The Misery Bay Dulcimer Club was founded in March of 1990 for the purposes of bringing dulcimer players of Northwestern Pennsylvania together for education, motivation, sharing of new music, ideas and related news, to provide an opportunity for group playing, and finally to share the beauty of the dulcimer with the public.

The majority of the folks in the Misery Bay Dulcimer Club play the Appalachian Mountain Dulcimer, one of America’s true folk instruments. This dulcimer is played using fingerpicking, flatpicking, or strumming techniques and our club members are encouraged to develop their own favorite playing styles to contribute to the sensational and unique-sounding group effort. The hammered dulcimer is also played on occasion by a few club members. This instrument is sometimes referred to as the lumberjack’s piano and is the ancient dulcimer referred to in the Bible. Other folk instruments such as the fiddle, autoharp, accordion, mandolin, bowed psaltery, guitar, penny whistle, bodhran and spoons occasionally appear at club events to compliment the mountain dulcimers being played.

The Misery Bay Dulcimer Club has completed three music books.  The first project was entitled “Sea Chanteys from Misery Bay” ~ consisting of both traditional and original sea chantey music. This was followed by “The Strolling Fiddler” ~ a collection of Welsh music. The latest undertaking was an assortment of song lyrics entitled the “Misery Bay Dulcimer Club Song Book” which is used for audience participation during our popular sing-a-long concerts.

The club performances feature many member arranged pieces ranging from the intricate harmonies of soft rounds, lovely waltzes, sacred hymns, classical & Renaissance music, to lively sea chanteys, humorous folk ballads, traditional fiddle tunes, Appalachian Mountain music, along with the ethnic music of Ireland, Scotland, Wales and many other countries.  During the Christmas Season, the club enjoys presenting a delightful selection of carols from European countries such as England, Germany, France, Poland and Sweden, as well as good old American holiday tunes.

The Misery Bay Dulcimer club, which presently has 18 active members, meets on Tuesday evenings, year round, and performs at least once a month at area nursing homes, hospitals, schools, churches and community events.  To date, well over 300 concerts have been performed.