T HE UNUSUAL HARMONIES AND EXQUISITE PLAYING of a wide array of instruments — guitar, Appalachian mountain dulcimer, Irish tin whistle, harmonica, banjo, bones, spoons, Australian monkey pods, and even a toy xylophone — make Aubrey Atwater and Elwood Donnelly two of the most enchanting performers on the folk music circuit today.

The husband-wife duo are self-taught musicians from Rhode Island. They are educators as well, delving into the origins of the songs they perform. In fact, Atwater and Donnelly often travel to schools to teach children and adults about the impact folk music has had on peoples’ cultures, such as those of New England, Ireland, Appalachia, Prince Edward Island, and the midwest. They explain folk music with stories and humor and encourage their audience to sing, dance, clap, use body movements, and play any instruments that happen to be around.

This dedicated duo have recorded several albums worth of Irish, English, and Scottish tunes. Aubrey Atwater traveled to London to perform in schools and record a live children’s CD entitled “Daily Growing,” which was released in 1999. They have taught mountain dulcimer classes and studied with the legendary Jean Ritchie and other folklorists, played in square dance bands, appeared on television and received standing ovations for their concerts. Their latest CD, “Then I’m Going Home,” includes live performances recorded in some of the intimate coffeehouses where they have performed for the past fourteen years. Come on by for some sweet traditional music.