Musica Canis Avem

Holly Gwin, Selected Recordings

on Hammered Dulcimer

• 1. Sheep Beneath the Snow and Three Jigs
• 2. Boismortier's Passacaille
• 3. Cheddarville Waltz
• 4. Severn Suite
• 5. Joe Pye

1. Sheep Beneath the Snow/Snug in the Blanket

Manx Air plus three jigs, traditional. This Celtic medley begins with Sheep Beneath the Snow, an air from the Isle of Man, followed by three jigs: How She Got Up in the Morning, The Hag’s Purse, and Snug in the Blanket. Arranged by Holly Gwin. Holly is joined by Bill Chandler on rhythm guitar.

2. Boismortier's Passacaille

Holly Gwin made this arrangement for hammered dulcimer in 2017. It is based on a piece by Joseph Bodin de Boismortier originally written in 1727 for two musettes—small bagpipes.

3. Cheddarville Waltz

Holly wrote this arrangement for dulcimer based on three “Brunettes” by Esprit Philippe Chedville. Chedville's pieces were, like Boismortier's Passacaille, originally written as duets for small bagpipes.

4. Severn Suite

Gwin wrote Severn Suite to challenge herself on playing the dulcimer. She styled the first movement, Hommage a Beethoven, with a brief reference to a theme from Beethoven's Sonatina in G. She alludes to classical pieces as well as themes from Celtic classics. The suite's four movements also include a mournful pavane, a lively galliard, and a rodeo-like bourrée.

Matt Palmer in 2018 recorded an arrangement of Severn Suite for classical guitar.

5. Joe Pye

Holly wrote Joe Pye to celebrate birds, bees, and hummingbird moths as they land on and fly from a stalk of Joe Pye weed in full bloom.