Spring Creek Psalteries Creates Beautiful Sound
Inspiration often appears when least expected. That was the case for Terry and Sharon Kirby when they attended Dulcimer Days in Roscoe Village. As they walked several times by a booth from Beckley, WV, they heard an amazing sound that they loved, bought a CD, and Terry was on his way to a new career.
After being a contractor for thirty years, Terry was ready for a change but he didn’t know anything about music. When they heard the sound of the Bowed Psaltery Symphony on that CD, they wanted to purchase a psaltery for themselves. Since they had no idea how to play one or even hold one, they drove to Beckley, WV to get some instructions and a new instrument. Sharon played it all the way home. By the time they got home, a call was made to Beckley for another psaltery.
After they became familiar with the psalteries, two or three nights a week they would play at nursing homes. They added some sticks and shakers to get the residents to participate along with them. In those early days, “The Parting Glass,” a traditional Scottish song, became one of his favorites on the psaltery…and still is.
For many years, they both played in the Bowed Psaltery Symphony at Cedar Lakes in Ripley, West Virginia where they were first chair in their sections. This group consisted of 30-60 players of all levels and many often brought additional instruments to enhance the performance.
Locally, they formed the Spring Creek Band, which consisted of a variety of instruments including the psaltery, flute, guitar, ukulele, dulcimer, and drums with vocal music included. They played at many church events as well as Dulcimer Days. They were learning more about music each step of the way.
After many performances and much research, Terry decided to build a psaltery with better sound. When Terry makes a decision, you can be sure it is going to happen to perfection.
So, about twelve years ago, he created Spring Creek Psalteries at his shop in Massillon. There he began building the psalteries himself. Terry and Sharon then began attending festivals all over the area where they played and sold their psalteries from May through December. Often they would sell out of the ones they had made and either had to leave a festival early or cancel. They wanted to bring the joy of playing the psaltery to everyone who loves music.
The great thing about the psaltery is it can be played by young and old alike. Terry says it is one of the easiest instruments to learn. You don’t need to read music and you can only play one string at a time with a soft stroke of the bow.
These handcrafted psalteries bring Terry a lot of joy. His favorite pastime is making psalteries in his workshop. He has constantly strived to improve the quality of the sound. Sometimes he works on them from 7 in the morning until 10:30 at night. That’s much more enjoyable to him than watching television.
There are records of a psaltery in Psalms but that one was a trapezoid shape so the strings could be plucked. In 1948, a German violinist brought a psaltery to the United States for the first time. He had changed it to a triangular shape so the strings could be bowed.
That later shape was the one Terry developed into his own special instrument, which has great sound. He credits that sound to three special things.
- The top of the psaltery is called the soundboard. Terry makes it from a soft Sitka spruce, which he gets shipped directly from Alaska. He feels spruce gives a nice, mellow sound that is richer and brighter.
- Three different string gauges give a more even sound vibration.
- Pegs get wider as the string gets longer so you get the correct vibration sound.
Sound holes use different rosettes, which Terry creates in his shop. They might look like an owl, hummingbird, musical notes, or the favorite – a tree of life.
While the tops of soundboards are made of Alaskan Sitka Spruce, the backboards are primarily Curly Maple, and the sideboards of Sapele. Then six or eight coats of lacquer are used on each psaltery to create a beautiful finish.
Before selling or ordering a psaltery, Terry asks the customer if they are right or left handed as the strings must be arranged in a different manner. He also needs to know if they want a violin or cello sound.
Their newest Cello Psaltery sustains the sound. Whole notes are on one side while sharps and flats are on the other. A Serenity Harp produces a peaceful sound that is often used for meditation and therapy.
Each bowed psaltery comes with a tuning wrench, rosin, horse hair bow, removable note markings, and booklet. Special noted songbooks make it easy for everyone to play without having to read music. They also have soft-sided, padded cases available for an extra charge. If you mount the psaltery on a stand, you can double bow and create your own harmony.
Spring Creek Psalteries has displayed their instruments at festivals all over the area from Salt Fork Arts & Crafts Festival and Y-Bridge Festival to Roscoe Village and Shaker Woods. They always had a variety of psalteries on display and gave you a chance to play one of them. That way you could see how easy it is to learn.
Their 25-note, handmade psalteries are available at affordable prices. They also have a wound string psaltery that has more the sound of a cello and is tuned an octave lower. Their 9-note psaltery is excellent for beginners and is small enough for children to hold. Grandparents often purchase this one for their grandchildren.
Now, Terry and Sharon have both retired and are enjoying a little free time to perhaps have time to play music with friends. Terry is also coaching his grandson’s Little League team. An idea occurred to him that a country cabin would be nice where he could use his telescopes to view the stars more clearly. Yes, Terry builds his own telescopes, also.
The cabin developed into a bigger project because Terry likes to have everything cut and trimmed as well as a garden. A special project involves his hummingbird feeders, which he cares for himself, and even boils the hummingbird syrup.
An interesting pastime, that they are hoping to revive, began in the ’70s and ’80s when they competed in Championship Canoe Races. At that time they were the Ohio State Champion mixed team and broke all kinds of records. Races were held at places like Canal Fulton, Bob Evans Farm, and Marietta. Terry also participated in a Triathlon, which consisted of biking, running, and canoeing. He always strives to be the best he can be.
They will not be participating in the festivals for now but are still making and selling things from the many calls they receive. Spring Creek Psalteries are shipped all over the United States. If you would like more information, call them at 330-323-0618 or email them at tsakirby@sssnet.com.
Terry followed this bit of advice throughout life. “Do well at whatever you do.” That has certainly worked well for him and is a goal we should all attempt to reach.
Gypsy Road Trip 