Michael Masley

Hauntingly beautiful music is not what I expected from the street performers at the Solano Stroll street fair, but that’s what stopped me in my tracks when I heard Michael performing. I’d heard OF the hammered dulcimer instrument before, but hadn’t really heard one, especially not the way he plays. Michael is considered unique and innovative for using a combination of a bow (like a violin), hammer, and picks (like a guitar) to create amazing music. Despite usually being a bit of a cheapskate, I couldn’t resist buying his CD.
Michael has an impressive list of accolades and accomplishments on his website, including an appearance on NPR’s «All Things Considered», earning the East Bay Express’ «Best Street Performer» of 2007 and being the subject of a forthcoming documentary titled «Art Officially Favored», wherein he is lauded by none other than Steven Tyler of Aerosmith.
TRIVIA: The hammered dulcimer is believed to have developed in Persia roughly 2000 years ago and has been in near-​continuous use since then, resulting in the derivation of many different names for fundamentally the same instrument. The standard name comes from the Latin «dulcis» (sweet) and Greek «melos» (song).