Where is the most exhaustive list of Dulcimer Festivals to be found? I'm specifically looking for September, October and early November festivals this year, but would like to know about all of them!
Oh Ken this sounds like I really would love this cd, thank you for your suggestion.
Robert Schuler, I checked out the cd on the DPN site and it is really good.
Thank you for the suggestion, I will enjoy the DPN subscription.
Thank you for the suggestion Robert, I ordered DPN yesterday. Really sounds like a great resource and good reading, good for my Dulci Journey.
Cynthia, I put this book on my tab book wish list and hope to be able to buy it in the future.
My favorite dulcimer CD is the one that came with the book Celtic Songs and Slow Airs (Mel Bay). I got the book about the time I got the McSpadden kit and listened to it all the time I was building that dulcimer. It is not only some of the most beautiful singing and playing I've heard, but the book has all the music and tab to it. I've learned many from there. Neal Hellman is the author of that book. Slow and lovely...
Thank you Robin T.; Oh boy they are going on my cd list, for when I get to buy more.
I am listening to MD music in the car and when I do house chores, so I am saturated with sweet sounds.
Sometimes they rumble in my head when I sleep or when it is quiet too.
Thanks Dusty, this would be an interesting choice, I like folk songs and those from HI, seem to be relaxing.
I put this one on my wish list because I believe I have spent my MD Journey money for this month, but I am going to check into this one.
I have ordered 5 cd's, including Jean Richies Traditional book which comes with a cd, all choices from all of your suggestions and I think these will keep me swaying and singing for a time.
Thanks all for your contributions.....My dulcimer Journey is Fun!
Lexie, my suggested CD is not filled with traditional appalachian folk tunes at all, but I find it to be the most relaxing dulcimer CD of the several dozen that I own: Mark Nelson's Ke Kukima Polinahe: Hawaiian and Polynesian Music for Mountain Dulcimer .
I think there is a book of tab for all the songs on the CD, but it might be difficult stuff for I've never heard anyone else play the tunes.
Thanks Mandy, I will check out your suggestion.
There are great suggestions that many may like here, I am excited to collect folk tunes running through my head and having the sweet sounds of the MD will be of great benefit for my learning to hear songs and play them. Also it will be fun and interesting to see how my Lil' Girl Friend responds to the sounds coming from Aunties home.
Thanks Joe, Gail, Rob, Robert and Ken;
You all tuned me in on some nice selections and I think I will have enough to listen to while I am driving or dancing with my mop and broom.
Joe the Nashville Dulcimers, was a great find and just what I was looking for with songs I am learning on it and some I don't know yet.
Thank you for the link I am sure other's may have an interest also.
Hey Lexie, check out Sarah Morgan. I have her Run to the Window CD and really enjoy it. Good stuff.
Anything by The Simmons Family, from Stone County, Arkansas, home of McSpadden Dulcimers, would be a good choice. Jerry Rockwell had a cd called (something like) Favorite American Folk Tunes, but I'm not sure it's still in print. If Robin Clark's cd is still available that would be good. David Schnaufer's "Tennessee Music Box" cd has a lot of traditional material on it and is (I think) all solo dulcimer. I'm sure there's a couple more that I can't think of right now.
Bob's right; Mary Faith Rhodes would be good, too.
Lexie, here's a link to the recording on Youtube of Ebeneezer - the first tune on the Russell CD. If this doesn't get you up and ready to dance, I don't know what will!
Thanks Robert and Gail for your suggestion.
Robert, I may consider a MP3 player, might work not sure.
Gail, I put the Russell Family on my wish list, I love Galax dulcimer and it sounds like what I am looking for, I am wanting mostly dulcimer alone so I can hear the sweet sounds while I am doing dishes and what not.
Lexie, one of my favorite dulcimer CDs is Galax Style Dulcimer done by Bonnie Russell and the Russell family. I don't know if you are familiar with this style, but I think it's a great CD - done many years ago when Bonnie was only 14 years old, I believe. There is no singing, but the music is great!
What a wonderful resourse Ken, thank you.
I like it especially for the history of the folk songs and I am sure this will give me and others much enjoyment of gathering a verity of folk music I would like to listen too and learn about.
Not "dulcimer", but the best collection of traditional Anglo-American folk music I know is www.contemplator.com -- words and music.
Hi Folks, I am wanting to begin a collection of good Traditional Folk tunes, so I can saturate myself with Mountain Dulcimer music when I am doing house hold chores.
I would like your suggestions, Thanks!
Babs, I don't know Bonnie's book, though it seems like it would be really helpful.
I can tell you that I developed a technique (mainly from watching Linda Brockinton and Nina Zanetti) of brushing my finger across the strings of the dulcimer. It is like an inward strum, but much softer since it is done by the finger. If you do it quickly, the strings sound in unison, but if you do it slowly, then you get a more arpeggiated sound.
But without reading the discussions of technique in Bonnie's book, I don't know if that's what she means by drag or not.
I would agree with Strumelia. If you are enjoying some of the arrangements in the book you will probably benefit from the explanations and other arrangements there as well.
Babs, I might humbly suggest that if you already are liking some of the tunes from Bonnie's book, then by purchasing it you'd not only get more tunes you'll probably like, but you'd get the benefit of all of her teaching explanations...AND you'd be supporting her efforts in writing all those arrangements you enjoy playing. I have an old copy of Bonnie's Dust off that Dulcimer and Dance!...it's a great book as well!Bonnie is a talented and creative teacher and player.
my story is a lot like Ken's except it happened around the same time when i visited silver dollar city in branson.
Lynn McSpadden had a booth there and Jean Simmons was demonstrating his dulcimers. like Ken i was enchanted
by the song that was coming from Jean's dulcimer. she was playing with a noter and it seemed to me to be
something i could learn. like Ken ....other intruments overwhelmed me and here was one that did not.
i bought a kit and put it together and learned to hack out a few tunes immediately. i was hooked. i built one
from scratch and it was'nt too bad. the dulcimers soon were all over the house and i could'nt afford a bigger
house so i started selling them........or giving them to friends.
i hung out at the shop of David (Buzz) Darby in branson and we became friends. he really inspired me and
helped me learn to make dulcimers. Peter Engler gave me a 10 x 10 corner in his woodcarving and gift shop.
and i was in business full time. before long i was making over 100 instruments per year.
from there i started exhibiting at arts and crafts shows all over the country along with a few music festivals
Back in the early-mid 70s I was wandering around Manitou Springs, CO, and heard this eerie string music. I'd tried guitar and hated it - couldn't see what my fingers were doing. I played a couple kinds of drum and pennywhistle.
But something in this string sound struck a chord (all puns intended). I followed my ears to a little shopcalled Cripple Creek Dulcimers, run by a 'long haired hippy chick' and her fella. Smelled like patchouli in there, and there were things besides dulcimers for sale... I fell in love with the music - a cassette tape by a guy named Kevin Roth and another by a duo called Force & d'Osche. Lon story, short, I eventually bought a kit and built a dulcimer because it was cheaper and I was a poor student on the GI Bill. Found a stick and taught myself to play from the only book available -- The Dulcimer Book-- by some lady named Jean Ritchie.
The rest, as they say, is history...
The hippy couple? Bud & Donna Ford. Became famous dulcimer builder and late prominent citizens in Manitou Springs city government and producers of an annual music festival over Labor Day weekend.
Thank you for sharing your dulcimer Journey Babs.
I too have damage to my joints, but it is wonderful that we can play our dulcimers. I play noter/drone and use a wooden spoon some of the time to add comfort to my fingers.
It is fun strumming along and hearing those sweet sounds and I am happy that it brings you happiness, I know it brings me peace, I use the sweet sounds and activity of playing such as I do for my therapy. And it works!
The dulcimer is so versatile and unique to each person's creativity, I shall look forward to hearing your musical choices.
Have FUN creating those sweet sounds!
Vicki, since you have a simple version of the song, I would suggest listening or watching other versions of the song to see if you can steal an idea or two.
Larry Conger, for example, does a really nice job of using some minor chords to add some "color" to the tune.And most of the filler he adds is just quick arpeggios.
For the record, I've been working on this tune for a while myself. I think it's one of most under-rated American melodies. And don't limit yourself to dulcimer versions. Again, since you already have a simple version, try to add a little spice little by little. One of my favorites is this bluesy soulful version by Norah Jones and Bonnie Raitt. You can tell from Nora's gospel-inspired organ at the beginning, that this is something special. Maybe you can steal a melodic variation, a short chord progression, or whatever.
Vicki, I find what happens for me is first I learn a simple version of a melody of a song, then I learn to play some other songs and I get a little better on those....then when i go back to the first simply song melody i seem better able to add a little flourish or variety to it that I couldn't do before. It's a part of the slow learning process process that brings me delight in my own playing, however simply i might play something. Sometimes all it takes is an extra note or two, a full brush across the strings to fill out key moments, or just playing with a touch more expressiveness ...such do-able things will often turn a plain bare bones version into a lovely version. You might be surprised at your own ability to add easy but pretty touches and make your own unique version. Do try playing around with it!
Thanks for letting me know. I guess I'll just work on it myself and see if I can make improvements.
Just a note that this is a copyrighted song, so you may have to purchase a published arrangement (if there is one) Vicki...and to caution folks from distributing arrangements or tabs of it here on this site without permission. Thanks!
Does anyone have a particularly nice arrangement for this beloved and seemingly timeless waltz? I have a simple version, but know that it could sound much, much better. Thanks!
DAA, Robin, and EAA for mixolydian. In fact, I believe I've gone up to DAc for a little minor action
DAA, Robin, and EAA for mixolydian. In fact, I believe I've gone up to DAc for a little minor action
I would think they'd be fine, Robin. I've used similar gauges and the instruments have been fine.
I would think they'd be fine, Robin. I've used similar gauges and the instruments have been fine.
