Forum Activity for @notsothoreau

I still want to listen to the Podcast. BUT...I attended a one hour workshop by the Hearts of the Dulcimer folks last night. I haven't had a chance to play with anyone else so this was great. My husband was impressed by how all the dulcimers sounded. Thank you again for doing that workshop!

I did feel badly for the lady next to me. She'd spent $200 on a dulcimer shaped instrument, with an action so high that it was difficult to play. I just hope people will do a little research before they get that first instrument.

I have been thinking of a second dulcimer with extra frets at the 1 1/2 and 8 1/2. But I like to use the DAA tuning down a step for singing. I know that DAD players gain some tunes/songs with the extra frets but I am not sure if the 1 1/2 and 8 1/2 frets would be the correct extra frets for a DAA (CGG) tuning system. Any advice? Thank you!

Passing Forward.  Good on ya!

Very generous.  The dulcimer community is just wonderful, isn't it?

That is awesome! Hope you find it a great home!

Richard, that is very generous of her and you. I'm currently working on refurbishing a kit built dulcimer for a friend of mine to give to one of her students. She is always looking for instruments to get children from our area started on the mountain dulcimer. Someone will have a fun time getting started with the Apple Creek.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

The widow of my best friend has asked me to help dispose of her late husband's student dulcimer. It will be a gift to someone (child or adult) who wants to learn to play but who does not have and cannot afford a dulcimer to start out on. The dulcimer has been played very little and looks new. It comes with a padded soft case and I will cover shipping cost for a needy learner within the 48 continental states. It is an Apple Creek ACD100 tear drop shaped model with 24.25", VSL just right for a smaller handed person or one whose hand has limited mobility.

I would like to suggest that the recipient learn to play the dulcimer and when they no longer need this instrument that they would consider passing it on to another needy learner.

Thanks for reading this.

congrats on the new member of your family.

The selections picked speak well of the poster's taste and convictions.  Seems we need to find a folk hymn based on an irish air. I do love "Be Thou My Vision."

[quote="Ken Hulme"]

Glenda -- that's a really different tune for Going Home.  Had never heard it, but I like it. 

The one I'm familiar with (and play) is based on The Largo from Dvorak's From The New World symphony,with words by William Arms Fisher in 1921.  The English boy choir Libera has an outstanding version on YouTube.  I don't have the high sweet tenor voice, but do a passable baritone version.  

  Yes that's one of my favorites too Ken. That's why I mentioned the movie Gods and Generals so it wouldn't be confused with the other song by the same name . I liked to do a medley of both songs you cant beat the beautiful version by the boys choir could listen to it all day. It was a hard choice and glad we don't have to be put in a situation where we would have to choose. 

OH Susie...  I love "Wild Mountain Thyme" and would be delighted to hear you play it....

As we all are eventually.

Glenda -- that's a really different tune for Going Home.  Had never heard it, but I like it. 

The one I'm familiar with (and play) is based on The Largo from Dvorak's From The New World symphony,with words by William Arms Fisher in 1921.  The English boy choir Libera has an outstanding version on YouTube.  I don't have the high sweet tenor voice, but do a passable baritone version.  

What a great question. Specifically for dulcimer, I would have to say Pretty Saro. I play it on my little ginger scale McSpadden, in reverse Ionian G. Someday I should post a video!

Right now I'm thinking the fiddle tune "Liberty."

I've heard old timey versions , superfast bluegrass versions , a classic Cajun version , and a beautiful, slow version on the autoharp by Bryan Bowers that has a hymn-like quality to it and ever so slowly picks up momentum.  So I'm thinking the song could suffice for any mood.  

There are no words to it, so I could spend my time on that proverbial desert island writing lyrics!

I lead a non-creative life....mine are all referred to by the builder. 

"Wild Mountain Thyme"

The song I want to choose I cannot play yet!  "My Savior's Precious Blood".  Of the things I can play, which I understand is the actual question, I guess "O Master Let Me Walk With Thee".

I did not name my first dulcimer (pictured <<<), but I did name my Feather Dulcimer Teagan.  It means "little poet".  OH how I love that thing!  Teagan has a gender identity crisis though, because at first I thought boy, now I think girl, and that could change again....  

I also just refer to my dulcimers by the maker/builder

 I have to say Going Home from the movie Gods and Generals a movie about the Civil War. I find myself playing this one over and over. I've never grown tired of listening or playing it.. I feel like it is the perfect Dulcimer Song. I just sat an the Russell Fork River is south West Va.and played it for almost 2 hours perfect place perfect song.!  

Different strokes for different dulcimer folks.  I just think of my instruments as having a soul of sorts; released as they get played in and attuned to me.  Names personalize that feeling for me.  And just for the record, I name my tools also.  My screwdriver is named Lucille and I call my hammer Trigger; with apologies to B.B. King and Willie Nelson.

Lisa, I am glad you like "my" song. I agree, it's a beautiful song. Irene, like you, I have lived on a river, the Flint, for many years. I love "my" river. I love it so much, that almost always, while motoring slowly up or down, early in the morning, I feel haunted by it's beauty. That's a good reason to love this wonderful song. Congratulations for your 54 years, Irine.  Fifty years for us.  Dusty, it feels good to know there are other men, and women, who don't mind admitting, that they too get emotional with certain songs. I'm glad you pulled yourself together and we're able to play this song. I love playing it on dulcimer, but I do believe the guitar is the right instrument for this song.

I don't name any of my instruments. Most of them are just called by the name of the builder; e.g., the Folkcraft, the Blue Lion, the Thomas, the Prichard, Number 1 (the first one I built), etc. The same goes for my banjos and guitars. They are tools to help me make music. I don't name my screw drivers, wrenches, pliers, chisels, or other tools either. It doesn't mean that I do not care for or cherish them.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

The comments here in....about RIVER by Bill Staines had me looking it up on youtube.  No wonder it's a favorite.  I've never heard it and I too can love that song.  I live on the grand Mississippi....seeing the sunsets daily...sunshine and rain and big thunder clouds....remembering my past with all the kids and now just my husband and I ....looking and singing and playing our instruments together at ages 77....We'll sing our 54th anniversary in our round yurt this July 30th and be grateful for all our years together and then some. Thank you friends for posting your favorites for us to learn from them too.  aloha, irene

Terry, I once played guitar backup to a woman singing "River" at a small community arts festival.  I was given a lyrics sheet with chords to play, but when we rehearsed I broke out in tears as I followed the lyrics.  I had to just learn the song and play without looking at the lyrics so that I could smile at the audience instead of balling like a baby.

You are not alone.

I have always named my instruments for the simple reason that, as space in the house is limited and accidents will happen, they live in their cases in thee olde musick closet unless I take them out for a stroll.  All black cases.  All black, identical cases...  So I write their names on paper luggage tags and attach them to the handles of their respective cases.  Makes it a lot easier to find the one I am looking for.  As for names, the last in was the circa 1890-1910 home-made baby I posted about a week or so back.  When it arrived I took a long look at it and thought 'Ohio' for provenance, but no good name came to me - though I considered 'Buckeye'.  But then we were watching an old Andy Griffith rerun Friday night in which Andy had a scene with the old codger named in this episode Jubal, Jud in others, and I thought "thats it!"  I looked up Jubal on the internet and found that he was a descendant of Cain and is credited as being the "father of all who play the harp and flute".  As I am also learning to play the fife, I knew I hit this one on the head.  Serendipity strikes!

"River" by Bill Staines is truly a beautiful and emotional song Terry.  It's very easy to understand it producing tears.

About 3 months after I began my journey with the dulcimer, I drove 100 miles to my first of only two D Jams. The group of around a dozen played "River (take me along), instrumental. I'd never heard of it. I thought it was the prettiest song I had ever heard. And then when I discovered the words, I was blown away again. I've been working on this song now for 6 years. My wife told me a couple of years ago, that I am ready to play the song out.  However, I love the song so deeply, I just don't want to blow it for someone else hearing it for the first time. "River", is a metaphor for the life we have each lived, and tomorrow on. If I told you how many times tears have flowed while practicing this song, one would say; "You need to get a hold of yourself, boy, or get institutionalized." One day, just maybe.

How many times can I answer this question?  If it's only once, I would have to find a tune that sounds as good fast as it does slow.  Something with words but whose melody is meaningful without the words.

I'm gonna have to percolate on this one for a spell.

Yeah this is a very tough question Terry!  

I almost picked Shady Grove. But then I had to choose a song I learned many years ago from the great Aubrey Atwater...

Wedding Dress, also sometimes called My Little Doney Gal.  I learned it at a workshop Aubrey gave, on dulcimer... but I think I actually play & sing it better on the banjo.
Anyway, I think that's the one I'd pick.  

I slept on it-- it's Shady Grove.  

If you could hie to Kolob (I'll post the words to this some other time)...but any one song would become boring after too many times a playing it....We all have many.  I've loved the answers....who will watch the home place....amazing grace...Music is in all our souls else we'd not be doing it daily and posting and reading here in.  Thank you all for your posts.  aloha, irene

Golly, I gotta sleep on this one!  :)

Ditto!!!