Published: March 15, 2009 09:37 pm      

Margaret Wright uses talent for dulcimer festival

The life of Margaret Wright revolves around her family, and the life of her family revolves around music.

Wright, along with her husband Jerry, organize and keep the Palestine Old Time Music and Dulcimer Festival going year after year.

Her musical talents are numerous as she teaches music at Kennard Independent School District where her and her husband retired a few years ago.

Before she went to Kennard Wright taught music at a magnate school in Houston.

The folks around Palestine, though, know her for her dulcimer skills and her passion for “old time” music.

Old time music finds its roots in the Appalachian Mountains and the people who settled up there after coming to this country from Ireland, Scotland and England. The only thing is, the music is a bit different from conventional music.

“I’m a musician from way back and I couldn’t make sense of it,” Wright said. “They have what they call ‘crooked tunes’ where they will throw in an extra beat, or they will be a measure short or even have an extra measure in a tune.”

In spite of that, Wright said she loves it.

“Once you understand and get an ear for it, it really is a lot of fun,” Wright said.

A lot of hard work by Wright and her husband, along with the help of their two sons, Lloyd and Hollis, Palestine’s Old Time Music and Dulcimer Festival is now a staple event during the city’s three-week Dogwood Trails Celebration. The festival also has helped Palestine become known in other areas as well.

“Now, you can say the word ‘Palestine’ in the old time and dulcimer world and people will know what you are talking about,” Wright said. “The festival has been extensively covered in music magazines. People know what Palestine is all about.”

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For more about the Wright family see the latest edition of Horizons Magazine due out this week.