Corinna Rogers: Bringing the Hammered Dulcimer to Nashville's Bluegrass Scene

In this episode of The Artist's Voice, I had the pleasure of speaking with hammered dulcimer player Corinna Rogers, an accomplished musician currently based in Nashville, Tennessee, who originally comes from Upper Austria. Corinna shares her fascinating musical journey, which began in Austria where she was first introduced to the hammered dulcimer. She reflects on her early music education and explains the rich history of the instrument in Austrian folk traditions. The hammered dulcimer has long been an important part of the folk music heritage of the Alpine regions, where its bright, resonant sound accompanied traditional dances, village celebrations, and cultural gatherings. Passed down through generations, the instrument remains a beautiful link between history and contemporary folk music. During our conversation, Corinna talks about what inspired her to leave Austria and pursue a musical career in Nashville, one of the world's most influential music cities. She discusses how warmly the hammered dulcimer has been embraced by fellow musicians, despite being a relatively uncommon instrument in many contemporary settings. Its distinctive tone adds a fresh and captivating dimension to performances, making it an exciting instrument for collaboration. One of Corinna's greatest passions is working with artists from diverse musical backgrounds. She enjoys exploring unexpected musical combinations and creating new sounds that emerge when different genres and traditions meet. These creative collaborations continue to inspire her and allow the hammered dulcimer to reach audiences in fresh and innovative ways. Since settling in Nashville, Corinna has found a welcoming musical community and discovered a deep appreciation for bluegrass music. While the hammered dulcimer is not traditionally associated with bluegrass in the same way as the banjo, fiddle, or mandolin, Corinna demonstrates how beautifully the instrument can complement the genre. Its shimmering melodies and rhythmic versatility bring a unique voice to bluegrass, enriching both traditional and contemporary performances. The Inspiration by Keys of Moon | https://soundcloud.com/keysofmoon Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/