Heliotrope Bouquet Review
by Carrie Crompton
Dulcimer Players News
Volume 21, Number 1
January/March 1994

Last but not least, I want to introduce Sue Carpenter's debut fretted dulcimer recording, "Heliotrope Bouquet" (without book). In terms of recording quality and performance, this is top notch. The sound is full, resonant, larger than life even on solos, and serves as the unifying "concept" of the album. Sue's plucks are round and golden, her strums breezy and silvery, her brushes white and feathery. I can get into individual notes of this recording as good musical experiences!

The program ranges from Pete Seeger's "Living in the Country" to "Under the Boardwalk" to Scott Joplin's "Heliotrope Bouquet" to Jiminy Cricket's "When You Wish Upon a Star." In between are some traditional tunes-"Oh, Suzannah," "Southwind"-and five originals. Sue's own compositions are very strong and act as bridges between the others. I especially like her "Summer Deck-Adence" and "Homeless Siamese," a lullaby for a stray cat. Now if Sue were to make a book of these arrangements, advanced mountain dulcimer players would have their work cut out for them.