CARTER, Dorothy

Dorothy Carter was an American composer, multi-instrumentalist and singer, born in New York City. She studied classical piano from childhood and later attended Bard College and music institutions in London. Carter played numerous traditional stringed instruments, including the hammered dulcimer, zither, psaltery, hurdy-gurdy and Irish harp.

Her music combines medieval and Appalachian folk traditions with psychedelic folk, minimalism and experimental music. Her albums include Troubadour (1976), Waillee Waillee (1978) and Lonesome Dove (2000). Carter performed with the experimental Central Maine Power Music Company and was a founding member of the female early-music ensemble Mediæval Bæbes. She died in New Orleans in 2003