Thanks Ken, they sound like grand trees, we grow them over here as ornamentals but I've never seen anything that size. Maybe in a couple hundred years time.
The colouration was mainly in the form of green or brown streaks as I remember it, Spalting we tend to think of over here as thin black lines in the wood, very common in Sycamore(a type of maple in Europe and not the same as American sycamore)
john
johnp -- I knew my forestry education would come in handy some day...
The wood pictured is one of over a dozen species of genus Populus common to North America, infected by fungus during the dying process - aka 'spalted'.
There are about 25 species of poplar/cottonwood in the genus Populus - in several categories : White and Black Poplars, eastern & western Poplars, Aspens, Balsam Poplars, Bigleaf Poplars, etc.
Liriodendron tulipifera has a name that for some reason has tickled my fancy since I learned it over 40 years ago. Common names include Tulip Tree, Tulip Poplar, Whitewood, Fiddlewood, and Yellow Poplar. It is NOT a poplar, but rather a unique member of the Magnoliaceae family. Like the Magnolias they produce large pinkish-white flowers in the spring. They are one of the largest North American trees, being known up to 190 ft tall and over 10 ft in diameter. Thirty years ago in Ohio I personally surveyed a 20 acre section of bottom land that had only 46 trees, each at least 150 ft tall and 8 ft in diameter with clear trunks at least 70 feet before the first branch. Absolutely magnificent trees!
The tree is called "tulip" because, of course, of the distinctive shape of the leaf, which appears something like a tulip in profile, as does the Liriodendron flower itself:
Would anyone care to explain exactly what this tree is for the benefit of us Europeans.
As far as I can make out this is not a poplar at all but what we call the Tulip Tree(Lirodendron). In the timber trade it's known as Magnolia.
It was imported into the UK in large amounts after the war when native spieces were in short supply and used as a replacement for 'Whitewood'.
Whitewood was the generic name for poplars, cottonwoods and aspen and used for carcass work. It machines easilly and used for small turned items like doorknobs, broom heads, chair legs and mouldings in general, and of course, matchsticks. So I guess this is what confuses us in Europe.
I can testify to the odd colourings in this wood, I've cut literally hundreds of miles of this stuff when I was a picture framer. And as Sam says, you can trick it up to look like almost anything :_
john
Used to read a lot. Read somewhere some sage words from an old cabinet maker ... "Poplar? Love poplar. I can stain it and call it anything I want."
I have two all poplar builds and I like both. I have another with poplar back and sides (Sitka spruce top). The sides have almost black streaking through them and the wood is absolutely beautiful.
Hi, all.
I've been warming up to poplar (so to speak) in the past few months. I know it has some bad qualities and is considered a junk or secondary wood by cabinetmakers, but it can make a FINE sounding dulcimer!
Ask Robin Clark, Ken Hulme, Elaine King, Kevin Messenger or others on this site. I was surprised myself when I first heard the sound of the firstdulcimer I made from poplar. And the color variations are interesting.
Agree with you Bob. There's usually a far greater percentage of 'plain' grained wood in most any species. Guess that's why I love highly figured wood so much. Climate, elevation, minerals, the availability and amount of moisture and even the occurrence of wildfire and other dramatic factors can all change, enhance, distress and affect the overall appearance of wood. It can also ruin it. Wind shaken and some lightning stricken trees are good for little other than toothpicks. Emerald Ash borers have killed my stand of ash (some in the 3 foot diameter class).
Poplar does take stain well and is both strong and durable if maintained and kept dry. I think the jury is still out as to whether it's the softest of the hardwoods or hardest of the softwoods.
Heck I even made a couple of dulcimers from pine (from George Beckwith here on the site), one teardrop, one hourglass. I like both of them.
Dear Bob;
Keep watching that poplar. There can be spectacular color in poplar. I've seen brilliant greens, purples, browns and totally black woodgrain in poplar ... often in the same small chunk. It's an excellent choice for soundboard material, especially for a nice TMB.
Sam
Ken I dried this slab didn't get any end check but the wood was very soft. I just don't think I could have made it structurally sound. Sanded smooth and a bit of finish, I think it would have been very nice ... just wish I'd gotten to it a few months sooner.
Dana ... uh ... yep ... had a moment a few years back. Wish I could remember it ..... sigh ...... :(
Dang! What about if you stabilized it with a good slather of urethane or epoxy, sliced it in half, urethaned again and then started hand planing?
Now Sam you know I think a lot of that brain of yours. It has it's moments!
well ......there will be another Sam
Aw Sam...that would have been some pretty stuff. 
Hauled a downed Poplar off the hill a while back. It's not much good for stove wood. It burns up too fast and leaves too much ash to be carried out, but I wasn't about to let it go to waste. While sawing it up I had a thought (yes Dana ... it DOES happen :). I decided to split a length long enough for a soundboard and see what was in there.
The log split true and the spalting is beautiful ... but the wood was too far gone. Much of it was soft (doty). The slab shown split out nicely. It's about 1/2 inch thick and could have been hand planed down very well. Shame it's past prime. 
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.
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.
