BENNINGTON, Okla.—At Master Works, Russell Cook, shares his enthusiasm for the ancient dulcimer. Master Works is a workshop he founded and it is known internationally, with Russell having won many awards for his prized instruments.
The shop is located in Bennington, Okla., right off of highway 70. Russell notes that Song of the Wood, another dulcimer workshop, is right off of highway 70 in North Carolina. “We’re just right down the street,” he says.
Russell Cook could be considered an ambassador of the dulcimer instrument: “We’ve traveled around 3-4 million miles the last few years. We have been to dulcimer festivals, folk festivals, and talking to people from all over the United States about dulcimers.”
Growing up, Russell’s passion for the dulcimer came after his brother-in-law came back from a festival in the Ozark Mountains in Arkansas. He brought home a dulcimer kit that they assembled. He fell in love with dulcimers and salvaged strings and parts off of an old piano to see if he could make one for himself.
“The first dulcimer didn’t turn out that great, so I went back and made another one, that one turned out excellent.” Russell said.
Mastering the craft, he went on to open a workshop and win awards in festivals for his craftsmanship, becoming one of the world’s premiere dulcimer builders.
Establishing its roots over one hundred years ago in the Appalachian Mountains, dulcimers made their niche in American culture as a folk instrument. Dulcimers around the world, however, are ancient.
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In Latin, Dulcimer is spelled dolcimelo, dolce means “sweet” and melos means “song.” Dulcimer is roughly translated as “sweet music.” Russell Cook said the dulcimer has an ancient sound. It has its roots in some of the earliest civilizations. A carving carbon-dated from 600 to 700 B.C. shows a Persian King playing a version of the dulcimer.
The ringing noise of the dulcimer gives it a harp-like sound that feels melodious and somewhat mysterious. The dulcimer, Russell notes, “can be built for specific sounds. We can give it a softer melodious sound that would work well for gospel music or more attitude and volume for traditional American folk music.”
“Leaving a good legacy for people and giving them an instrument that they will enjoy, play, and keep for future generations is the most rewarding aspect of my work,” Russell says with excitement.
Russell Cook is happy to share his knowledge with anyone, so stop on by or visit the Master Works website at: masterworksok.com
