Contact member Mark Mathieu, our resident Canadien Errant, who is from Hearst, Ontario, he had a real repertoire of Canadian tunes...
Forum Activity for @ken-hulme
Let's throw another way of marking Barbry Allan in 4/4 meter. 
Y'all shouldn't get me thinking about such things. I mean, shucks, it's 5 a.m. and I've already tried to analyze my playing/singing of the old song.
Twas in the mer ry month of May
2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1
When green buds they were swel ling
2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1
Sweet William on his deathbed lay
2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1
For the love of Bar bry Al len
2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1
I've taken Lisa's (Lisa G) 3 beat pickup as correct, and whether it is "correct" or not, it seems to be the way I do it, too. You have to count this kind of fast probably around 120. I'm guessing on that using the second hand on the clock instead of a metronome, but you get the idea. It gives you a 12 bar tune, as well. I may record this, too, since about 2 years ago I kinda told Jessica Comeau I would.
Looking dignified (or is it indignant) is definitely important. Oh, there's also what I tell workshop students to do if'n they make a mistake playing a tune. If anyone asks say, "It seems to be a regional variation." Being from Oklahoma then living (and playing) in Maryland for quite a few years and now living in West Virginia, it seems reasonable.
updated by @rob-n-lackey: 05/07/16 05:29:59AM
Slippy Jiggy is an excellent name. Or you could change your name to Lisa to avoid confusion. Remember the Monty Python sketch with Bruce, Bruce, Bruce and Bruce?
Every so often I have to explain to people that yes, I am a dulcimer-playing Lisa on the internet, but not the one you had in mind :)
As for whether it matters to get song timing right (good grief, are we back on the original topic?) I do think it's worth trying. We'd lose all the complexity and beauty of the old rhythms if we always settled for straight 4/4. I've been thinking about this a lot lately because I'm arranging songs for a large and very miscellaneous group of ukulele players. "Turn, Turn, Turn" trips us up every time. "Fly Me to the Moon" becomes a pitched battle between the forces of Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett! Oh, the humanity when we attempt "Ring of Fire" or "All Together Now." As a group of musicians (and I use the term loosely) with little rehearsal, we are better off simplifying the rhythms. How much... it's a judgement call.
A soloist has more freedom than a large group. As does a folk musician playing a song like "Barbara Allen" for which nobody knows what the original sounded like. There truly is no "correct" version until we invent a time machine. Why not throw in some extra beats for the thrill of it? My avatar (his name is Nick) knows the secret to any song variation: look dignified and say "I meant to do that."
Got to be some shared chromosomes there, Strumelia! Figured that in 7 years there would be enough player turnover that the topic should be revisited - it is important. The post originator, Bill D., emailed me on a different dulcimer topic this morning and I ran across this old thread, so thanks, Bill!
I am a strong believer in understanding the historical context of any of our music - if we do not look at where it came from and why it grew to popularity at that point in history, then we are just playing symbols on a piece of paper without any emotional involvement that gives us the key to unlock how a piece of music should be played. The only way to 'get' old-time music is to wrap our heads around it and tie it up with our ears in a bow!
Mary, just to clarify- you are perhaps thinking LisaGolladay's post was written by me? ...but 'tis not so.
Speaking of slip jigs...here is a friend of mine Mark Weems on his gourd banjer playing a lovely slip jig published in 1782 from Virginia....
updated by @strumelia: 05/06/16 08:39:50PM
In my experience, “old time music” is a very distinct type of American homegrown tradition that includes use of certain instruments – typically clawhammer or folk banjo and fiddle. It is called “old-time stringband music” by my friends that play in old time bands. Instrumentally, old-time is rhythmic, danceable music that is easily identified after spending time with it. Vocally, old-time is often sung with humorous words (think Uncle Dave Macon on earliest Grand Ol’ Opry). Other traditional music genres sometimes cross-blend into these established “old-time” tunes, but are not defined as “old-time music” – early country, bluegrass and contra-dance music. In my research, the old English cross-over ballads, country(contra) tunes, Child ballads, Morris dance tunes, old Irish and Scottish tunes were an early step in the progress of musical styles, but “old-time” music came much later in history. They are old, yes, but not “old-time”.
To understand the distinct genre of “old-time music”, one must develop an ear for what it is – requiring listening and absorbing yourself into that distinct music culture. I like this documentary of Clifftop, one of the most popular old-time festivals . Sometimes “early country” can be construed as “old-time”. I recently did a workshop on this for dulcimer – the music born from Atlanta’s famous fiddle conventions from post-Civil War times into the 1920-1930’s, as plantation workers and freedmen moved to the textile mills in the city, around which time early field recordings were done. With the advent of radio and the vast number of early 'hillbilly' musicians, Atlanta was destined to become America’s music capitol (Nashville won out!). This was the heyday of early country musicians like Gid Tanner and the Skilletlickers (Tanner homeplace is six miles from me), Fiddlin’ John Carson and his daughter, Moonshine Kate, Georgia Crackers and many others. (Dulcimer tab from this genre and two sound files for “I’m Growing Old and Feeble” (Little Old Log Cabin in the Lane) is on the free tab page at www.gwencaeli.com .)
Instead of thinking of my favorite old-time songs, I think of my favorite legendary old-time musicians and study their music to develop my old-time ear - like Melvin Wine, Lester McCumbers, Clyde Davenport, Tommy Jarrell and all the musicians from the Round Peak area in North Carolina, Emmett Lundy, Fiddlin’ Arthur Smith, Estill Bingham, Pug Allen, Charlie Poole, etc.
My favorite "second generation" old time musicians that keep the tradition alive are Mike Seeger, Bruce Molsky, Rafe Stefanini, Brad Leftwich, Ira Bernstein, David Holt, Bruce Greene (Don Pedi’s dulcimer recordings are mainly old-time Kentucky tunes learned from Bruce) and Jere and Greg Canote (listen to their old-time music at http://stringband.mossyroof.com/ ).
Some of my favorite old-time tunes:
- Step Back Cindy
- Sally Ann
- Drunken Hiccups
- Angelina Baker
- Fly Around My Blue-Eyed Gal
- Camp Meeting on the Fourth of July
- Old Yellow Dog Come Trotting Through the Meeting House (on my “Hoe the Corn!” Appalachian/OldTime CD)
- Sail Away Ladies
- Oh, My Little Darlin’
- Reuben’s Train
- Knoxville Girl
- Pretty Polly (also on “Hoe the Corn!” CD) . . .and about 200 others!
Does a dulcimer get a fuller tone when broken in?
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Great info. from everyone on dulcimers settling in, relaxing or finding their voice. Thanks for all your input, it is good information to know and much to think about.
Does a dulcimer get a fuller tone when broken in?
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Brian -- thanks for those references. Looks like I've got some light reading ahead...
It's very possible the Byrds learned the song from Baez... or vice versa. The Great Folk Revival was a small world.
I usually think of Barbara Allen in 3/4 time rather than 4/4, but there are versions both ways. Many of the really old songs started out in dance tempos from the 18th and 17th centuries. Galliards are 6/4 time (My Country Tis of Thee...). Slip jigs are 9/8. Take that up in the mountains for a few generations, then bring it to New York City and give it to guitar players with a steady strum. The results could be anything.
I'm listening to Jean Ritchie's highly irregular version now. If you wanted to transform this into a steady rhythm, you could plausibly go 3/4 or 4/4 or combine them and call it 7/4. Way over my head. I think Joan Baez plays 4/4 but throws one measure of 2/4 into each line like this: 4/4, 4/4, 2/4, 4/4. Trying to write it here with the count in front of the word you sing on that count (and remembering that "twas in the" is a pickup from the previous measure)...
'Twas in the (1 2 3)merry (4)month of
(1 2 3)May, when (4)green buds
(1 2)all were
(1 2 3)swelling, Sweet (4)William
(1 2 3)on his (4)deathbed
(1 2 3)lay, for (4)love of
(1 2)Bar'bry
(1 2 3 4)Allen.
That's how I count it anyway, but I am seriously not good at this so don't take my word for it.
Everybody's right: play the song however you want to play it. If anyone complains, start talking about galliards and slip jigs and they'll stop complaining! There hasn't been a wrong way to play Barbara Allen since the 1660's.
Does a dulcimer get a fuller tone when broken in?
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Personally, I believe that yes, instruments with wooden sound boxes will tend to sound better, more resonant if they are played a lot, as opposed to new or long stored instruments. The amount of change would naturally be quite varied....from almost nothing to something pretty noticeable...and depending on the listeners sensitivity as well.
I think the term myth implies that it is incorrect, whereas theory implies it's something that has yet to be proved right or wrong. So in this case I'd refer to it as a theory rather than a myth.
updated by @strumelia: 05/06/16 12:13:37PM
Does a dulcimer get a fuller tone when broken in?
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Hi Marg,
Yes, regular playing and aging of wood in music instruments does help create a more resonant tone, and it’s not the strings. Humidity and “creep” (a glue’s tendency to pull apart slowly when it is put under a continuous load) are believed to be mostly responsible. It is known that playing regularly in high humidity environments leads to a decrease in loss coefficient (the degree to which the wood dissipates vibrational energy via internal friction) and an increase in stiffness (Hunt and Balsan 1996). Evidence by Beavitt (1996) shows that creep facilitated by humidity cycling changes the overtone spectrum of an instrument, making it more resonant and more sonorous. Creep in newly strung instruments is accelerated by vibration absorption in the wood which is why you can help a new instrument settle in faster by playing it or exposing it (via those “blaring speakers” Ken mentions, for example) to those vibrations (Segerman 1996, 2001). It’s also been shown that the gradual loss of hemicellulose in wood (as it decomposes with time) lowers its density without affecting its Young’s modulus (one of the most important determinants of the acoustic properties of a material), which improves the sound radiation coefficient of the wood (another important determinant)(Bucur 2006). In fact, that understanding has led to some very interesting research in aging soundboards by deliberately infecting the wood with fungus to lower its density while keeping the Young’s modulus constant, again improving the sound radiation coefficient (Zierl 2005, Schwarze 2012).
Strings also have an effect on tone, depending on their material, age, etc. but they are not responsible for the sweeter sound of aged instruments, except insofar as if you are like me, and much prefer the warmer "deader" sound of old strings that have built up a layer of crud on them (from shed skin cells, oils etc) compared to the brighter sound of brand new strings. (And yes, I realize I'm in a very small minority here with that preference).
Hope that helps a little.
Kind regards,
Brian
HUNT, D. G., AND E. BALSAN. 1996. Why old fiddles sound sweeter. Nature 379: 681.
BEAVITT, A. 1996. Humidity cycling. Strad (Nov): 916–920
SEGERMAN, E. 1996. Wood structure and what happened in the Hunt & Balsan experiment. Fellowship of Makers and Researchers of Historical Instruments Quaterly 84, Communication 1471: 53–55.
SEGERMAN, E. 2001. Some aspects of wood structure and function. Journal of the Catgut Acoustical Society 4: 5–9.
BUCUR, V. 2006. Acoustics of wood, 2nd ed. Springer Series in Wood Science, Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg, Germany.
ZIERL, B. 2005. Obtaining the perfect violin sound - with fungi. Website https://www.empa.ch/web/s604/01-pilzholz [Accessed 06 May 2016].
Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine. "Treatment with fungi makes a modern violin sound like a Stradivarius." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 8 September 2012. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/09/120908081611.htm>.
updated by @brian-g: 05/06/16 07:25:56PM
Mary, the genre of old ballads referred to were largely either brought to America from England..Ireland..Scotland, or derived from those ballads, back in the 1800s, 1700s and earlier. They were traditionally sung without instrumental accompaniment, and the singer sang in a storytelling manner that often had irregular timing, gapped scales, and other very individualized and archaic characteristics typical of that style of singing.
When guitars were introduced into general use around the turn of the century and popular music began to be produced and more available later via radio and 78s, there was a new commercial and popular market for this 'mountain folks' music. But people wanted it to have chord or guitar accompaniment, and to generally be more 'accessible' to listen to as MUSIC...not simply as a sung story. A Capella sounded to raw and unfinished to most people after 1900. Guitars were generally used to 'fill in the music'. Singer guitar players who were not familiar with a Capella trad ballads almost universally straightened out the timing, unified any odd mode changes, eliminated accidentals and 'in between' notes, and generally made the ballads conform to modern music listener expectations. They made the ballads sound 'prettier' because that's what people wanted...not some odd sounding archaic piece you couldn't tap your foot to.
People like Joan Baez and Jean Ritchie either grew up in the old ballad tradition or else made a study of it...they found the old stylings to be beautiful and compelling, and kept them in their personal interpretations of the ballads, even in their instrumental treatment and timings. Other singers and or musicians embrace the more modern treatment of the old ballads, whether intentionally or by just following their usual approach.
As Rob said, you should do what inspires you personally....there is no 'right' way to play a tune or sing a song...there is just each our own way.
updated by @strumelia: 05/06/16 12:04:14PM
Does a dulcimer get a fuller tone when broken in?
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
I know a newly finished piece may take a few days to find its voice. I believe it has to do with the piece relaxing. That is, the wood has been forced to conform to a specific shape. If you take a piece of wood, cold bend it in a curve, then let the piece cycle through several dry/humid and hot/cold cycles it will for the most part hold its shape. The wood has a memory but will relax in the new shape after several cycles. The instrument will vibrate "better" once relaxed. Remember the wood is going from living wet to balanced dry in its environment. This process takes years. You can force it by placing it in a hot/dry kiln and temper the lignin in the wood. It speeds the process but in turn changes the way the wood reacts to its environment.
So to answer the question, yes and no. If a piece is made from air dried wood, it will certainly get better with age, kiln dried, not so much. IMHO
DAN
Does a dulcimer get a fuller tone when broken in?
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
I think that, if you have sufficiently sophisticated and sensitive instrumentation (or perfect pitch and memory) that you might be able to detect a change in tone of an instrument over time-in-use. Urban myth has people placing instrument in from of large/loud speakers to absorb vibrations and theoretically "improve with age" an instrument placed in front of the blaring speakers.
I'd like to see some quantitative (measureable/recordable) evidence of such a shift in tone, but all we ever get is qualitative ('I notice', 'I can') evidence. It sounds so logical -- the wood would get more flexible on a cellular level after being continuously vibrated for X amount of time. But to the best of my knowledge, no one has ever conclusively proven the idea one way or another.
If someone had some serious sound measuring equipment, a spare dulcimer, an automatic strummer, a sound generator, and a year of time, I believe this urban myth could be confirmed or denied. Sadly, like so many other dulcimer myths, hardly anyone has the inclination to do any such testing. A couple years back I provided test recordings for those who claimed they could hear the difference between an hourglass shape and a teardrop shape, and only one person responded to my challenge. And the result didn't come anywhere close to proving he could hear the difference ('way less than 25% correct).
Sam, IMHO what I believe you are hearing are the natural differences in the thousands of factors which go into the construction of a dulcimer. The difference in tone between fingers/noter and fingers/pick is easily understood when you consider that flesh, compared to wood or plastic, absorbs and mutes vibrations from the strings.
Does a dulcimer get a fuller tone when broken in?
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Hi Marg,
In my experience, which is somewhat limited, a dulcimer's 'voice' DOES seem to change. I'm speaking from a new build standpoint, but I think it would apply to a newly purchased, new manufacture dulcimer as well. It may not always be fuller, but I do seem to detect a change in almost every one I build. Some do sound fuller. There is also the factor of your ear developing a tolerance for the new sound.
All that being said, I think several factors change the sound of our dulcimers. New strings, different gauge strings, a different key or even something as subtle as a change in humidity could make a difference.
I also seem to notice a difference when I play with fingers or a noter.
A good question and I'm sure there will be some fascinating discussion on it.
Sam
Does a dulcimer get a fuller tone when broken in?
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
I have read several times, a dulcimer will have a fuller tone when broken in. Is this true? What causes this? Does this apply to only new dulcimers or could it also apply to older ones that were not played, put away for years than passed on to someone who is now playing it? Is it the dulcimer itself or the strings? Most will say new strings sound best, so how can a new dulcimer sound better later?
Sorry about so many questions but thinking of a fuller tone when broken in has let to many.
Replies most welcome on your thoughts.
updated by @marg: 02/09/25 09:04:09PM
I strum to the rhythm of the words, not some arbitrary 3/4, 4/4, 9/8 time. I've listened to quite a few of the old recordings, and that seems to be the way the ole tymers sang a tune, and if they sang that way, they probably played that way as well.
A metronome to me is just a little blue guy living in the city, not a tik-tock I follow for music...
Seduced by a pretty face
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Yes, I'm enjoying the new Warren May. I played it for a half hour or so this evening. It is waking up nicely and will have a very full tone when broken in. It was only one day old when I got it!
And yes, the summer weather here is pretty awful. Very hot, very humid. I've had some issues with instruments, but nothing too serious.
Warren told me he'd visited Japan on a Sister City tour some years ago. But as of yet, there aren't many dulcimerists around.
Seduced by a pretty face
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Y'all had quite a KY tour! And that May dulcimer sure is a beauty!
Midi file needed for Oh, My Little Darling played on the mountain dulcimer
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
I would like to learn the song, Oh, My Little Darling. I have the mountain dulcimer tab for it, but would like to hear what it sounds like being played. The YouTube songs I have been able to listen to are Blue Grass and played very fast. Any help on this would be appreciated.
joebesse@aol.com
Seduced by a pretty face
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Have 5 already. Lexie...doesn't mean I wasn't tempted, though!
A new podcast about the mountain dulcimer
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Hearts Of The Dulcimer Podcast - Episode 15
Steve Eulberg: Dulcimer Crossing
Steve Eulberg is a multi-instrumentalist who plays and sings traditional songs and fiddle tunes; weaving together Celtic, Old-Time, blues, and jazz on both the mountain dulcimer and hammered dulcimer. He runs the website Dulcimer Crossing, which provides hundreds of online video dulcimer lessons by several known dulcimer teachers.
For episode resources: http://dulcimuse.com/podcast/resource/015.html
Seduced by a pretty face
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Nice pictures, fun seeing John picking out his new dulcimer with Warren and very nice picture of Jan playing one of his dulcimers.
And Jan all that and you didn't take one home? Ahh No what's up Girl?
Seduced by a pretty face
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
And here's Jan with Warren and one of the instruments she was playing.
updated by @john-gribble: 05/02/16 10:28:00AM
Has anyone heard of, or familiar with Loren Powell Dulcimers?
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Other than a grave marker reference, the only other thing I coud find about Powell was a 2014 auction of household goods where the deceased had owned one of Powell's dulcimers.
Southern Ohio and Northern Kentucky from the 20s to the 70s and later, is/was full of "small" builders of dulcimers. If you can get the instrument for a decent price, George, go for it.
Richard Fariña -- 50th anniversary
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
As of today, the clip of Richard and Mimi playing House Un-American Blues Activity Dream from Pete Seeger's Rainbow Quest is still on YouTube, for those who haven't heard it.
Fariña sure lit up my mind, as well as my heart. <3
alan kolman:
'house un-american blues activity dream' resonates to this day - if you don't know this song, you have to give it a listen. and 'been down so long it looks like up to me' was a must read back in the day - kerouac, ginsberg and farina lit up many minds. 50 years - man, i must be old.
Richard Fariña -- 50th anniversary
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
What a fun coincidence! I feel lucky that I discovered their music "back in the day." Richard and Mimi made magic with their music.
robert schuler:
Strange coincidence... Without thinking about the anniversary I spent yesterday and today listening to all their too few albums. I remember 1966 as a big year in pop music. But lacking in creative genius. R&M Farina were truely creative at a time when we needed it most. Which is why the radio never played their music... Robert...
I don't usually disagree with my brother Ken. His advice is good. On the other hand, I'd look at the strings to check their condition. If they are not rusted or corroded and do not break when you tune them up, you will be able to use them. They probably will not last as long as new strings, but will work until you can get a new set. That goes for the old (new) set in the package. Enjoy your new to you dulcimer.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Richard Fariña -- 50th anniversary
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
'house un-american blues activity dream' resonates to this day - if you don't know this song, you have to give it a listen. and 'been down so long it looks like up to me' was a must read back in the day - kerouac, ginsberg and farina lit up many minds. 50 years - man, i must be old.
Has anyone heard of, or familiar with Loren Powell Dulcimers?
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Samurai -- if the tuners don't keep it in tune, the little screws in the ends of the knobs probably need tightening -- start with just a half turn. Don't crank them all the way tight, just enough so the strings hold tune.
Below is a PDF of revised article I wrote several years ago, called I Just Got A Dulcimer, Now What? which is an illustrated glossary of dulcimer terms (so we all talk about the same things the same way), plus answers to many beginner questions about tuning, playing, care and feeding of your dulcimer.
I Just Got A Dulcimer 2016.pdf - 1.1MBupdated by @ken-hulme: 04/29/16 05:55:23PM
I'd say Yes, re-string it. And No, don't use the 'stored' strings. Depending on the environment where you live, even packaged strings will degrade over time, temperature and other factors. I live in a riparian environment -- tidal river -- and strings corrode very readily. But even when I lived a mile high and a thousnad miles from the ocean, they still corroded... Strings are cheap -- under $10 a set even at an expensive music shop; under $3 a set from www.juststrings.com... Buy a couple sets and replace frequently -- every six months at least.
Richard Fariña -- 50th anniversary
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Strange coincidence... Without thinking about the anniversary I spent yesterday and today listening to all their too few albums. I remember 1966 as a big year in pop music. But lacking in creative genius. R&M Farina were truely creative at a time when we needed it most. Which is why the radio never played their music... Robert...
Richard Fariña -- 50th anniversary
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Thanks for reminding us all of this date, Patricia.
Folks who have listened to the Hearts of the Dulcimer podcast on Neal Hellman know that when he was still in New York he prepared a book of tablature of Richard Fariña's music. A few year's back, he made that book available free online as a pdf. You can read Neal's blog and download the pdf here .
updated by @dusty: 04/29/16 02:18:47PM
Richard Fariña -- 50th anniversary
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
April 30, 2016 is the 50 year remembrance of the late, great dulcimer player Richard Fariña. Richard died in a motorcycle accident in Carmel Valley, CA on his wife Mimi Fariña's 21st birthday. He left this world way too soon. Would you like to be part of this tribute to Richard? Here are a few ideas …
- If you knew Richard, post some of your memories of him.
- If you didn’t know Richard, but he influenced you, share how his life, music, writing, dulcimer playing, etc., affected you.
We’re in touch with Richard’s Irish family who live in County Tyrone in Northern Ireland, where Richard's mother was born. We’ll send your well wishes, thoughts, etc. to Richard’s family. Their local church in Moortown will be announcing Richard’s anniversary this weekend at their mass services. Here are a few more ideas for you to be involved …
- Listen to some of the Fariña’s music. And/or play some of his music on your dulcimer.
- Read some of Richard’s writing. His novel Been Down So Long It Looks Like Up To Me is an underground classic.
- Learn more about Richard and Mimi on Doug Cooke’s extensive website: http://richardandmimi.com
- Listen to the 2 part podcast episode about Richard:
Part 1: http://dulcimuse.com/podcast/resource/004.html
Part 2: http://dulcimuse.com/podcast/resource/005.html
Many thanks to those who contributed to the podcast episodes about Richard. There’s lots of great music in these episodes from Caroline Doctorow, Plainsong, Neal Hellman, Robert Force, and Jerry Rockwell. There are also interviews with members of Richard’s family, and dulcimer players who were influenced by Richard.
updated by @patricia-delich: 04/29/16 12:51:33PM
Lets have some fun and laughs..
OFF TOPIC discussions
Me and my Coper Girl, in Tillamook, OR trail riding what a life!
Lets have some fun and laughs..
OFF TOPIC discussions
Yeah many of them are missing Jan...but they're not even in the source code so there's nothing I can do to dig them up. (Update: I've deleted a few posts and responses that made no sense since the photos were no longer there) Onward and upward! (or should I say under and backward?)
Here's me in 1997....about 19 years ago....possum on a stump? with my Keith Young curly maple dulcimer that's seen in the fotmd logo. Ah, would that I were still that spry and willowy! 
updated by @strumelia: 04/29/16 10:43:17AM