Mark Gilston
LOCATION : Austin, Texas, USA
Status : Active
Music : Traditional Folk
MEMBERS :
Mark Gilston : mountain dulcimer, gaida (bagpipes), concertina, guitar, banjo, penny whistle, ocarina, tambura
HISTORY :
In his youth, Mark gained a love of traditional American ballads and Old-Time songs and instrumentals from recordings and from his father, who often sang the old ballads which he had learned in his youth in Appalachia. From his early years in college, Mark was often playing these tunes and accompanying himself on the mountain dulcimer.
His interest in Balkan music developed in his early teens when he began folk dancing at John Wagner's studio. A good friend sent him back a gaida from Bulgaria and he began to teach himself how to play the instrument in 1969. In 1970 he moved to Montreal to go to college and became a regular at the Yellow Door Coffeehouse where he bought his first own mountain dulcimer. He started playing concertina two years later.
After earning a Bachelor's degree in Folklore, Mark went to graduate school at SUNY Binghamton and ended up settling there until 1994. Sometime in the early '90's he discovered Swedish spelmansmusic and fell in love with the traditional fiddle music of Sweden. Rather than trying to learn yet another instrument, he began playing this music on concertina which he found was capable of playing the intricate harmonies of multiple fiddle parts. Later he began to adapt the Swedish style to dulcimer as well. In May of 2002, Mark moved to Austin, Texas where he now lives and plays.
He has given concerts at numerous colleges, clubs and coffee houses throughout the United States as well as England and Canada, and has been a featured performer and workshop leader for various folk music societies including the New York Pinewoods Folk Music Club and the Folk Song Society of Greater Washington as well as groups abroad. He is currently performing music.
Mark updates his youtube page pretty often.
RECORDINGS :
It Would Sure Be a Miracle, album 1999
Lend Me an Ear, album 2002
Dances with Dulcimers, album 2005
Troll Road, album 2005
Travels with Dulcimers, album 2007
Mark Gilston’s American Roots, album 2007
English Country Dances for Dulcimer (volumes I & II), album 2008
At Your Request, album 2008
Playing A Round with Dulcimers, album 2010
Grandad’s Favorite, album 2011
Dulcimer Hambo, album 2012
The Green Dulcimer, album 2012
Christmas with Dulcimers, album 2013
WEBSITES :
Contact : mark@gilston.com
Find more information on Sword Chant :
- Band news
Status : Active
Music : Traditional Folk
MEMBERS :
Mark Gilston : mountain dulcimer, gaida (bagpipes), concertina, guitar, banjo, penny whistle, ocarina, tambura
HISTORY :
Mark was born and raised in New York City. Both of his parents were steeped in the folk music revival scene of the 1950's. He grew up listening to 78's and LP's of American, Russian, Spanish, Caribbean and Israeli folk music. His sister was a professional harpist. Learning guitar and taking piano lessons starting at age 5, he was constantly immersed in music.
In his youth, Mark gained a love of traditional American ballads and Old-Time songs and instrumentals from recordings and from his father, who often sang the old ballads which he had learned in his youth in Appalachia. From his early years in college, Mark was often playing these tunes and accompanying himself on the mountain dulcimer.
His interest in Balkan music developed in his early teens when he began folk dancing at John Wagner's studio. A good friend sent him back a gaida from Bulgaria and he began to teach himself how to play the instrument in 1969. In 1970 he moved to Montreal to go to college and became a regular at the Yellow Door Coffeehouse where he bought his first own mountain dulcimer. He started playing concertina two years later.
After earning a Bachelor's degree in Folklore, Mark went to graduate school at SUNY Binghamton and ended up settling there until 1994. Sometime in the early '90's he discovered Swedish spelmansmusic and fell in love with the traditional fiddle music of Sweden. Rather than trying to learn yet another instrument, he began playing this music on concertina which he found was capable of playing the intricate harmonies of multiple fiddle parts. Later he began to adapt the Swedish style to dulcimer as well. In May of 2002, Mark moved to Austin, Texas where he now lives and plays.
He has given concerts at numerous colleges, clubs and coffee houses throughout the United States as well as England and Canada, and has been a featured performer and workshop leader for various folk music societies including the New York Pinewoods Folk Music Club and the Folk Song Society of Greater Washington as well as groups abroad. He is currently performing music.
Mark updates his youtube page pretty often.
RECORDINGS :
It Would Sure Be a Miracle, album 1999
Lend Me an Ear, album 2002
Dances with Dulcimers, album 2005
Troll Road, album 2005
Travels with Dulcimers, album 2007
Mark Gilston’s American Roots, album 2007
English Country Dances for Dulcimer (volumes I & II), album 2008
At Your Request, album 2008
Playing A Round with Dulcimers, album 2010
Grandad’s Favorite, album 2011
Dulcimer Hambo, album 2012
The Green Dulcimer, album 2012
Christmas with Dulcimers, album 2013
WEBSITES :
Contact : mark@gilston.com
Find more information on Sword Chant :
- Band news
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