2019 - Elgia Hickok receives special tribute
Let it be known, that it is a pleasure to recognize Elgia Hickock for his hard work and dedication to the State of Michigan upon his selection as the 2019 Michigan Heritage Award recipient.
Elgia is an individual who cares deeply about his community, its cultural identity and the history of musical arts, as evidenced by his devotion to preserving, promoting, telling its story and playing dulcimer music.
His work to document music and stories in the Thumb will allow that story to be told to countless future generations, and is certainly deserving of this recognition.
2004 - ODPC wins state recognition
The ODPC wins the Great Lakes Community Arts Award. The award acknowledges the ODPC as on of Michigan's five top 2004 Community Aarts Organizations. Award winners demonstrate outstanding dedication and commitment for the preservation of the arts.
2001 - The hammered dulcimer - a history by Paul gifford
The last quarter of the twentieth-century saw a renewed interest in the hammered dulcimer in the United States at the grassroots level as well as from elements of the Folk Revival.
This book offers the reader a discussion of the medieval origins of the dulcimer and its subsequent spread under many different names to other parts of the world. Drawing on articles the author has written in English as well as articles by specialists in their own languages, Gifford explains the history and evolution of the instrument.
Special attention is paid to the North American tradition from the early 18th-century to the 1970s revival. Drawing from local histories, news clippings, photographs, and interviews, the book examines the playing of the dulcimer and its associated social meanings.
1987 - the Hammered Dulcimer in america 2 - 25 years with the odpc
A LP was released in 1987 featuring music from the 1987 dulcimer Funfest
1983 - the Hammered Dulcimer in america
The role of Mr. Hickok and the ODPC in the revival of the hammered dulcimer in America, is documented in the Smithsonian publication, The Hammered Dulcimer in America by Nancy Groce, published in 1983.
The ODPC created a market for the instrument and builders started building again. The younger generation learned from the older generation how to build and play. The revival was born and continues today.
1981 ODPC Presents an International Dulcimer Exposition
Traditional music played on the Dulcimer, Cimbalom, Hackbrett, Yang Chin, Kanun, Santouri - many names for the many-stringed instrument played with mallots.
'We need you help. Please bring your old or unuual dulcimers, and historic documents'
1977 - The Dulcimer Won't Die - The Detroit News
"The dulcimer is one of those incorrigible, oldfangled things that has snubbed progress for the millenium or so it has been around. Its stubborness alone should have doomed it to extiction. Yet, next weekend several hundred enthusiasts will flock to the Osceola County Fairgrounds at Evart... to celebrate its longevity"
The dulcimer has many forms, Hungarian Cimbalom, Greek Santouri, Balkan Tsambali, Persian Santir, German Hackbrett. It is indegenous in Gypsy and Roman music and one of the forerunners of the pianoforte and harpsicord.
1974 Move to osceola county fairgrounds in Evart mi
In the fall of 1973, the ODPC meeting was moved to the Osceola County Fairgrounds in Evart, Michigan and expanded to two days with camping. There was so much enthusiasm after the meeting that they decided to expand again the following year.
Letter about the decision to move to Evart
In June of 1974, the first "Non-Electricical Musical FunFest" was born. This was a place where all non-electric instruments were welcome with an emphasis on the hammered dulcimer. Today, it's the largest hammered dulcimer festival in the world.
Flyer for the first Funfest held in 1974
1973 - roll over beethoven: the dulcimer crowd at interlochen - Grand rapids press
"On this day at Interlochen, the show opens up with an impromptu jam session ... Does the crowd love it? Sho-o-o-t"
At a short and highly informal business meeting Cox reminds everyone to attend the 10th anniversary celebration of the club in Barryton and urges everyone to register for membership. Only one dollar per couple!
1967 - Dulcimer players pay tribute in music to founder of club - grand rapids press
Eligia C Hickock, the founder of the Original Dulcimer Players Club died at age 72. After the memorial, the dulcimer players performed for Elgia. "Elgia wouldn't want us to sit around here looking so blue"
Regarding learning the dulcimer, Gene Cox says "You either have it or hou don't. We don't know of any music written for the dulcimer, and we don't know of any way to learn it except by watching and trying"
1967 - president Gene Cox
Gene was a founding member of the ODPC and served as president from 1967-1981. He was instrumental in the building and branding of the FunFest festival. Hailing from Hickory Corners, MI, Gene, and his wife Esther, were the kind of people the newly organized ODPC needed. He was comitted to making sure every newcomer felt welcomed and that like minded musicians met each other.
The ODPC created a market for the instrument and builders started building again. The younger generation learned from the older generation how to build and play. The revival was born and continues today.
Gene Cox - President 1967-1981
1965 - Old dulcimer players have a ball - grand rapids press
"... in Michigan the dulcimer was known as the lumberjack's piano."
"Most of the dulcimers being played at the gathering were handmade and showed the scars of being handed down from generation to generation."
"Hickok's dulcimer was given him by his grandfather. A retired tool grinder, Hickok learned to play the instrument and now owns 12 of them"
1963 - Founding of the Original dulcimer players club
In 1963, Elgia Hickok and Gene Cox founded the Original Dulcimer Players Club. They were comitted to making sure the hammered dulcimer would be around for many generations beyond their years.
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Elgia C. Hickok