I had just purchased a small Macintosh computer and some synthesizer
hardware (the Yamaha TX802 synthesizer) for use in our new "MIDI Music
Production Techniques" class (soon to become the most popular class
offered by the Music Department at Coumbia!).
I did this piece to explore the capabilities of this setup, and to
find a way to program the setup so that I could teach students
something more than just the commercially-available MIDI software.
This is a somewhat algorithmic piece, going sequentially through
all the default timbres available on the TX802. A large portion
of the piece sounded like a synthetic 'hammered dulcimer', hence
the title.
I have a clear memory of listening to this piece while driving
up to Columbia. I was on the western spur of the Turnpike, the
air was clear and suprisingly fresh. It was a spring day, mid-morning.
The trees were just starting to turn new-green. I think things
were good.