Joc's Instruments

Joc plays all of the stringed instruments: guitar, mandolin, dulcimer and fiddle. 

The Dulcimer is a shallow wooden box strung with wires which are hit with small wooden hammers. It was used widely in puppet plays in the 17th and 18th centuries. There is mention of it in English literature as far back as the 15th century. The dulcimer is a direct ancestor of the piano. 

For more information on the Dulcimer click here

Mandolin

This mandolin, made by Oakwood, produces a rich and distinctive timbre. The sound quality is more akin to the traditional rounded shaped mandolins.

Joc mostly plays the guitar during  listening tunes in between dances. It  provides the bass element when John plays the concertina and provides a percussive timbre when Dil is playing whistle.

Bowed instruments of many types exist all around the world, but the modern Violin first appeared in Italy in the early 16th century. The modern classical violin has a longer neck and fingerboard than the original baroque design, in order to provide more volume.