Forum Activity for @stephanie-stuckwisch

On This Day Earth Shall Ring

Over the Hill and Over the Dale

Mary Did You Know

Thanks, John. Since I've never come across a strictly Christmas type of verse for it, I wondered if I'd missed something. I've been collecting verses for this lovely song for years. The verse you mentioned is the one that I have as the third verse of the 5 verses I use.

You're right Folkfan it is a Welsh lullaby, but it often gets an airing in school Nativity plays and other 'Baby Jesus' type stuff.

While the moon her watch is keeping,
All through the night
While the weary world is sleeping,
All through the night
O'er thy spirit gently stealing,
Visions of delight revealing
Breathes a pure and holy feeling,
All through the night.

john

Is "All Through The Night" originally a Welsh Carol? I thought it was just a lullaby.

Thanks for jogging my memory, John!

I've really been using these simple songs for ear practice and transposing to the key of D. (An easily found, inexpensive source for your songs and others is the Wee Sing for Christmas book, there's even a CD.)

I'd add these:

First Noel

Here Comes Santa Claus (although I have to omit the G# that comes up once)

Up on the Housetop

Jolly Old St. Nicholas

+

Holly Jolly Christmas is in a piano book I have & has a good traditional sound, too.

Joy To The World

Go Tell It On The Mountain

Just found my old Xmas song list from hundreds of years ago.

Almost all are easyish in noter/drone style.

In the Bleak Mid Winter
Good Christian Men Rejoice/In Dulci Jubilo
God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman (Aeolian)
Good King Wenceslas
O Come All Ye Faithfull
O Come O Come Emmanuel (Aeloian)
LittleTown of Bethlehem
Once in Royal David's City
All Through the Night (Ar Hyd y Nos)
Silent Night

Sans Day Carol/Holly Bears a Berry/First Tree in the Green Wood

Down In Yon Forest (Aeolian or Dorian)
The Holly and the Ivy
We Three Kings of Orient Are
While Shepards Watched ... (Not diatonic so really needs a 6+ fret)
Christmas Tree O Christmas Tree (Red Flag)
Hark the Herald Angels Sing
Angels From the Realms of Glory
Away in a Manger
Christians Awake
Deck the Halls
Ding Dong Merrily on High
I Saw Three Ships
It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
Wassail Song
Jingle Bells
Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer

I think most of them will be playable in Ionian unless marked otherwise.

Hope this will give you some ideas for the Christmas season.

Please feel free to add to the list.

john

I hear you, John Henry. There's a local couple who perform "I Saw Three Ships" as call and response, effectively turning it into a sea chanty.

John Henry said:

Me, I just enjoy the good old fashioned Carols that I grew up with sung with feeling, but not necessarily "the same as". Hence one of my 'first to reach for' CD's is 'A Tapestry of Carols' , ( Maddy Prior with the Carnival Band , Saydisc) Should always be remembered tho' that what many people regard as 'trad English' carols are in fact neither English or traditional, but have in many cases been highjacked from elsewhere.

JohnH

I'll give it a try--and dream of the sand and surf...

Thanks everyone for your recommendations. I am glad this discussion finally got some momentum.

Rick, you can't be a scrooge and listen to the Hawaiian slack key guitar Christmas album I mention above. It is so soothing and pretty, not syrupy and sentimental at all.

Interesting topic. I've become rather a Christmas scrooge over the last few years, but I do enjoy Haley Westenra's Winter Magic. As an operatic "pop" singer (as opposed to an opera singer, I suppose) from NZ (although I think she lives in London), her voice, while pure of note, is a bit big for traditional tunes (although not as big as mezzo soprano Katherine Jenkins--though Westenra is, quite simply, gifted while Jenkins, though also gifted, has to work a bit harder and is more of a traditional opera-style singer). Plus, Westenra is quite pleasing to contemplate while listening to her music. Then, again, Katherine Jenkins makes me wish that I were in Wales. Anyhoo, Westenra is the only thing that can tame my inner Christmas scrooge.

I'll second Dusty's choice of Slack Key Christmas. Also from Hawai`i, but with all vocal songs, is Hilo For The Hollidays, by Kuana Torres Kahele. http://www.mele.com/music/artist/kuana+torres+kahele/hilo+for+the+holidays+%2810-23-2012%29/ Most of these are sung in English, I think only 3 songs are in Hawaiian. Both of these are available from www.mele.com

Another I like a lot is Light Of The Stable, by Emmylou Harris. The link goes to a remastered CD, we have the original version on cassette. The remastered CD has a few extra tracks. http://www.amazon.com/Light-Stable-Emmylou-Harris/dp/B000641Z3Q

Paul

http://jewishroots.net/sound-files/sheet-music/maoz-tzur-sheet-music.htm

Here's "Maoz Tzur" which is a very simple song and can be played slowly. Maybe your daughter would like to try it.

Happy Chanukah

Me, I just enjoy the good old fashioned Carols that I grew up with sung with feeling, but not necessarily "the same as". Hence one of my 'first to reach for' CD's is 'A Tapestry of Carols', (Maddy Prior with the Carnival Band, Saydisc) Should always be remembered tho' that what many people regard as 'trad English' carols are in fact neither English or traditional, but have in many cases been highjacked from elsewhere.

JohnH

Ha! You know I'll come to you first if I do want 30 verses to anything.

My daughter has learned the Dreidel Song on the piano and insists on playing it after lighting the candles each night. I wish I knew better Chanukah music to teach her.

folkfan said:

Dusty, Do you really want 30 verses to "The Carnal and the Crane" ????? heheheheee

Mostly, I stick to Jewish Holiday music and much of that is in Hebrew. For Chanukah my husband and I sing "Maoz Tzur" after lighting the candles, though I caught him mumbling "The Dreydl Song" last night.

Dusty, Do you really want 30 verses to "The Carnal and the Crane" ????? heheheheee

Mostly, I stick to Jewish Holiday music and much of that is in Hebrew. For Chanukah my husband and I sing "Maoz Tzur" after lighting the candles, though I caught him mumbling "The Dreydl Song" last night.

Dusty Turtle said:

Thanks, Stephanie, for the recommendations. The only one on the list that I already have is the Odetta album. I can't believe John McCutcheon has a Christmas album and I didn't even know it!

And thank you too, Folkfan. I am so glad to see you posting again. I also kind of expected you to mention a song or two and then immediately rattle off the twenty variations of the lyrics that can be found as the song migrated from the British isles or wherever to our shores. I will definitely check out Custer LaRue's singing.

Thanks, Stephanie, for the recommendations. The only one on the list that I already have is the Odetta album. I can't believe John McCutcheon has a Christmas album and I didn't even know it!

And thank you too, Folkfan. I am so glad to see you posting again. I also kind of expected you to mention a song or two and then immediately rattle off the twenty variations of the lyrics that can be found as the song migrated from the British isles or wherever to our shores. I will definitely check out Custer LaRue's singing.

Dusty, Just came across 3 songs on a CD that I got for a Chanukah present (for myself). Custer LaRue and the Baltimore Consort called the album "The Daemon Lover" It starts with the "House Carpenter" But the last 3 cuts are "Jesus Born In Beth'ny", "The Carnal and the Crane", and "Lulle Lullay" You might want to listen to Custer sing them. Her soprano voice is so clear and sweet. Turns out that "The Carnal and the Crane" is a Child Ballad #55 and has a very interesting tune to it. Lulle Lullay is a version of the Coventry Carol, I believe.

OOOOOOO!

Sounds extremely interesting Dusty. I'll have to look them up. May even have heard them and didn't know it. I catch classical radio as much as possible.

I also see three others that look interesting here: Loreena McKennitt, John McCutcheon, & Odetta.

Thanks & I bet you'll enjoy any of the What If Mozart Wrote CDs. I know I love the 1 I have so far.

LoiS

Dusty Turtle said:

Thanks for posting, Lois. Part of the reason I started this discussion was to get ideas for a CD to buy myself, since as I mentioned, Iallow myself one holiday CD each year. That CD does indeed look interesting, although as you mention,they seem to have not only put out several Christmas CDs, but also movedto other forms of music. Do you know the Turtle Island String Quartet? They are virtuoso classical musicians who play classical arrangments of pop tunes, including Jimi Hendrix, the Rolling Stones, and so forth. They might be right up your alley.

Dusty, I love the CD "Songs of Our Fathers". Thanks for mentioning it. Though I don't really have a CD to recommend, I do have a question. Does anyone know why the "Furry Day Carol" ends up on so many Christmas recordings? Maddie MacNiel does it on her "A Place Apart" CD which isn't a Christmas CD. Went looking for other versions of the song on iTunes and it showed up on 8 Christmas albums??????????

On my list:

Joel Mabus -How Like the Holly

Ann Hills - On This Day Earth Shall Ring

Loreena McKennitt - A Winter Garden

John McCutcheon - Winter Solstice

Odetta - Christmas Spirituals

William Pint and Felicia Dale - When I See Winter Return

Thanks for posting, Lois. Part of the reason I started this discussion was to get ideas for a CD to buy myself, since as I mentioned, Iallow myself one holiday CD each year. That CD does indeed look interesting, although as you mention,they seem to have not only put out several Christmas CDs, but also movedto other forms of music. Do you know the Turtle Island String Quartet? They are virtuoso classical musicians who play classical arrangments of pop tunes, including Jimi Hendrix, the Rolling Stones, and so forth. They might be right up your alley.

O.k. this looks like it's not limited to dulcimer music, so I can confess to being a classical music lover. Years ago I picked up THE CD for me: What If Mozart Wrote Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas. It's played by the Hampton String Quartet and lots of modern Christmas songs are done in the style of classical composers. It's fun to guess who supposedly wrote each piece. I played it once yesterday and know I'll have lots of fun with it for December.

OH MY! Seeing that other people were showing the illustrations for their music, I searched for mine & see they also did What If Mozart Wrote White Christmas (that piece is on my CD, but presume other songs were added) and What If Mozart Wrote I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus. They also did What If Mozart Wrote Born to Be Wild and another called HSQ Does Christmas (Again).

Looks like this discussion just may lead to knowing what I want for Christmas.

Let me start with three of my favorites.

Although I do have a copy of Leon Redbon's Christmas Island album, my favorite island Christmas music is A Hawaiian Slack Key Christmas .

There are a variety of artists on this album, but any fan of stringed instruments will have to love it. The first tune is a really mellow but happy version of Jingle Bell Rock, and some of the picking is just outstanding on all the tunes. With only one exception, it is all instrumental. It all has the gentle island feel and the serenity of silent night, but if ever a hot lick can be called soothing, it is found on this album. I listen tothis almost everyday during the month of December. And the last tune is Auld Lang Syne, so you can justify playing the music until the New Year.

Another favorite of mine is the virtuoso mandolin playing on David Grisman and Andy Statman's Songs of Our Fathers .

Although this album is not technically a holiday album, I tend to listen to it during Hanukkah, Passover, and the high holidays. It is filed with traditional Jewish music from Eastern Europe played in a modern style tinged with Klezmer and jazz sensibilities. The picking is top notch. These guys shred no matter what kind of music they play.

And more traditional is Chanticleer's Psallite! A Renaissance Christmas . Chanticleer is a male choir whose voices just meld together. Although their attempt to do gospel music on other albums falls short, they are in their element here singing the harmonies of classical compositions. Most of the lyrics are in Latin, so you'll need to invite a monk over to translate, but you can enjoy the precise solemn harmonies without understanding the words. I know I do.

Whatever you listen to or play, whether "Daddy's drinking up our Christmas" or "all is calm, all is bright," I hope music complements the joy of the season for all of you.

As we approach the holiday season this year, I want to admit that every year I treat myself to one album of holiday music. Over the years I've accumulated a decent collection, from Renaissance choral music by the Cambridge Choir to James Brown's Funky Christmas (Santa Claus goes straight to the ghetto, in case you didn't know!), from Charlie Brown's jazzy Christmas standards to El Vez (the Mexican Elvis impersonator) asking, "Mamacita, donde esta Santa Claus?"

I thought it might be nice if we shared with one another our holiday music recommendations.  I'll start us off with a couple, but if no one else joins in "I'll have a Blue Christmas without you."

Hi folks.

I just want to remind everyone that many common Christmas songs which we think are traditional and therefore are in the Public Domain are in fact under copyright. For a quick reference of some of the more common Christmas songs, take a look at this webpage: http://diymusician.cdbaby.com/2010/10/dont-let-a-lawsuit-drain-your-christmas-cheer-holiday-music-and-the-public-domain/

Yes!
That is Barb Feick's Public Domain group, all she wants there is PD music, nothing still under copyright; I've been a member for a couple of years now.
David Swanson said:

http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/publicdomaindulcimer/

Thanks Paul for the link. And a big Thank you goes to Gary. I have been looking for something easy for my Grandson to play.

David do you have a link to that site's group location? I've never heard of it, thanks.

David Swanson said:

Also look at the Yahoo group publicdomain dulcimer. They have special sections for Christmas music, and divide up by tuning .

http://everythingdulcimer.com/tab/index.php Go to the link, scroll down the page to the EZ Christmas e-Booklet, and click the PDF link. You can download it free,thanks to Garey McAnally.

Paul

Hi Delores,

You can get away with just having one strap button on the tail block as Dusty says - no need for a strap button on the headstock. You can either tie a bootlace around the headstock and quick release to it - or, even simpler, just throw a bootlace loop tied to the end of your strap around the headstock (works best with scroll headstocks).

It's funny, when I first started playing I used a strap all the time. Then I moved to pads, and now I most often play without anything, particularly when playing the Ed Thomas or Charles Prichard replica dulcimers I have. I think that some of that has to do with the fact that painted poplar wood is just more 'sticky' than a modern super smooth dulcimer but I also think I've just got better at balancing the instrument on my lap as my playing has improved!

A strap is really handy though as it means you can sit on all sorts of objects at various heights and the dulcimer stays put!!!!

Robin

Delores, the placement of the strap buttons matters, but not as much as you think. Dulcimers are much lighter than guitars, and even those of us who use straps do not actually suspend the full weight of the dulcimer by the strap the way you do when you play the guitar or banjo.

There are two places where you might want buttons. One is on the very end of the dulcimer. You can see here where McSpadden puts those strap buttons: http://www.mcspaddendulcimers.com/searchresults.asp?cat=49 . The top three pictures there show where the stap buttons would normally go on the bottom of the dulcimer.

The bottom two pictures on that page show strap buttons underneath the head of the dulcimer. Both pictures show dulcimers with flat heads. I don't know if you can still access that spot with a scroll head. But you can probably avoid installing a strap button there anyway. Get a leather shoelace and run it around your dulcimer underneath the strings just to the left of the nut. Loop that leather shoelace through the hole in your strap and tie it tight. If you are nervous, run it around the dulcimer twice.

Delores, the only question is whether your dulcimer already has strap buttons. If it does, then attach the strap to the buttons. If it doesn't you need to add strap buttons.

That is a task you should be able to do yourself, although every now and then you hear of someone botching the job. You will want to pre-drill a tiny hole for the screw that comes with the button. And it can't hurt to put some soap on the screw itself so that it glides more easily into the wood.

If you are nervous about doing this yourself, any guitar shop can do it. Just don't let them charge you more than a nominal fee since it will take them no more than 5 minutes.

My favorites are Sue Carpenter's quick release, adjustable mountain dulcimer straps. Others have copied her design, but I think she was the original. Here is the link tothe catalog page of her website: http://www.suecarpenter.net/catalog.htm . Scroll all the way to the bottom and you will see one of her straps in red. They come in a wide variety of colors.

For anyone on facebook, i've opened a page called Brush Strokes by Dana. If you are on FB pleace stop by and like it. The 100th person to like the page will recieve a free 11x14 acrylic PET Portrait!

That is GREAT John I can always use good advice.

Hi Dana, not an artist, but spent 25 years in the business as a tech. I've seen a lot of artwork up close and personal and spent an awful lot of time working with artists, curators, restorers, owners ...

john

Hey John, Thanks for the tips, they are great, gave me some ideas for my next pic. I'm trying to get depth and that is hard to do sometimes. Love the idea of the fish lips above the water. You give some great advice. Do you paint? Thanks again. Dana

Thank you Dana.

These three world designs are difficult to pull off sucessfully, You've done very well.

It's always the top layer that is the most difficult to fill out fully. The bubbles help so maybe a few small ripples on the surface would add something, where the stones break the surface perhaps. How about a one of the carp just breaking the surface with a lip and causing little circles, The reflection of a cat licking it's lips.

A little photographic tip, try throwing a dark blanket over the chest. This kills the reflection off the painting, and more importantly kills the reflection on to it giving more even lighting over the surface. Reflected and raking light is your enemy on canvas.

john

john p said:

Very well executed Dana.

A longer range shot showing the overall design would have been nice

john