Reviews of Church in the Wildwood:
From Jerry Rockwell, Guysville, OH:
"GREAT New Hymn Book by Carol Walker!! Carol Walker has done it again!!! I love all her books! Most of them have layered arrangements for different levels of proficiency and so they are great for dulcimer clubs! This new book of hymns has an easy version and a fancy version of most of the hymns, and they are able to be played together for the most part.
"These are masterful arrangements and are a JOY to play: I had a blast right off the bat with 'This Is My Father's World' - which is one of my favorites - and the fancy version of 'Sweet Hour Of Prayer' is tricky, but great fun to play. All in all, I haven't found a better collection of beautifully-arranged hymns. Highly recommended!!!"
From Kirk House, Winston-Salem, NC:
"There are - literally - hundreds of tab books available in the dulcimer world. Do we need another one? Or, another question might be, 'Is Church in the Wildwood just another tab book?' Not at all! It is *outstanding* in a crowded field of tab books; and yes, we do need this one.
"On opening the book, just flipping through pages, I was first struck by how clear, clean, and bright the tab is. Carol has chosen a beautiful font, so it is aesthetically pleasing just to look at. All the markings and music notations are easy to read (large size and bold). You would think that this would be a 'standard feature' in tab books, but alas! 'tis not always so.
"The arrangements themselves are quite creative and clever. Most of them are duets, combining an 'Easy' part with a 'Fancy' part (more advanced), so there is something for every skill level. For many of the arrangements, either part could be played by itself or, of course, with its counterpart. Carol has included specific directions / suggestions for most of the numbers. Of note to me, personally (as a bass dulcimer player) is that Carol seems especially cognizant of how many of the arrangements could be approached if one were playing bass. (This is not true on all of the songs - and almost none have what you'd call a specific 'bass line' - but many of them do have notes /suggestions for a bass dulcimer player.) So I tip my hat to Carol for this.
"Last, I should mention that the 'Introduction' section of the book - which covers general instructions, notes on copyright issues, etc. - is *very* well written. Though the book is not really an 'instructional' book, it nevertheless contains a good bit of exactly that.
"Five Stars!"
From Judy House, Winston-Salem, NC:
"Carol Walker’s new book, Church in the. Wildwood, is a work of art! In the past year, I have seen an enormous push for more and more multi-part arrangements by Dulcimer groups around the country. Carol’s new book is a must for your group! Covering the whole range of skill levels, it is perfect for church services, retirement homes, and anywhere else these beautiful old hymns seem appropriate.
"Carol is an exceptional teacher which you will notice immediately in the introductory pages as well as her comments throughout the book. Be sure to read every word, and take her suggestions to heart.
"Many arrangements in this book contain amazing note combinations giving you, in her own words, some 'delicious chords' for some great 'take notice' sounds. I love the way she has made some of the parts playable on various types of dulcimers, giving your group a fuller sound.
"Take Carol up on trying the songs in various creative ways and you too will have the ability to transport your audiences to that Little Brown Church in the Vale!"
"Carol Walker’s new book, Church in the. Wildwood, is a work of art! In the past year, I have seen an enormous push for more and more multi-part arrangements by Dulcimer groups around the country. Carol’s new book is a must for your group! Covering the whole range of skill levels, it is perfect for church services, retirement homes, and anywhere else these beautiful old hymns seem appropriate.
"Carol is an exceptional teacher which you will notice immediately in the introductory pages as well as her comments throughout the book. Be sure to read every word, and take her suggestions to heart.
"Many arrangements in this book contain amazing note combinations giving you, in her own words, some 'delicious chords' for some great 'take notice' sounds. I love the way she has made some of the parts playable on various types of dulcimers, giving your group a fuller sound.
"Take Carol up on trying the songs in various creative ways and you too will have the ability to transport your audiences to that Little Brown Church in the Vale!"
From Melanie and Mack Johnston, Asheville, NC:
"Your comments/suggestions on each piece are clear and creative. They serve as good teaching points and help the player think about different ways to bring musicality to a piece. As teachers of various levels of dulcimer students we really appreciate that each song has a part for newer players and one for those with more experience. Great to play the 'easy' then 'fancy' separately, then together with a partner. The arrangements of the hymns in this book are melodic and beautiful, and use beautiful chord voicings that set them apart from other arrangements. These lovely arrangements are approachable by all levels of dulcimer players."
"Your comments/suggestions on each piece are clear and creative. They serve as good teaching points and help the player think about different ways to bring musicality to a piece. As teachers of various levels of dulcimer students we really appreciate that each song has a part for newer players and one for those with more experience. Great to play the 'easy' then 'fancy' separately, then together with a partner. The arrangements of the hymns in this book are melodic and beautiful, and use beautiful chord voicings that set them apart from other arrangements. These lovely arrangements are approachable by all levels of dulcimer players."
From Bob Mallalieu, Stroudsburg, PA:
"I would describe it as a treasure for the soul! While I don’t know the volume of your previous sales, I would expect this to be your most successful publication. For me, as an experienced player, I enjoyed the simple versions as an entry point, then moved into some of the fancy arrangements. Though I’ve played hymns for years, I found your arrangements wonderfully inviting. In the chording, I heard what my ears wanted to hear in the hymns and found my fingers exploring new ways of movement to create the sounds that are embedded in the traditional hymns. I felt like I was in church, playing the hymns as they were intended to be played - all on the dulcimer! It was a real blessing - thank you!"
"I would describe it as a treasure for the soul! While I don’t know the volume of your previous sales, I would expect this to be your most successful publication. For me, as an experienced player, I enjoyed the simple versions as an entry point, then moved into some of the fancy arrangements. Though I’ve played hymns for years, I found your arrangements wonderfully inviting. In the chording, I heard what my ears wanted to hear in the hymns and found my fingers exploring new ways of movement to create the sounds that are embedded in the traditional hymns. I felt like I was in church, playing the hymns as they were intended to be played - all on the dulcimer! It was a real blessing - thank you!"
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