Forum Activity for @steve-c

I own number 712 and I think I paid $200 for it with the original bag.  But if I sold it I would ask maybe $450.  I also have a 1969 Lynn McSpadden, he opened his shop in 68 though he was making dulcimers since 1963.  Now if one could find the first one he made, which was a poorly made by his own words, you might have a dulcimer of some historical significance.  Because the McSpadden company built so many dulcimers (75000+) at a reasonable price, that I doubt if anyone would pay much for some of the older examples.  They do show how the older McSpaddens were larger in size than their more modern counterparts and the wooden pegs are nice.  

great thanks!  So maybe this was more like the 1933 patent.  

Here is a short bio on John:

1947 Born in Los Angeles, California
1950 Family moved to England
Instrument - making
1972 - 74 Training : Newark School of Violin Making. Pass with distinction
 
Music and Story-telling
1963 Met traditional music through Folk Clubs
1965 Started giving concerts, solo and in groups
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1976 Moved to Brittany

1978  LP  "Douce-Amère" : traditional songs and instrumentals
(mostly with Appalachian Dulcimers)
1978 - 82 Member of the JOHN RENBOURN GROUP (vocals, dulcimers, violin,
mandolin). Tours + 3 LPs with the group.
since 1978 Solo concert tours: U.S.A., Germany, Ireland, England,
Italy, Hungary and France.
1985 LP  "Spice of Life" : personal and traditional tunes and songs
(with Dan ar Bras, the Josquin des Prés Quartet etc.)
since 1996 Tours throughout France with the story-teller Alain Le Goff
for the story and music show ‘‘Baleines, baleines’’
2000 Creation of  " LEGENDARY AIRS " , a solo show of ‘Stories told by Music itself’ (for all, rec. min. age 7 yrs ).
         CD compilation of «Douce-Amère» + «Spice » (Kerig KCD185) : awarded "BRAVO"  label from Trad Magazine.
2002 Creation of  " WOLF ? " : a one man show, where the wolf is revealed through stories, with some music (for all, rec. min. 7 yrs ).

2018 Creation of  " DREAMCATCHER " :

Great video! Thanks.  I didn’t pick up on the range of that dulcichord, the basses are rich sounding.  But, so it still makes me wonder what the other fretboard is for? It’s such a short scale.  

Any earlier patents than 1880 out there?

All your comments make a lot of sense!  

I agree Robin, the sound is lute-like.  I have an album of his music.  What is interesting is that somebody made a comment that he built a replica of a patented dulcimer.  I thought it was the pedal dulcimer from 1933, but I think it might be this one from 1880 although the second neck looks unfinished.  
https://73decb.a2cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Patent-1880-Double-neck-Dulcimer.pdf

https://youtu.be/sdAg3B5gAx4?si=4SW3rZFGlF9U-0a9

sounds good and interesting playing.

He told me last spring that he has quit building.  

Our Christmas will be quiet as well…well as quiet as my granddaughters can be.  We will attend Christmas Eve services and Christmas Day.  I’ll dress for my grandchildren as St. Nicholas, (the one that really lived and still lives with Jesus), this Weds. on the feast day of St. Nicholas and tell his story.  

 79974853_10218990513788113_784230920528855040_o-1.jpeg - 85KB

By the way, if you ever get to see Grant perform live you are in for a treat!

Just ordered mine Grant!  Looking forward to it!

Congratulations Grant!  I’ll want a copy of it!

Just finished playing dulcimer at our local antique store.  Introduced the dulcimer to people wha have never met her…😊

Sorry, I was just kidding about making it a month, but I did think it was interesting to list events going on in the month.

Got it.  

Lots of Jean Ritchie and Ed Thomas history in March…

Today in Mountain Dulcimer History for March:

https://heritagedulcimers.wordpress.com/today-in-mountain-dulcimer-history/timdh-march/

@robin-thompson, Maybe if we have a couple of groups designating March for Dulcimer events we should make it International Appalachian Dulcimer Month?  

I have found a Facebook page entitled international Mountain Dulcimer Players Day, March 9th.   I am not on Facebook so I don’t know if it is active or not…I don’t think it affects us, but wanted you all to know.

If you are on messenger you could send a flyer for IADD to your dulcimer friends….just saying…🥴

I love my John Stockard!

I hope this poster is better...fingers crossed.

INTERNATION APP. DULCIMER DAY.pdf - 354KB

Here is a early photo of Bruce playing the dulcimer.  He has played most of his life.

 F6048FDC-86C8-4B70-BF2F-02B892A29141.jpeg - 160KB

Strumelia, If you can send me an email address, I will send you a copy and you can edit as you wish.  Any help is appreciated.

Thanks Stumelia!  I fixed it will try to get it re-sent

Being that the date will change yearly it will make it possible for others to celebrate if not this year then next.  It will not be a fixed day. 

Go for it!  

Should there be a group or team of people to plan and write the news releases for The International Appalachian Dulcimer Day?  Making sure that we cross a few T’s and at least dot an “i” or two.  Otherwise, we might of just of had a nice discussion but we could easily just forget to follow through.  That is if you all feel strong enough about this.  

Just checked and we cannot register a national day by designating a “last weekend.” It has to be a date for it to be a “day.”  So we can skip the formal recognition if you all like and just promote the weekend ourselves.  But we could see someone down the road establish a date as “Mountain Dulcimer Day” or something similar.  But if we do a really good job of promoting our day we can diminish the possibility of that happening.  The more we circulate this among all dulcimer circles, the better.  What would you say as to the criteria for the weekend?  Would we go with the beginning of the festival season?  

I’ll check to see if we can schedule something like the last Saturday of March and register it on the national calendar.

I think I’m over thinking all of this…lol..maybe I am thinking on a festival mentality and not thinking of just a day to say Hooray for our Dulcimer!

A vernal equinox is a cool idea but cannot be set up as an official calendar date.  It will be hard to get it recognized as “a special day.”  I think folks in the dulcimer world might prefer to say, “We celebrate International Appalachian Dulcimer Day on March 20th!” As opposed to “ We celebrate International Appalachian Dulcimer Day on the Vernal Equinox!”  Really? Just when will that be next year?  Crickets… 

I do like Dusty’s idea of a Spring date, but I also agree with Richard on a set day.  But think of this…Aaron Copeland’s great masterpiece Appalachian Spring was based on the Shaker tune Simple Gifts..played by many dulcimer players around the world.  To me it speaks to what the Appalachian dulcimer is all about.  The dulcimer is a simple gift, easy to play and yet whether you play traditional noter drone or fancy finger picking with chords..the instrument just sounds wonderful!  I never thought of it but our beloved dulcimer is just that, a gift.

Good thoughts Stumelia! I think myself Appalachian refers best to the region of its development and initial usage.  Though most have moved away from this name to Mountain dulcimer.  But if we want to give a nod to its history International Appalachian Dulcimer Day might worth considering.

Robin, We can make it International Mountain Dulcimer Day.  By doing this we can give a shout out in the news releases to its European ancestors.

Ok Stumelia suggested a poll to get some sort of consensus.  If we can agree on a date and a title for the day: National (Mountain, American, etc.,) Day, I can register it and will take care of the fees, if any, and we can begin promotional press releases.  I have looked and no such day exists in the archives so we can get this done.  I’m not rushing this just letting you know the processs.