Forum Activity for @terry-wilson

Lisa, I always smile when you write about your whistles, if I may. Especially today. You will appreciate this: Our senior group at our church hosted a noon dinner for all church members and guests. Afterwards, I directed bingo games with prizes. Speed bingo. Through in 45 minutes. Guess what? Okay, here it is. I used my Tabor Drum as part of the entertainment. When someone won, they had to agree to talk like a pirate, as in "Arrrrr r." And then walk around wearing and beating the tabor drum, all the while saying "Arrrrrr", for 10 seconds. Fyn. Ayeee, the ole tabor drum.  I still have my tabor whistle.   The one with two holess on top and one under.   Made of wood.  Me thinks you have one.

updated by @terry-wilson: 08/26/18 04:00:49PM

What's your favorite mournful, spooky, or lonesome song to play?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Cad E Sin Don Te Sin  has always seemed spooky to me   Link to tab

updated by @frank-ross: 08/26/18 02:52:39PM

What's your favorite mournful, spooky, or lonesome song to play?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Tom Dooley?  

 

Well I'm still at it.  I can't seem to get very good ...doubtless due to my very limited available practice time.    But I do love to play at it!  It's very relaxing for some reason- I think because of the pure simplicity of the instrument.

However, I must say there is nothing easier than to just grab a penny whistle from my can of them on the desk, and quickly play a simple tune whenever the mood strikes to play a tune without having to fuss or tune anything .  I don't even have to clear a space on the desk!  lol

If the tune is really simple, I can usually figure out how to play it by ear.  Hearing whether the tune is major (cheerful) or minor (mournful) helps in locating where the tonic/key note can be located on the whistle.  That's much like the mtn dulcimer, and knowing where the four common modes would lie on the diatonic fretboard... 'cheerful' (ionian, mixolydian) or 'mournful' (aeolian or dorian). 
The holes on the whistle even echo the fretboard in that way- for example to play ionian you base the key note on fret three on dulcimer...and on whistle you'd base the ionian key note with the bottom three holes uncovered.  If playing dulcimer in Aeolian, the key note is when fretting fret 1... on whistle the aeolian key note would be when the 1 hole at the bottom is left open.  That was so cool when I came to that realization!  It kind of opened up my head to be able to access a lot of simple traditional folk tunes.  

 

What's your favorite mournful, spooky, or lonesome song to play?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Croí Cróga by Clannad or Loreena McKennitt's version of The Highwayman

What's your favorite mournful, spooky, or lonesome song to play?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Omie Wise is such a mournful and haunting song. 

Play Music On the Porch Day 2018!

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

The air was still smokey from all the fires in Cali, and we even had ash falling onto our dulcimers, but a few of us from my local music group, River City Dulcimers, moved to the sidewalk in front of the Strum Shop where we meet monthly.  We tried to get video, but the noise from the street overpowered the dulcimers. I decided to play one of my octave dulcimers, just to expand the tonal range of our little band of dulciholics. We played five tunes: The Ash Grove, Holy Manna, Simple Gifts, Skye Boat Song, and Southwind.

 

updated by @dusty: 08/28/18 02:32:22AM

Play Music On the Porch Day 2018!

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

So far we have enjoyed three friends from church, a visitor from China, and a neighbor doing Native drumming, guitar, accordion, mountain dulcimer, a little kid piano, show tunes, and opera. OH my day has already been made, and I don't even think it's over yet...

This pic was taken before it all kicked off.  The table filled with food~sweet tea, muffins, veggie tray, fruit, summer sausage, cheese, and cranberry bars.  

Well, new players just showed up...

So that  was a bit ago, my post didn't send, but I had a very talented, classical guitarist with his very talented, singing wife playing uke.  They are AMAZING, and they were here for about four, glorious songs....

Play Music On the Porch Day 2018!

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

This year I'm delegating to the next generation.  Our son's band is playing an outdoor festival this evening and we'll go to cheer him on (the fact that it is a Food Truck Festival and I'm getting hungry has absolutely nothing to do with this). 

Unfortunately, this means we're missing the block party here at home.  There's too much stuff happening in August!!  Last year the uke club declared our hangout's beer garden to be a "porch" and we played all afternoon.  But this year we played a gig Wednesday and there's a uke festival tomorrow so we were too overwhelmed to try anything today.

I may declare a local Play Music On The Porch Day in September.  I'll claim it has something to do with daylight savings time.  Come to think of it, maybe I should declare a Porch Music day every month as penance for abandoning the block party.  I feel guilty but I gotta run.  I'm gunning for a caprese grilled cheese with fresh basil, tomatoes, mozzarella and pesto mayo.  But Tamale Spaceship has confit-style duck with dried fruit mole and cranberries.  Too many events and too much food!!!  Did I mention I love August?

I hope everybody has a great Saturday night.  On the porch or elsewhere. :-)

Wind Instruments????

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

I'm a weird (or lucky) duck on this topic.  I'm an instrumental music education major, so I can technically play any orchestral brass, woodwind, or percussion instrument.  Honesty compels me to report that I would only consider myself competent enough to perform in public on seven or possibly eight of the brass and woodwind instruments (but any of the  percussion instruments...let's go) lol.  I also do penny whistle and Native American flute.  The cool thing is that new and wonderful challenges are still lurking around every corner.  I've been blessed to do okay as a tuba major/percussion minor.  Learning musical instruments is fun!  

Wind Instruments????

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

I began playing clarinet at age 11, then studied it all the way through university.  After moving overseas, I began playing the diatonic harmonica.  That got me into Old Time music.  Now I've started playing the dulcimer, too.

Play Music On the Porch Day 2018!

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Well, no one else showed up, so I played solo. I did a few tunes on mountain dulcimer and then a few on banjo. No videos.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Play Music On the Porch Day 2018!

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I recorded six videos. I posted the first 3, and I'll post the last 3 tomorrow.

Play Music On the Porch Day 2018!

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

We played and posted video evidence here on FOTMD!  :)

Happy strumming', friends!

Play Music On the Porch Day 2018!

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

 I'm not sure yet if'n I'll be on my porch or someone else's. I'll keep you poated.

Play Music On the Porch Day 2018!

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Sittin' on the dock of the bay.  In the shade on Bay street just half  block from my boat on the river.  Lotsa folk walk that way crossing the bridge as part of an exercise plan.  

What's your favorite mournful, spooky, or lonesome song to play?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Thank you for "resurrecting" these songs.  (Zombie Jamboree by the Kingston Trio just popped into my mind as I said that, but that is definitely NOT mournful, spooky, or lonesome.)  I, too, enjoy "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" as Wanda Degan taught an Ionian version.  The reason for my thanks is I was wanting something spooky for dulcimer and wasn't happy with what I found among my own music.

The mention of "She Moved Through the Fair" is perfect for me.  I've loved & been haunted by it for a long time.  The same was true about the baritone dulcimer, so, now that I have one, this is going to be my first real work for it.  Tried to figure it out with SMN and what I came up with seemed flat.  Went online and found an experimental way to tab it at Digital Tradition.  I chose AbEbAb tuning and am dying to play it . . . well maybe I'll just hold a seance by playing it.  The October meeting of my local folklore society has Ghost Stories as the theme.  I could tell tons, but the group is really geared towards music and I like to challenge myself musically monthly, so I really want to chill everybody out with this piece.

BTW I know a few here play bowed psaltery and ages ago I played Tom Lehrer's "The Irish Ballad" on mine.  If you know Tom Lehrer's work, you can appreciate it's satirical.  On guitar I like to sing an old song, "The Legend of the Red Mill" from the Rudolf Friml operetta, The Red Mill.  It has a great spooky refrain and, like "She Moved Through the Fair", it doesn't answer all the mysteries it raises.

Play Music On the Porch Day 2018!

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

My local dulcimer group meets tomorrow. Our plan is to practice a little bit and then move our chairs to the sidewalk in front of the music store where we meet and play 5 or 6 tunes.  I'll try to get a video or at least a still photo or two.

Once I get home I hope to play on my front lawn with neighbors who play fiddle and banjo.  I fear they're out of town and I'll be there all by my lonesome.

Play Music On the Porch Day 2018!

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I'm looking forward to sitting on the porch and playing a tune or two. If any friends stop by they are welcome to play as well. I left the invitation opened ended so anyone can show up between 1 and 4 p.m. After that we are heading to a baseball game. We will see what happens. Have a good day everyone.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Play Music On the Porch Day 2018!

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Please come tell me about your plans for tomorrow, and follow up with pics later!  

I love this day.  This will be our third year participating.  We are still making a poster to hang from the porch, I have a few chalkboards to draw on, we will put out a table with iced tea and cups and whatever instruments we can find around the house, and I've invited all kinds of musical folk to show up!  Usually it's just us and our neighbor, but ANYTHING COULD HAPPEN!  

I'M SO EXCITED!!!!!

updated by @hugssandi: 10/27/19 12:02:25PM

Warren May, McSpadden, Blue Lion?????

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

That's hilarious!

Dulcimer info, made in Gatlinburg, TN

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

Thanks Dan & John for the responses. I did get a little more info, you guys are correct it was made by Bill Davis, the person that has it is the original owner and it came with a "Fun With The Dulcimer" Book, and a pamphlet "Davis Dulcimers" That has his picture on the front. I am going to look at it tomorrow. Would you guys have any idea of its value? 

Dulcimer info, made in Gatlinburg, TN

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

William Barney Davis (1926-1995) was Navy veteran, plumber, folk musician and dulcimer luthier from Benton County, TN. He apparently started building dulcimers in the late 1950s. He was the proprietor of the Bill Davis Dulcimer Shop in Gatlinburg, TN, which opened in 1963. He ran the store with his fourth wife, Jean, a folk musician with a fascination for the dulcimer. Bill and Jean organized a number of dulcimer-related festivals in Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and elsewhere in the Tennessee Smoky Mountains through the late 1960s and 1970s. These included the annual Southern Highland Handicraft Guild gathering, the Folk Festival of the Smokies and the Dulcimer and Harp Convention.

Dulcimer info, made in Gatlinburg, TN

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

Is the piece signed?

 

DAN

www.dulcimore.com

Dulcimer info, made in Gatlinburg, TN

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

John, that would be Bill Davis of Davis Dulcimers, who was actively building in the 1960s and 1970s.  That is his trademark "violin" design, which was also used by Chet Hines of Ohio (he wrote a book about it) and has been perpetuated by Mike Clemmer in Townsend, TN.  The late Jean Schilling of Cosby, TN was married to Bill Davis at one point, and their photo appeared in a National Geographic magazine years ago.

What's your favorite mournful, spooky, or lonesome song to play?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Good one, Ken. I think I have that on an old Doc Watson album.

What's your favorite mournful, spooky, or lonesome song to play?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Long Black Veil's a good one, Dusty.  Check out the lyrics to Mattie Groves -- the predecessor tune for Shady Grove.

what was your first song on the dulcimer?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I missed this thread too, Ken.   

The book I had 40 years ago was Jean Ritchie's Dulcimer book.  I suspect my first tune was Go Tell Aunt Rhodie as well, since it would have been one of the few tunes in that book which I knew.  The other would have been Barbara Allen.

Dulcimer info, made in Gatlinburg, TN

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

Would anyone be familiar or possibly have any info on a maker in Gatlinburg that has since passed, with this dulcimer? File attached. Thanks

what was your first song on the dulcimer?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Amazing Grace. 

what was your first song on the dulcimer?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I wonder how I missed this thread 4 years ago? I do remember the first tune I played on the dulcimer: Go Tell Aunt Rhody. That was 44 years ago.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

updated by @ken-longfield: 08/23/18 08:13:16PM

what was your first song on the dulcimer?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I believe it went like this:

Twinkle twinkle little Star;
Then: Aunt Rhodie;
Then: Boil them Cabbage down.

I can vividly remember yelling for my wife to cone on the porch and listen.

Boil Them Cabbage is still my most requested song at the Assisted Living Homes, where I play every week. Some of the super seniors just can't get enough of it. Some know all the words to all the verses.
Great great song.

Jesus Loves Me, was probably my 4th song.

Most life changing song was learning, Wildwood Flower.

What's your favorite mournful, spooky, or lonesome song to play?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

The group I play with recently introduced me to ' A Soldiers Lament'. It's not spooky, just very, very sad. I'm not a very emotional type of person, but this song really affects me. Our female vocalist was the lead with the others backing her up on the hallelujahs. It probably doesn't help being retired military.

What's your favorite mournful, spooky, or lonesome song to play?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

It's funny to see this old thread resurrected.  I just decided to put together a bunch of murder ballads for a workshop next spring.

I've always thought "Long Black Veil" was creepy because the singer is dead. 

The scaffold rose high as eternity neared

She stood in the crowd but she shed not a tear

Often at night when the cold wind blows

In her long black veil she cries over my bones

 

updated by @dusty: 08/23/18 07:01:00PM

Clemmer Ban-Jammer Serial #5075

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

This is actually my second Clemmer Ban-Jammer.  I bought and sold the first one a few years back, and I have wanted another ever since.

I prefer fingerpicking the ban-jammer, as I'm not a fan of strumming across all the strings of banjo-type instruments.  So I guess you'd say I play in a single-string style (melody notes and fill notes).  The used instrument purchase included the DVD by Stephen Seifert that accompanies new ban-jammers purchased directly from Mike Clemmer.  I think Stephen's style is more flat-picking, so I may give that a try going forward.

Just intonation and limitations

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Lately there's been some renewed discussion of Just temperament on this site, so I thought I'd point to this very helpful thread.  Be sure to check out @robin-clark 's great video below!

What songs were you taught in kindergarten/grade school?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I vividly remember being taught 2 very different songs in kindergarten by two different teachers.  One was Rock 'a My Soul in the Bosom of Abraham, and the other was singing Silent Night in German (we actually did it and I can still remember almost all the lines, almost 60 years later!)  I loved those teachers and i loved singing out boisterously the songs they taught us.  Yet another teacher taught us to do simple traditional folk dances from various countries.  It was all such a wonderful rich experience!

What's your favorite mournful, spooky, or lonesome song to play?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I've always found The Well Below the Valley to be about as dark and creepy as they come.

what was your first song on the dulcimer?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I can't really remember the first song I ever  played on the dulcimer, but I can remember the first song I heard anyone play/sing live on the dulcimer (about 22 years ago now)... it was a guy playing a dulcimer and singing Hang me O Hang Me (I been All Around this World) . It totally blew me away (the dulcimer instrument, not the song) and at that moment I simply HAD to get myself a dulcimer and learn to play it. I was completely in love with the mountain dulcimer from the first moment I saw and heard it played in person.     Ironically, I don't think I ever felt compelled to play that particular song, even though it sounded great when that fellow did it.

Wind Instruments????

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

I am an incompetent diatonic Harmonica player. And a mediocre chromatic harmonica player. Neither offer the soft music of my dulcimers.