The youngster stands before a large, oddly shaped instrument, holding a pair of equally odd-shaped sticks.
He starts striking strings in rapid succession, producing sounds that are reminiscent of a harpsichord, only much more dynamic.
He's Adam Sutch of Daisytown, and he's playing the hammered dulcimer, an 85-string instrument spanning 4 1/2 octaves. And it's not to be confused with the much smaller Appalachian or lap dulcimer that's much more commonly heard around Western Pennsylvania.
Adam, 14, has been playing hammered dulcimer for about 2 1/2 years and started feeling sufficiently comfortable this year to start performing in front of audiences. And they've been very enthusiastic as he regales them with a repertoire of mostly Celtic folk tunes.
He attributes his interest in the unususal instrument to a family member: "My mom always like dulcimers." And Michelle Sutch also has learned to play the hammered variety. In fact, she accompanied Adam on a CD he recorded and sells at his performances, "Sutch Sounds." Other accompanists also are family members: grandparents Ron and Darlene Howes of Fredericktown, who play guitar.
Adam, who will be a freshman at California High School, says he has more recordings in the works and plans to perform an original he wrote, called "Eye of the Hurricane."
If you want to check him out, here's his schedule: July 30 at the Coffee Den in Mt. Lebanon; Sept. 11 at the Sheep Fest at Weatherbury Farm in Avella; Oct. 13 at the Main Street Farmers' Market in Washington; and Oct. 22 at the fall festival at Quail Acres, North Strabane Township.
(Sound clips of Adam's work are coming soon.)
He starts striking strings in rapid succession, producing sounds that are reminiscent of a harpsichord, only much more dynamic.
He's Adam Sutch of Daisytown, and he's playing the hammered dulcimer, an 85-string instrument spanning 4 1/2 octaves. And it's not to be confused with the much smaller Appalachian or lap dulcimer that's much more commonly heard around Western Pennsylvania.
Adam, 14, has been playing hammered dulcimer for about 2 1/2 years and started feeling sufficiently comfortable this year to start performing in front of audiences. And they've been very enthusiastic as he regales them with a repertoire of mostly Celtic folk tunes.
He attributes his interest in the unususal instrument to a family member: "My mom always like dulcimers." And Michelle Sutch also has learned to play the hammered variety. In fact, she accompanied Adam on a CD he recorded and sells at his performances, "Sutch Sounds." Other accompanists also are family members: grandparents Ron and Darlene Howes of Fredericktown, who play guitar.
Adam, who will be a freshman at California High School, says he has more recordings in the works and plans to perform an original he wrote, called "Eye of the Hurricane."
If you want to check him out, here's his schedule: July 30 at the Coffee Den in Mt. Lebanon; Sept. 11 at the Sheep Fest at Weatherbury Farm in Avella; Oct. 13 at the Main Street Farmers' Market in Washington; and Oct. 22 at the fall festival at Quail Acres, North Strabane Township.
(Sound clips of Adam's work are coming soon.)
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