Forum Activity for @bill-robison

Bass dulcimer strings

Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions

26.5 VSL

How Many Dulcimers Do You Own?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Between my wife and I if we cold get them all rounded up in the same room at once I think the correct number is 7.  Including a pretty old cardboard dulcimer, a couple of what I suppose are home-made dulcimers my wife picked up when she worked 1 day a week in an antique shop, a small Cripple Creek (think cheap) dulcimer from the same shop, a TK O'Brian, a Hill Country Dulcimer and a courting Dulcimer.  Our latest acquisition was last month when my wife found a Cedar Creek 12/11 Hammered Dulcimer at a garage sale, but I'm not sure I should count it in with its Mountain Dulcimer "cousins."  Oh yeah, I forgot... I also have a Cedar Creek Strumstick.

updated by @rob-williams: 05/21/21 02:29:46PM

Bass dulcimer strings

Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions

As always Bill, we can't help with string gauges unless you also tell us what the VSL of your dulcimer is.  Once you have that and the base tuning you want -- DAd (not DAD)  -- you can use the Strothers String Choice Calculator and plug in the numbers yourself:

Tom & Missy Strothers | String Choice

Bass dulcimer strings

Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions

What  gage  strings are used for a bass dulcimer tuned DAD?

Rosin the Beau and recycling melodies for new songs

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

<Chuckle!>  I've always figured it was a pun on rosining the bow from the start.

Rosin the Beau and recycling melodies for new songs

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Hi @lois-sprengnether-keel.  Well you've demonstrate how you can do good history lesson using folks music.

The words we know to Old Rosin the Beau certainly makes it a drinking song, but I wonder if the song was not originally an instrumental simply called Rosin the Bow, and someone put some tongue-in-cheek lyrics to it, creating a song better known than the original.

What is this instrument?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Aeolian or Wind Harp.  You set it across the width of the sill of an open window, and close the sash down almost on top of it, to funnel the breeze over the strings.  

Rosin the Beau and recycling melodies for new songs

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I do a program using the abolition song "Roll on the Liberty Ball" that was sung at the planting of the enormous cedar that was the marker (seen for miles) of the Underground Railroad Station operated by the family of the woman I portray (Liberetta Lerich Green).  Later when Civil War years near and I talk about the family's involvement in that & Lincoln's election, I use "Lincoln & Liberty, Too" -- his campaign song.  Both sets of lyrics to "Old Rosin the Beau" were by the abolitionist music group, The Hutchinson Family Singers.  I have 3 blog articles about them and Civil War music at  http://www.storytellingresearchlois.com/search/label/Hutchinson%20Family%20Singers .  The most recent (therefore the first shown) has a video of ex-Weaver, Ronnie Gilbert singing "Lincoln and Liberty, Too."  Personally I always found it funny singing to the tune of "Old Rosin the Beau" as the family's father was staunchly anti-alcohol, even salting the corn crop he sold to pay their part in an Underground Railroad fine paid by all members of the network.

I use the songs to tie together Liberetta's life story, fitting some incidents to verses, since a normal life, unlike fiction doesn't have an easy outline.  The song also has predictable repetition, encouraging audience participation.

What is this instrument?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

It does look to be an Aeolian harp! Thanks for everyone’s help.

Looking forward to it being shipped and receiving it.

What is this instrument?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Cool!  The name sounded familiar so I looked it up https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aeolian_harp .  You let the wind play it.

What is this instrument?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Now it’s really beginning to get interesting.

Found a Don Oblander who was the guitar player in 1967-1970 for a Beaverton, Oregon band called, Summer Blues Band and later called Chains of Illusion. He did some posting on a guitar forum and might possibly have been a luthier.

Would this be meant to play with hammers?

What is this instrument?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Aeolian Harp

What is this instrument?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

It reminds me  of psalters like this ones: https://www.klangwerkstatt.de/psalterien

What is this instrument?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Found a couple of obits with the name but no info on a Don Oblander who made instruments. I’ve been searching for a couple of days and can’t find much info at all about this instrument.

What is this instrument?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I've never seen one. Is Don Oblander still around on the internet?

What is this instrument?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

More pics…

What is this instrument?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Hello to all,

I just bought this instrument online because I really thought it was neat and interesting looking. I own two mountain dulcimers and like collecting musical instruments, especially wooden stringed instruments.  My question is, what is it?

It is almost 24” long. If identified, how should it be tuned?

thanks,

Rosin the Beau and recycling melodies for new songs

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Thanks, @ken-longfield and @ken-hulme. I should have know you two would be the first to join the conversation!

Having grown up in Boston, I've know the Charlie and the MTA song about as long as I've known the Longfellow poem about Paul Revere ("Listen my children and you shall hear . . . ").  Both were required material in elementary schools.

There are lots of one-offs, I assume.  I heard an old Scottish tune called "The Bold Princess Royal" that must have been the source of the melody for Sweet Betsy from Pike.

But so far you guys have confirmed my sense that Rosin the Beau has been used more than any other melody.

Edit audio descriptions without spamming the Home site

Site QUESTIONS ? How do I...?

Thanks Dusty and Strumelia. I think I will use the comments section and stop worrying :)

As somebody, who maintains servers for a living I can understand your attitude. My coworkers and I have to to some regular maintenance work (e.g. before the hard drive of the server gets full). Most of this stuff isn't a real hassle or just doesn't happen too often. If tasks  tends to repeats a lot we are looking for a way to make the server do the work for us :)

So: Although I think it would be good to hide the boxes it's propably not worth the hassle If they are not used by most people anyway. 

Regards, Jost.

2021 Berea Traditional Dulcimore Gathering Details

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Steven, if you are planning on using the bridge on I40 over the Mississippi, check to see if it is open. It has been closed due to a crack in a beam that supports one of the spans. Wouldn't want you to get wet.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

2021 Berea Traditional Dulcimore Gathering Details

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I'm taking the scenic route! Just have to make a left turn at the Mississippee, cross over at Nashville, and head north and east from there.....

2021 Berea Traditional Dulcimore Gathering Details

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I hope he's got big floaties for his wagon and oxen -- the Gulf of Mexico due East of Texas is kinda rough this time of year!

2021 Berea Traditional Dulcimore Gathering Details

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Steven's gonna wind up in Florida and wonder where everyone is. 

2021 Berea Traditional Dulcimore Gathering Details

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Both east and north, Dan.

2021 Berea Traditional Dulcimore Gathering Details

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

You taking the scenic route, I thought it would be north?

2021 Berea Traditional Dulcimore Gathering Details

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I'll be there with mask and vaccination card...don't forget to bring any necessary paperwork, folks...and a few dulcimores! Now I gotta get the oxen and wagon ready for the big trek...Wagons EAST!!!

2021 Berea Traditional Dulcimore Gathering Details

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

And I'll be packing my illustrious J. E. Thomas replica Cumberland dulcimore, which will be won by an attendee!  Plus a few other things of possible interest and/or sale.  Should be a great few days, folks!

Edit audio descriptions without spamming the Home site

Site QUESTIONS ? How do I...?

I agree with everything Dusty said! 

No worries at all Jost.  The activity feed changes all day anyway as other things get added.

Edit audio descriptions without spamming the Home site

Site QUESTIONS ? How do I...?

Hey @jost.  Well first of all, the people who worry about dominating the activity feed are never the ones who need to worry about dominating the activity feed, so think no more about that. The Moderators do have the ability to delete an item from the Activity Feed, and sometimes we do that when one person uploads several audio and video files and then edits them all, but in your case, a few items in that feed is nothing to worry about.  

We have discussed getting rid of some of those boxes that show up when you upload an audio text since they are not displayed publicly.  I suppose we could also find a way for them to be shown, but since so few people use that feature it has never been an issue.  In the meantime, you have two choices if you want to share lyrics. One is to put them in the description.  That will display, but will require significant scrolling on the part of the viewer.  The second is just to add another comment in which you put the lyrics.

Don't be ashamed. Just the fact that you posted your concern here shows you to be a good dulci-citizen.

Edit audio descriptions without spamming the Home site

Site QUESTIONS ? How do I...?

Hello everybody,

I uploaded an audio file and noticed that no lyrics where shown. I also noticed an typo in my description. Thus I edited the description and tried to move the lyrics to "audio text". Lyrics are still not displayed I guess that's just the way it is. I can live with it but will not enter the lyrics the next time. 

I'm however shocked that every edit ended up on the Home screen of fotmd. Is there any way I can  disable this kind of spam from me? If not might some of the moderators or admins remove them? 

I'm quite ashamed since this looks like a scream for attention (which it's not I assure you!) 

Best regards, Jost.

2021 Berea Traditional Dulcimore Gathering Details

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I'll be there with my mask on as well. I'll have some dulcimores to exhibit and maybe some other stuff to show. I'll have a video projector with me if anyone has something they want to show that way.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

2021 Berea Traditional Dulcimore Gathering Details

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Registration is closed.  We have 34 attendees!  A good time will be had by all -- espcially watching Dan with his bells on!!

Randy Wilkinson tab book for Elizabethan Music

Dulcimer Resources:TABS/Books/websites/DVDs

I'm another person interested in a copy of Randy Wilkinson's Elizabethan Music for Dulcimer.  Thankfully became aware of him while enjoying the sendinthemusic.com 5/15/21 jam video; see 19:54 mark where "Gentle Maiden" tab is shared and attributed to Randy.  

2021 Berea Traditional Dulcimore Gathering Details

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I'll be there with bells on, and a mask!

2021 Berea Traditional Dulcimore Gathering Details

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I don't know why, but last week Berea College requested that Gathering attendees either be vaccinated or have a negative Covid-19 test 72 hours before arrival.  We're sorry if this inconveniences some people and we understand if you choose not to attend because of the College's request.  But our goal is to keep everyone safe.

updated by @ken-hulme: 05/16/21 09:45:44AM

Any banjo players out there?

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

I also enjoy Mary's banjo and dulcimer playing.
I'd like to share a banjo duet that AlKirby and I recorded alittle over a decade ago.  Al is playing Scruggs style and I'm playing clawhammer style.  Our friend the late Zeke Mazurek added some fiddleto the mix.  This was on our Sittin' In The Kitchen CD.
https://www.banjohangout.org/myhangout/media-player/audio_player2.asp?playlist=1201&musicid=

Any banjo players out there?

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

Yes! Play clawhammer banjo; enjoy Mary Z. Cox’s tasteful banjo playing.

How Many Dulcimers Do You Own?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I've enjoyed this thread. Thank you to everyone who shared. Whether you have 1 dulcimer or 10, we share a common love for this beautiful little wooden box with strings. 

Have fun!

New McSpadden Flatwater Dulcimers

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Congrats on your new Flatwater, ADK. From what I see, they look and sound great, and have a great price to boot. I think McSpadden has really filled a niche with these new dulcimers.

How is the COVID-19 coronavirus affecting you?

OFF TOPIC discussions

@lisavb, I'm glad that you and yours have gotten vaccinated.  The mass vaccination site near us also operated very efficiently.  I'm not sure they were all so successful, though.

When my daughter's school shut down last spring, they initially said it was for a 4-day weekend to do a deep cleaning.  Then they canceled the next week of school and then the next.  No one understood at the time how long this would last.  We all thought it would "blow over," as you say.

I'll have to figure out the best way to accommodate both a small number of people live in person and a larger group spread around the world.  But one thing I can definitely conclude: dealing with the pandemic has strengthened rather than weakened the dulcimer community.  So many of our local groups had to stop meeting, but now we're connecting with so many more people spread around the country and the world.