tag:dulcimercentral.com,2005:/blogs/reviews?p=2Reviews2018-03-20T11:13:01-05:00Gary Gallierfalsetag:dulcimercentral.com,2005:Post/51357102018-03-19T10:12:00-05:002018-03-20T11:12:42-05:00Review of Gallier Brothers Archive CD by Lorinda Jones<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/191534/a325098a360576c0868aba3dd13508c8a077cb99/small/archive-small-front.jpg" class="size_s justify_left border_" />Review on the all instrumental collection representing three decades of original compositions for fretted dulcimer and ensemble by The Gallier Brothers.</p>
<p>This is the CD I would like to have heard if I were starting my life over as a dulcimer player in order to be instilled with the belief that the mountain dulcimer is only limited to the imagination of the player.</p><!-- more -->
<p>Archive is an excellent “sampling” of the musical life of Gary and Les Gallier and their vision for the music as played and written on the mountain dulcimer. It is 78 minutes of original music encompassing a myriad of genres including jazz, rock, Caribbean influence, classical, Celtic, and yes, even traditional instrumental folk!</p>
<p>After seeing his first dulcimer, Gary found some plans and built one...out of quarter inch plywood! As his building improved, his playing improved, while his hand-me-downs went to Les. Rather than focusing on learning the repertoire heard in most dulcimer gathering jam sessions, they set out to create their own music on the dulcimer. Gary’s major influences being Doc Watson, Sam Bush, David Grisman, and Bela Fleck, he was drawn to flat-picking as a primary style of playing, while Les pursued a fingerpicked style. In time, both Gary and his brother Les went on to earn the title of National Mountain Dulcimer Champion at the Walnut Valley Festival, in Winfield, KS, 1987 and 1991, respectively.</p>
<p>Creating their own music may have isolated them from other mainstream dulcimer players, but the Gallier brothers stayed true to their focus and mission. The Archive is a testament to that steadfastness of creating dulcimer music that moves beyond traditional to progressive acoustic music. When asked about how their style of playing evolved, Gary stated, “We didn't have any (dulcimer players) influence at all, but drew from the music we grew up with. Other instruments...guitar, mandolin, and so forth...played by our friends and heroes.”</p>
<p>The opening song, Gypsy Wind is a great example of this unique approach to the dulcimer. The track begins with the sound of a lonely wind, the dulcimer comes into this sound accompanied by a fiddle drone and then the dulcimer breaks into a fast flat-picking tune that is reminiscent of the great guitar flat pickers and the signature of Gary Gallier’s playing. This is the playing style that comes from someone considered a trail blazer of flat picking on the mountain dulcimer. However greatly I respect and admire Gary’s precision flat-picking and Les’ rhythmic fingerpicking, it is the ensemble approach I find most pleasing as a listener. Filling out the tune with an ensemble appropriate for each tune brings this album to an acoustic lover’s dream. As a professional drummer, Les brings his talent to shine on these cuts with a variety of percussion, as well as the harmonies and back-up from both Les and Dave Wilson on cello, mandolin, guitar, and violin.</p>
<p>I also love the imagery each piece brings to the listener. Black Cats will make you look around your shoulder to see if the cats are approaching you from behind your chair! Happy Habanero will have you rocking your head side to side, tapping your foot, and indeed, having happy thoughts, and in stark contrast, Gitano Solitario will bring you down to the darker side, but Riff and Roll will have you back up dancing!</p>
<p>I am pleased that the Gallier Brothers released this compilation disc. I have all their previous CDs (Race To The Gate, 1989, On The Wing, 1993, Craft of Kin, 2001 and Three Wire Choir, 2012) so it is great to have their body of work all on one disc that takes the listener on a 25 year musical journey crafted by these innovative dulcimer players.</p>
<p>Having composed only a handful of tunes in my music lifetime, I still find the most incredible achievement is this represents only a sampling of the enormous body of original work that the Gallier Brothers have contributed to the dulcimer community. When asked “why all original compositions” his answer was “Our Dad always said make your mark for who YOU are. It was never a "decision" to express our own vision. It was just a natural feeling thing to do. We didn't see a reason to do cover tunes.”</p>
<p>As a fellow dulcimer player, I am most grateful that the creative achievements of two great dulcimer players are now “Archived” as an inspiration for all dulcimer players!</p>Gary Galliertag:dulcimercentral.com,2005:Post/40182012016-02-01T09:02:39-06:002022-05-30T23:40:48-05:00Three Wire Choir - by Stephen Seifert<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/191534/33f3212f94b89a7888405a82d83d12ac55c9b82d/small/dpn.jpg?1454340850" class="size_s justify_left border_thin" alt="" />Reprinted From Dulcimer Players News , Summer 2013 </p>
<p>I’ve been listening to Gary Gallier’s new recording, Three Wire Choir, for about a month now. Like his previous two recordings, Craft Of Kin and On The Wing, the sound quality and musicianship is among the best in the dulcimer world. </p><!-- more -->
<p>Besides being an innovative player, Gary also built the dulcimers used on this recording. I’ve played many of his instruments and know they are one of the reasons his projects sound as good as they do. Gary sure knows how to put together a great band. The lineup includes the absolutely fabulous David Wilson on violin, cello, mandolin, and bass; Bo Brown on guitar; and Dave Sowers on bass. </p>
<p>While Gary plays lead DAD-tuned dulcimer on the tunes he wrote, his brother Les plays lead DAA-tuned dulcimer on the tunes he wrote. He typically uses fingerpicks and is one of he best DAA players I have ever heard. Les also does a great job with guitar and percussion. Adding a nice touch to a number of tracks is pianist Jan Milosh. This is the first record of Gary’s that makes use of the ebony and ivory, and I love the combination. </p>
<p>Styles include Gypsy, Caribbean, Latin, Bluegrass, and neo Elizabethan, and more. The all instrumental arrangements range from powerfully sparse to complex and lush. All but one track is written by either Gary or Les. These guys don’t just play the melody over and over. Between solid treatments of the main themes, they take turns jamming and improvising over the chord changes. Gary did a fine job of mixing this recording. Dulcimers stand out well when used for leads and are also clearly heard when in the backup role. </p>
<p>If you want to hear a great recording of a great band, featuring world-class dulcimers, and a bunch of great musicians, order this recording. Gary will always be one of my most favorite dulcimer players. I believe he will inspire your playing as much as he has my own. Visit his website at www.dulcimercentral.com </p>
<p>Track Listing: Black Cats, Old Wish, Blessing in Disguise, Riff and Roll, Happy Lonesome Waltz, Irie Irie, Set in Three (Flatbush Waltz – Andy Statman, Flatworld – Andy Cutting, Land’s End – Tim O’Brien), Catnap Dream, Scramble the Groove, Fog and Sun, Dulcimambo, Farewell Fair One, Wingfoot Reel/Jam O’Jelly </p>
<p>Gary Gallier, P.O. Box 4922 g.s., Springfield, MO, 65808 417 865-4170</p>Gary Galliertag:dulcimercentral.com,2005:Post/40182152016-01-25T09:10:00-06:002021-11-04T11:01:55-05:00Neal Walters: reviews Craft of Kin<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/191534/33f3212f94b89a7888405a82d83d12ac55c9b82d/small/dpn.jpg?1454340850" class="size_s justify_left border_thin" alt="" />From the Fall 2001 issue of Dulcimer Players News </p>
<p>Les and Gary Gallier are the “kin” implied in the title and the two brothers make some wonderful music together as those of you who have their earlier “On the Wing” release will testify.</p><!-- more -->
<p>Both are former Winfield champions on the mountain dulcimer and their styles are curiously contrasting: Les plays finger-style in the D-A-A tuning while Gary flatpicks using the D-A-D tuning. As often as not, Gary adds various percussion instruments to the mix while Les plays guitar and some <br>percussion also in addition to dulcimer.</p>
<p>David Wilson adds his remarkable skills throughout on fiddle, cello, guitar, bass, slide guitar, and mandolin. Princess Harris plays hammered dulcimer on one track and Lee Woman plays bohdran on another. The music is all instrumental and all original. Les and Gary never seem to lack for creative ideas and Craft of Kin contains 13 gems that evoke visions of everything from life along the Mississippi River to mystical Celtic sounds to fiery gypsy melodies. Their arrangements are layered masterpieces and the dulcimer playing is remarkable for its sensitivity, taste and precision. David Wilson’s contributions are brilliant as usual – I have never heard this man do anything I didn’t totally enjoy – and help to make this an album of truly great acoustic music that simply transcends any attempt to categorize it as merely an extraordinary dulcimer album. This is music that holds its own with anything you might hear on Windham Hill or Narada. The fact that Les and Gary express themselves through the dulcimer is great for our dulcimer community but you’d like this stuff even if it were played on nose flute.It is indeed a great dulcimer album too and one for all of us to savor. </p>
<p>— <br>Neal Walters <br>Doofus Music/Basement Music <br>12228 Hollowell Church Rd <br>Greencastle, PA 17225 <br>neal@doofusmusic.com <br>http://doofusmusic.com</p>Gary Galliertag:dulcimercentral.com,2005:Post/40183572015-09-01T10:55:00-05:002016-03-04T05:59:18-06:00The Gallier Brothers – Craft of Kin <p>Winfield review reprinted from the Walnut Valley Occasional, September, 2002 By Wanyne Steadham II <br><br>This collection of instrumental acoustic music is a cerebral trip to Appalachia. These guys include dulcimer, mandolin, fiddle and hand drums to evoke music like an acoustic Moody Blues recording sans the synthesizer.</p><!-- more -->
<p>The Gallier Brothers along with David Wilson have accomplished what few new musical acts of this genre only wish they could. Les and Gary Gallier give us a “new” sound. Not somber or boring but lively and bold is the course with this CD. The deeply layered acoustic music is fantastic and a welcome relief showing this music in a rich wonderful setting.</p>Gary Galliertag:dulcimercentral.com,2005:Post/40183582015-04-05T10:55:00-05:002016-02-01T10:58:13-06:00Pulp Magazine: review of Craft of Kin<p>Reprinted from The Pulp magazine – www.readthepulp.com <br>Craft of Kin, The Gallier Brothers, 13 tracks, 53:30, 4 Stars </p>
<p>If you don’t know the music of the Gallier’s, then your way behind the curve. Brothers Les and Gary – a pair of hugely talented Missouri Ozarkers – not only create memorable music; they also build the dulcimers to coax out their aural ideas. The result: Seamless elegance, and a unique addition to your CD collection. </p><!-- more -->
<p>Craft of Kin is billed as “new music for the dulcimer”, but it could also be called “classics for the new century”. The 13 songs here are rich and reveal a depth of composition that comes with experience, in music and in life. </p>
<p>You might know of Les through his kit work with The Domino Kings, the honky-tonk whirlwind. But the Galliers have awesome props all their own; nationally known for their innovation on the mountain dulcimer, each brother has won the title of national champion at the Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, Kan. But the Galliers are equally known and respected for their catalog of original works, infused with jazz, rock, Irish, and mountain touchstones. </p>
<p>And don’t forget the easy island sound on “Happy Habanero” Or the Victorian lilt of “Upstream”. Every track on Craft of Kin brings clarity and peace of mind; you are able to consider each song, and the feelings they evoke, in calm space provided by the engaging sounds. Nothing here is too crowded or compressed; the difference between noise and music is clearly defined, with the Galliers as triumphant musicians. </p>
<p>You will find violins and cellos threading through the compositions. Also listen for the mandolin and guitar. Joining the brothers on Craft of Kin is David Wilson, an “honorary brother” who also helped the Galliers record and mix the record: he and Gary are listed as producers. Other musicians include Steve Duede, Princess Harris, and Lee Worman. </p>
<p>Most local music stores should be carrying this release; if they’re not, check out www.DulcimerCentral.com and email for ordering information. </p>
<p>Your tastes in music might run more to hip-hop or pop, metal or oldies. Doesn’t matter. Anyone who appreciates top notch musicianship and the power of strong melodies should buy Craft of Kin. It’s one you’ll return to many times when you need to think and be inspired.</p>Gary Galliertag:dulcimercentral.com,2005:Post/40183592013-10-01T10:55:00-05:002016-02-01T10:57:56-06:00Craft of Kin: review by Jerry Rockwell<p>The Gallier Brothers <br>Craft of Kin is a great new recording by Les and Gary Gallier, featuring their innovative mountain dulcimer playing. I was immediately taken by the stately, elegant “chamber ensemble” sound of many of the selections, which feature the fine violin and cello playing (and arranging) of David Wilson. Gary’s trademark dulcimer flatpicking style is in evidence thoughout, as is Les’s fine melodic fingerpicking. </p><!-- more -->
<p>Craft of Kin is made up of 100% Gallier originals, and these tunes manage to touch upon a remarkable variety of genres, textures, and styles. There are VERY few dulcimer recordings, if any, that rely solely on original material, and virtually none that have woven together so artfully the sound of the plucked dulcimer with the bowed string instruments. Gary and Les have a powerful and highly original vision of where the dulcimer can go, and they take us there straight away with this delightful set of instrumentals. </p>
<p>Gary is a “flatpicker” in the most classic sense of the term–to my mind there is no one playing the dulcimer today who can even approach the subtlety and finesse of his flatpicking. This breathtaking style maybe heard on Merlin’s Hornpipe and Highland Rail, which also includes a fabulous rhythmic harmonica track (as well as a snare drum part) played by Les. Sounding almost like fingerpicking, Gary demonstrates a delicate crosspicking style as well on The Seekers Waltz (which also has a really tasty “crystalline” hammered dulcimer part by Princess Harris). The Great River Road is an extremely intricate 6/8 or “jig-time” composition of Gary’s. It is not particularly Irish or Celtic in melodic structure, which is refreshingly different, and it takes you VERY quickly to some surprising and unexpected places. Please fasten your seat belts for this one ! </p>
<p>Les has a wonderful and extremely unique style of fingerpicking which is as melodic as it is rhythmic and syncopated. He plays lead dulcimer on the tunes that he wrote and they seem to have more of the “chamber ensemble” sound with Dave Wilson’s great string playing. These include: Dance of the Silhouettes, Downsteam, and Upstream. Wish for a Wish finds Les at his best with the melodic fingerpicking, where as Happy Habanero finds him playing solidly in a percussive groove. As a matter of fact, this tune is a virtual festival of percussion, with seed pods, bongos, udu, and many other percussion toys played with real precision. Hidden Doors is another by Les which features a mesmerizing use of drone, along with an insistent, driving rhythm. The interplay between Gary’s single-string flatpicking and Les’s chordal, melodic fingerpicking works particularly well on the tunes where both are playing dulcimer — the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. </p>
<p>All told, this is a potent collection of original material for the dulcimer. Gary and Les have made a significant contribution to the art of the Mountain Dulcimer, and Craft of Kin should inspire us well into the future.</p>Gary Gallier