Summer’s End (Ken Kolodner, U.S.)

I composed this tune, well, at the end of the summer, in early fall. It is an emotional piece for me as I wrote it thinking of my oldest brother who died nearly 30 years ago in late August. I choose the piece to demonstrate how to explore chord choices using major and relative minor and some less obvious selections - and to explore a range of arranging ideas. I took the opportunity to discuss “harmonizing a scale” to explore chord choices using major and the relative minors and secondary dominants and to explore arranging ideas in waltzes. Being able to harmonize a scale is a vitally important skill. (If you are not clear on what all this means, you might want to check out The Pachelbel’s Canon Exercise and in Hammered Dulcimer Fundamentals and Exercises in my video lessons. I cover these concepts in great detail.) An important concept in delivering an arrangement is to start with simple ideas and gradually build. Hence, I present three arrangements. I recorded this on A Roof for The Rain (2001) – the CD sold around 35,000 copies and I still have about 100 left!

UPDATED VIDEOS AND SHEET MUSIC AUGUST 2023

Here's What You Get:

$38 (Sheet music PLUS video lessons)

Sheet music for melody and three arrangements. Ken talks through the tune, chord choices, hammering patterns, backups, embellishments, arranging, play-throughs, and more on his dulcimer (shot from above so that you can see what he's doing).

Video Lessons Included:

• Basic TuneHammeringChord ProgressionArrangement #1 (A part)Arrangement #1 (B part)Arrangement #1 Play-throughAccompaniment (A part)Accompaniment (B part)Accompaniment Play-throughArranging Ideas (A part)Arranging Ideas (B part)Play-throughPractice TrackApproximate Length: 65 minutes

***Videos can be streamed, downloaded, or viewed in the Gumroad App on mobile devices. Watch your email for instructions after purchase***

It's like having private mini-tutorials from Ken that you can watch over and over!

NOTE: Even if you already own the sheet music, your purchase ensures that you receive the latest updated versions, and future additions to new arranging ideas, backups and so forth as Ken experiments and develops his playing of the tune.

Thank you for your support - I hope you enjoy the tune! Please do not share your purchased music and videos.

Recorded at Fenchurch Music Studio, Baltimore MD for Fall 2017 Sandbridge Hammered Dulcimer Retreat 

Updated 2023