Dulcimer tones on the steps of the Capitol

Members of the Silver Strings Dulcimer Society filled the springtime air with the sweet sounds of a chorus of hammered dulcimers in front of Michigan’s Capitol on Tuesday. The society, based in Garden City, sent about 30 musicians to play for an hour and entertain lunchtime strollers.

They played classical mountain and traditional music including “Over the Waterfall,” “The Westphalia Waltz” and “Red Apple Rag.”

Musicians in the society play a wide range of acoustic instruments, including the hammered dulcimer, mountain dulcimer, banjo, guitar, autoharp, fiddle, string bass, mandolin, washtub bass, folk harp, recorder, tin penny whistle and harmonica.

They meet twice every month in Garden City, and perform about 40 times a year. They have performed at Greenfield Village, The Palace of Auburn Hills, Cobo Hall, the Detroit Athletic Club and the Henry Ford Estates, to name a few.

The society was formed in 1983 when members of a dulcimer class in Wyandotte got together to practice. Since then it has grown to more than 100 members.

For more information, go to www.silverstrings.org.