Other hammered dulcimer songs like "Little Potato"

October 3, 2021 11:21 AM

My 1-year-old finds the song "Little Potato" by Metamora very calming. Are there other hammered dulcimer songs that sound like this, ideally on Spotify? Most of the hammered dulcimer music I find seem much more like dance numbers than lullabies and are less calming. Some of the other music by Metamora or Malcolm Dalglish or searching for [hammered dulcimer lullabies] Spotify is OK but is still not quite the same and I'm looking for more.
posted by grouse to Media & Arts (4 answers total)

I don’t have suggestions, unfortunately, but I am charmed that there are other folks out there who know about that song! It was one of my favorites when my kids (now 16 and 13) were little too.
posted by leahwrenn at 11:45 AM on October 3, 2021 [1 favorite]

I'm with your 1-year-old.

John McCutcheon sings and plays hammered dulcimer: Featherbed has lots of "Little Potato" energy. He’s made 41 albums, including Step By Step: Hammer Dulcimer Duets, Trios and Quartets. Can't put my finger on a list of his children's work, but it includes four seasonal discs: Summersong, Autumnsong and so forth.

Hammered dulcimer was a constant as the band Trapezoid cycled through various members. Trapezoid is all dulcimer. I think their 1980 Now and Then is one of the best records of all time; while there’s plenty of dulcimer, it’s also full of vocal swing. Founding member Sam Rizetta is releasing albums solo now.
posted by Jesse the K at 12:48 PM on October 3, 2021 [4 favorites]

Very gentle classical guitar instead of hammered dulcimer, a whole disc of night songs and lullabies; Siente. There's a followup album, even.

Sample song
posted by clew at 2:04 PM on October 3, 2021

Check out Larajii, for instance his album with Brian Eno or this Tiny Desk concert.
posted by xil at 7:26 PM on October 3, 2021