Trapezoid is an American folk music collective founded in 1975 by Sam Rizzetta and Paul Reisler. Originally a quartet of hammer dulcimer players, the group derived its name from the instrument's geometric shape and eventually expanded its repertoire to include a broader range of traditional and contemporary sounds. The group released a self-titled debut album, Trapezoid, in 1975, followed by notable works such as Three Forks of Cheat (1978), Now & Then (1980), and Cool of the Day (1985). While membership evolved over several decades with Reisler as a primary mainstay, the ensemble maintained its visibility through collaborative efforts, which included the Winter Solstice tour with John McCutcheon in 2004 and 2005. Reisler’s musical contributions later extended to the project A Thousand Questions and the Kid Pan Alley songwriting initiative.
