The sounds of Appalachian music were recently heard in the UTM museum as part of a demonstration concert of the instruments that are currently on display.

There are several different types of instruments on display as part of the Music of the Mountains exhibit.

One instrument on display is the hammer dulcimer. The one in the exhibit is made of birch and walnut. Unlike most hammer dulcimers, the ones made by Cabin Creek Music are tuned on the same scale as a piano.

Other interesting pieces in the exhibit are bones. These are among the world’s oldest rhythm instruments. They were originally made from animal rib bones, but now they are made from wood. These are used as an accompaniment to jigs and reels to help keep the beat steady.

The Music of the Mountains exhibit will be on display in the UTM museum until Christmas. The museum is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. every weekday.

To help showcase the exhibit’s instruments, the museum had a special demonstration concert where the instruments were played by faculty members.

Angie Widener, who along with Karen Elmore designed the Music from the Mountains exhibit, spoke about Walter Messick, who made the instruments in the exhibit. Messick started out as a Marine, then became a Methodist minister. After starting a Lutheran/Methodist church in Whitetop, Va., he quit the church and began to make instruments.

“He went from Marine to minister to music-maker,” Widener said.

After the introduction by Widener, professors Teresa Collard, Egan Green and Lisa LeBleu played Appalachian-inspired music.

Collard played on the ginger dulcimer, while Green and LeBleu both played guitars.

The first song was performed by Collard and LeBleu. They played Boil ‘Em Cabbage Down.

Next, Green performed Wayfaring Stranger on the guitar. He said one of the best things about songs is how it can draw people in with the emotion contained within it.

Barbary Allen was another song performed by Collard and LeBleu. Not only did they play their instruments, but they also sang.

Green then played one part of Dueling Banjos on the guitar. He was also able to play it on a banjo.

Next, Collard and LeBleu played a song that Collard, as a feminist, has a hard time performing. This is because the song is about a girl who is waiting for a man to come to her. They played and sang the song, Bury Me Beneath the Willow. Green showed his multiple talents by playing the guitar and harmonica while singing The Fishing Hole.

The final song was You are My Sunshine.

Green ended the presentation by saying that music is about “connecting people.”