find themselves popping this record into their CD players year round.


Review by Matthew Warnock
Rating: 4 stars (out of 5)


- ReviewYou.com

Artist: Ted Yoder
Album: Comfort and Joy
Review by Matthew Warnock
Rating: 4 stars (out of 5)


Growing up in a musical family in Indiana has sure helped to ingrain a deep sense of melody and musicianship in hammered dulcimer performer Ted Yoder. Receiving his first dulcimer as a wedding gift only 13 years ago, the talented musician has since grown to become the 2010 National Hammer Dulcimer Champion and his new release Comfort and Joy showcases the many reasons why Yoder has risen to the top of the dulcimer world in such a short time.

When most people think of the hammered dulcimer, the sounds of folk music dance through their heads, but Yoder takes the instrument in a unique and highly entertaining direction with his quasi-new age leanings and interesting use of reverb during the recording. Normally, anyone who has won a national music competition will have done so based on their sheer virtuosity, technicality and facility with their instruments, but while Yoder does possess great technique, it is his musicianship that soaks every track, bringing a level of emotion to each piece that makes an instant connection to the listener. Though he has the chops to tear through a piece of difficult music, his choices in texture and dynamics reflect the high level of musical maturity that Yoder possesses, something that fans of the instrument and Christmas music can thoroughly enjoy.

The album’s 10 tracks represent a wide swath of the standard Christmas repertoire, with a few surprises thrown in to keep things interesting. Each of these classic songs is given a new and creative arrangement, helping to differentiate this album, besides being played on a hammered dulcimer, from all of the other Christmas records on the market. Songs such as “Little Drummer Boy,” with its layers of notes and clever use of muting, brings a smile to one’s face while at the same time leave listener’s in awe of Yoder’s masterful performance. His use of rhythmic accents and note groupings is highly engaging, bringing to light yet another aspect of Yoder’s musical landscape.

As well, everyone’s favorite gothic sounding Christmas song “Carol of the Bells” is included in this collection and it is one of the album’s standout tracks. Integrating synthesizer, auxillary percussion and drum set, Yoder’s arrangement retains all of the classic elements of the original composition that have made it a holiday classic, while his personality is allowed to seep through, resulting in an arrangement that has the potential to become one of the best-known recordings of the Carol. Other tracks such as “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” and “We Three Kings,” jump to life with the instrument possessing a tone that one would expect from a piano, not an instrument as small as the hammered dulcimer. The variety of tones and timbres that Yoder is able to draw out of the dulcimer is one of the album’s strongest points, driving his music into exciting territory and avoiding any aural burnout that a listener might have.

Comfort and Joy is a solid effort by Yoder from both a performing and arranging standpoint. His high level of musicianship and creativity have brought new life to these oft-played, and sometimes over played Christmas classics. As well, the album acts as the perfect introduction to the hammered dulcimer, an instrument that sometimes doesn’t receive the credit it deserves from the musical community, and one that possesses a wider range of timbres and tones than most would have guessed. While most holiday albums receive airplay but once a year, with such a strong performance listeners might just find themselves popping this record into their CD players year round.


Review by Matthew Warnock
Rating: 4 stars (out of 5)


- ReviewYou.com