A brief history of FNDO
Something good came out of the pandemic!
Early history of FNDO
The First National Dulcimer Orchestra was formed in early Spring, 2021; it was born out of the realization that in this ‘virtual’ age there was no reason why we shouldn’t form such a group, one that was not limited by geographic locations/distances. It could truly be a *national* orchestra. Some of us have participated in smaller, local orchestras; but this was the first attempt to create such a widely-scattered, diverse group. Of course this could not happen in the ‘real world’ environment.
We started by simply throwing out a suggestion in a couple of dulcimer-related Facebook groups. The response was quick, and overwhelming! Dozens of people said they would like to do it! And so we began.
From the beginning, we wanted this group to be led by a ‘shared directorship’ – not just tied to a single person or conductor. We invited Mack and Melanie Johnston – who have founded and directed at least two such orchestras on a local level – to participate and share in the leadership. Other folks, prominent in the small world of dulcimer orchestra directors, have been invited to join on an occasional basis as guest conductors or advisors.
We meet weekly for a one-hour session – on Zoom – of practice and playing together. We are well aware of the limitations of Zoom for this kind of work; but we have developed a few tricks that help us minimize some of those limitations and improve our listening experience.
To join our group and participate in our rehearsals, there are certain commitments one must make, and certain skills one must have (just like in a real-world orchestra). We do try to be as inclusive as possible, though. Attesting to this is the fact that our membership is over one hundred strong, and showing no sign of diminishing! It’s very exciting, to say the least. The skill level of the folks who have joined us is pretty surprising, as well: while we do have a few folks who might describe themselves as ‘novice’ level, the majority describe themselves as ‘high intermediate’ or ‘advanced’ level players. More than one or two members are well-known dulcimer instructors / performers from around the country, some of whom could easily lead this group themselves! …but they seem happy to sit among the rest of the group and just ‘play with the band.’ We are quite thrilled to have such an esteemed group!
What kind of music do we play, and where does it come from? At this stage, we are using two books of music which were specially written as ensemble arrangements for dulcimer orchestras. One of these is a book that was put together especially for the FNDO, by one of our own members – Ellen Pratt (see accompanying article). The type of music in our books ranges from traditional folk songs to classical pieces to original compositions, and lots in between; it ain’t just fiddle tunes! Each orchestra member purchases their own individual copy of the books; we are clear that there is no ‘sharing’ of copyrighted material among members, and that the artists who composed and arranged our music are duly compensated. A third book of most classical arrangements is in the works now (being put together by another one of our own members, Carol Walker). In addition to these collections, we plan to make special purchases of individual pieces, where made available for ‘group purchase’ by arrangers / composers who produce such works. These will be paid for by a general fund that the Orchestra maintains.
In addition to the commitment of time, members also make a small but important financial commitment. Each participating member pays a nominal ‘membership fee’ on a monthly basis, which is collected through a Patreon account; this is the main source of our general fund, used to purchase music, compensate guest conductors, and other special needs.
The Orchestra also has a national sponsor! Early on, when the Orchestra was just being formed, Rick Gooden of New Harmony Dulcimers stepped forward and said that he would like to be our sponsor. We are thrilled to have this support – financial and more – which helps pay for some of our infrastructure costs (Zoom account upgrades, for example). Quite a few of the Orchestra members are proud to play a New Harmony dulcimer! And, a few months later, Dulcimer Players News said they would like to be a sponsor as well! We are proud to have these two fine organizations supporting us, on multiple levels.
One of the most compelling aspects of our rehearsals is the sheer energy that is shown by everyone. Zoom may not seem like the kind of place that you’d be able to see this, but it comes across in little comments, even in the questions that people ask. And the members are eager to help each other out – especially if one is having ‘technical issues’ with their computer, their connection, etc. We have implemented what we call our “Buddy System” which is a network of orchestra volunteers who can assist other members. If you want to “be a buddy” you can sign up to offer help; if you feel like you “need a buddy,” to help you in certain areas, then you can request one. This system has taken a big load off the shoulders of the leaders of the group; and it really exemplifies the way everyone helps everyone else.
When the Virtual Orchestra was founded, we did not know what it might evolve into or where we were headed. We soon realized that many of the folks who joined did so because a ‘virtual’ orchestra was the only one they had a chance to join. They perhaps live in a ‘dulcimer desert’ where there are no other players near them, and no opportunities to play in person with anyone – pandemic or no pandemic. So the Orchestra provides a real service to these folks.
Update: where we've traveled and where we are now
If you would like to learn more about the First National Dulcimer Orchestra, head over to our group page on Facebook, and click on the ‘Request to Join’ button. Or, feel free to email us at DulcimerOrchestra@gmail.com
-Kirk and Judy House
