ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, March 13, 1997 TAG: 9703130018
SECTION: QUICK LOOK PAGE: 3 EDITION: METRO
You won't find a courting dulcimer hanging in any local music store windows. But you will see one on stage at Virginia Western Community College's Whitman Auditorium tonight at 8 p.m.
The Smith Sisters (by birth) will be playing this oversized instrument, as well as guitar, electric bass, an Irish bodhran (a drum), African kalimba, Pueblo Indian drum, bones (yes!) and more as they sing folk, traditional, Irish and original compositions.
The duo has shared bills with Emmylou Harris, Kathy Mattea, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Ricky Scaggs - even with Reba. Merle Watson produced and played on their albums.
Tickets are $7. If you buy your tickets by phone, you can pick them up just before the performance. Call 857-7334 and have your plastic handy.
By the way, a courting dulcimer has a neck at each end of the instrument. Long ago, courting couples could make beautiful music together while parents listened from the other room. If the music stopped, well...
LENGTH: Short : 29 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: The Smith Sisters sing folk, traditional, Irish andby CNBoriginal compositions.