20 years of Dulcimer history in one package: The Complete Recordings contains ALL of the tunes recorded and released by Force & d’Ossche on the Biscuit City, Kicking Mule, Sonnet (Europe), Flying Fish, Gourd Music and BAF record labels– a legacy of 44 tunes, 156 minutes of recordings that shaped the evolution of the modern dulcimer.

It’s been a long time coming but the songs are also now available individually on I-tunes– tell a friend! The album can also be ordered through CD Baby or directly from Robert for twenty bucks flat (he pays postage) at Blaine Street Records, 1228 Blaine Street, Port Townsend, WA 98368. Checks accepted.  You can also contact me at force@rlforce.com.

I promise to write comments about each of the songs, post tabs and even link videos to the songs. However, since this site has become hard to maintain, new information, further instruction and other links will now be posted at WildDulcimer.com.   It took over 40 years to get to this spot, so it’s likely to take a bit longer to fulfill the vision of having it all up and accessible.

Thanks to all the people who have visited here over the years.  It will be left up as a legacy site with all of it’s good information intact.  RF

On The Hard Drive Now, MP3, 160kbps (3.6MB)

Notes on the tune:

I believe Democracy is one of the strongest forces for potential good on the planet today and that it’s been a long time coming in the history of the world. What makes us, and keeps us, strong as a nation is that we are not afraid to shine a light in the darkest of places. We not only question the world around us, but we also question ourselves. [...]

Jerry proposes Robert come to Newark, Ohio, learn to build, and travel to festivals to help sell them. Two days later Robert shows up. He trades his Lincoln to a man named Lincoln for a backpack and sleeping bag. Meets Ann Grimes in Granville, OH.

Robert Force Show #9, QuickTime, 512kbps (16.4MB)

Robert Force Show #9, Windows Media, 512kbps (15.2MB)

Union Groive Fiddlers Convention, NC, Easter 1971. Robert meets Jerry Beal of the Farkleberry Farm Steam Dulcimerworks and Music Emporium. Learns there is another dulcimer player at the festival. Seeks out and finds Albert d’Ossché.

Robert Force Show #8, QuickTime, 512kbps (19.2MB)

Robert Force Show #8, Windows Media, 512kbps (18.6MB)

Robert talks about driving the pink Capri to the Sigma Nu house in Knoxville, Tenn. He asks the frat boys if they had ever seen a dulcimer. Sure!, they say, and direct him to Union Grove , NC. where he experiences his first bluegrass festival.

Robert Force Show #7, QuickTime, 512kbps (23.1MB)

Robert Force Show #7, Windows Media, 512kbps (22.5MB)