Local Musician’s Passion is a Family Tradition
By Tim Kirsininkas, Marketing & Public Engagement Manager
The Robinson family in the 1930s
Music often is a family affair, as knowledge is passed down from generation to generation. A lot of times, when one thinks of musical families; piano, guitar, or vocals will come to mind. But Bill Robinson’s family plays a different tune: he is a third-generation hammered dulcimer player. Bill describes this instrument as taking music “right back to its roots”.
Back in September, we had the pleasure of meeting with Bill at the Museum, where he gave a demonstration of the sound and technique of the hammered dulcimer. What Bill describes as a “parlor instrument,” hammered dulcimers were popular instruments in the late 1800s and at the turn of the 20th century. They were versatile instruments that could be heard at a variety of settings and celebrations around the country. The instrument can be played standing or sitting, and is operated much like a manual piano, as the user strikes tuned strings with a pair of hammers in a series to create a tune, although the sound is much different from that of a piano.
Hammered dulcimer player Bill Robinson gives a demonstration of his composition "St. Charles Blues" on his custom-built dulcimer at the St. Charles History Museum, September 15, 2019
Bill’s dad, Ross Robinson (center) plays as part of a USO performance during World War II
Bill’s grandmother played the dulcimer in her church in central Illinois, and his father Ross picked up his knowledge from her. Ross would later go on to become a traveling dulcimer player, even performing with the USO for troops overseas during World War II.
Ross and Bill Robinson
As Bill says, “you can’t play a sad song on it,” which is partly what inspired him to pick up the instrument to carry on the family tradition in the 1970s. In 1975, he began constructing custom dulcimers and donated one of his custom-built ones to the Museum for our music display corner.
Bill was inducted into the Fox Valley Arts Hall of Fame in 2006 and continues to play events with his bluegrass band, Bill Robinson & Friends, a group he has toured with since 1982. He has been a St. Charles resident since 1979, and has since passed his knowledge to his daughter Monica, who is now the fourth generation dulcimer player in the family. Bill also continues teaching lessons.
Bill with his custom-built dulcimer, now on display as part of the Museum collection.
Even though the dulcimer is a Robinson family tradition, Bill encourages musicians of all ages to give it a shot as well and try their hand at playing. “The technique of this instrument is rather simple,” Bill says. “It’s a great way to learn scales and melodies and the basics of music.”
