Naming Dulcimers
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
I named my new Modern Mountain Made of Curly maple "Curly Sue" it just seemed to fit.
Forum Activity for @dana-r-mccall
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
I named my new Modern Mountain Made of Curly maple "Curly Sue" it just seemed to fit.
Naming Dulcimers
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Beth, be sure to tell us when you decide on a name- that dulcimer is so lovely!
I like naming things. I name my bicycles, and i name my beehives and my apiary. I named my mandolins and my banjos. I named my Galax dulcimer The Merrimac after the Civil War iron-clad ship....but oddly i haven't named my beautiful curly maple Keith Young dulcimer! 
Can't figure out why.
Naming Dulcimers
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
I've not been one to name my instruments, just my boats. However, since Harpmaker Dave created a slightly customized Student model for me - without a tuning head so that it would fit in my travel footlocker. Being"headless", it has attained the nickname ofIcabod Crane...
Naming Dulcimers
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
I just got mine, and I'm thinking about naming her. She's definitely a she...
I think she needs to gain her voice before she can tell me her name. But I'm curious about the rest of you, what are your instrument's names?
Naming Dulcimers
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Hi Folkfan,
I hope you don't think I was offended by your response.
There are a number of names for fairy in Gaelic. I found another in Scots - sitheach.
Sith (with the accent over the i) also means peace. I almost gave my dulcimer that name since I liked the double meaning. Then my daughter pointed out that the Sith are the evil jedi in Star Wars and no one would consider the Gaelic meaning.
Since your response, I'm thinking, at least one other person knows it's Gaelic and pronounced shee. I might just go back to Sith - peace and fairy. Thanks, Folkfan.
Naming Dulcimers
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
I just never seen that particular spelling. I know that in the Irish Gaelic they're known by various names such as the daoine sdhe. While in the Scots Gaelic they are the daoine sth or daoine sdh. The true meaning has been debated. Both People of Peace or Men of Peace, and People of the Barrow (Hollow Hill) are possible translations. The true nature of the sidhe depends in part on what court they are believed to be from, the Seelie, or the UnSeelie. Personally the UnSeelie sound like they have more fun!!!! ;-)
Naming Dulcimers
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Sithiche is Scots Gaelic as opposed to Irish. Pronunciation is similiar: shee-ich with the ch pronounced hard as in loch. If I could figure out how to do it, there'd be a reversed accent over the first i.
Naming Dulcimers
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
I've normally seen the Gaelic for the people of the hollow hills as Sidhe and pronounced Shee. Sidhe Beag Sidhe Mor are the two fairy hills in the tune by O'Carolan. Rosemary Bridges said:
Hi Stephanie,
How would you pronounce Sithiche? I have no problems with Hebrew at all which is supposed to be so difficult but for some reason Gaelic just throws me. I guess being written in English characters I fall into my own pronunciation a little too easily. Gaelic rules are convoluted and those are my peoples!
Naming Dulcimers
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Interesting spelling for Sidhe.And yes I do name my instruments. In fact Harpmaker used to store his inventory with me only on the condition that I not give them names. For some reason he felt (heheheheee)that if I gave it a name, I wouldn't let it go. Of course, he was right.Most commonly, I name an instrument because of its sound hole pattern. But some times it's shape or voice speaks to me more. So here goes:1. Thistle (thistles are wood burned around a round sound hole)2. Ivy (Ivy leaf shaped sound hole with wood burned vines)3. Mae (after her Mae West hourglass shape)4. Dear Heart (heart shaped sound holes)5. Magic (unicorn sound holes)6. Flame (walnut with flamed aspen top)7. Flare (flared pattern in poplar top with flame sound holes)8. Star Bright (tear drop all walnut with star sound holes but very bright traditional sound)9. Irish (a true boxed dulcimer as it has a lid that removes which covers a courting dulcimer. Top is covered with wood burned knotwork and vines10.Comet (Comet shaped sound holes)11. Star Light (Star fish shaped sound holes)12. Comet's Fancy ( another comet shaped sound hole, but highly figured cherry and figured redwood top with gold tuners with jade buttons.)13. Fred (for Winifred the Woebegone and f shaped sound holes)14. Is undergoing some restoration and perhaps he will tell me his name when I'm finished. I haven't had a chance to sing with this one yet.
Naming Dulcimers
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
So I'm curious. How many of us name our dulcimers and how do we choose the name?
I didn't name my first dulcimer at first. It wasn't until years later that a name popped into my head after I'd been playing. Since then, each dulcimer gets a name that doesn't occur to me until after I've been playing it for awhile.
So my Edd Presnell is named Gypsy, my Blue Lions are Dove and Sithiche (gaelic for fairy).
updated by @stephanie-stuckwisch: 08/03/23 02:19:31PM
The Party Begins With One More Rod And Lisa
OFF TOPIC discussions
ok Grandma is watching Owen.. I'll help clean up.. then think Travis it's leftover time... :) :)
The Party Begins With One More Rod And Lisa
OFF TOPIC discussions
I thought we used paper.... :) :) sorry I have to babysit my Grandson...
The Party Begins With One More Rod And Lisa
OFF TOPIC discussions
John Henry said:
"Time lag", huh? Sure . ...LOL!!I'm stuffed. :DOk, who's gonna help clean up the big mess here now?Stumelia, ref the party and sleeping on the job. In my defence I must point out that it was necessary for me to check that I was guarding the right stuff (just a little sip), and I think that you are overlooking the time lag between where I live and where the party took place. Where did it take place, and was I there?.........hic, JohnH
The Party Begins With One More Rod And Lisa
OFF TOPIC discussions
Stumelia, ref the party and sleeping on the job. In my defence I must point out that it was necessary for me to check that I was guarding the right stuff (just a little sip), and I think that you are overlooking the time lag between where I live and where the party took place. Where did it take place, and was I there? Rod, where did you get that dew?...........hic, JohnH Strumelia said:
Rod, I think those two 'hillbilly boys' must have gotten into your Mountain Dew already! What happened to your 'Dew Guardian'....sleeping on the job? LOL!
Linda, teens back then acted like 80 when they were 16...at least they did in 'educational films'. ;D
Pass the Stilton and the crab cakes! =8-D
The Party Begins With One More Rod And Lisa
OFF TOPIC discussions
wow what a party... I know I'm full.... and ready for a nap... :) :) nobody play any quiet or slows songs... more DEW.... :)
The Party Begins With One More Rod And Lisa
OFF TOPIC discussions
I hope Randy Adams doesn't do that lampshade thing again.
The Party Begins With One More Rod And Lisa
OFF TOPIC discussions
Rod, I think those two 'hillbilly boys' must have gotten into your Mountain Dew already! What happened to your 'Dew Guardian'....sleeping on the job? LOL!Linda, teens back then acted like 80 when they were 16...at least they did in 'educational films'. ;DPass the Stilton and the crab cakes! =8-D
The Party Begins With One More Rod And Lisa
OFF TOPIC discussions
Goodness! I just came in from work. Sorry I am late to the party. Please pass some BBQ!Did high school/college age kids REALLY look and talk like that in 1950? They seem awfully old to me!Party on!
The Party Begins With One More Rod And Lisa
OFF TOPIC discussions
Haha, i just looked at the front page and found those pictures quiet disturbing :PAnyway it's party time ^^ Woohoo!
The Party Begins With One More Rod And Lisa
OFF TOPIC discussions
man this food is great.... got to get some more mountain dew....
The Party Begins With One More Rod And Lisa
OFF TOPIC discussions
IT'S PARTY TIME 500...... YEAH YEAH .. lets eat..
The Party Begins With One More Rod And Lisa
OFF TOPIC discussions
I'm bring fresh snow and maple syrup.
The Party Begins With One More Rod And Lisa
OFF TOPIC discussions
I'm ready to party, yes sireeee!!!
The Party Begins With One More Rod And Lisa
OFF TOPIC discussions
alright we are ready.... I know Ken H has done his work to get it all ready.. can we eat yet.... :) :)
The Party Begins With One More Rod And Lisa
OFF TOPIC discussions
One more too 500. :)
updated by @bill-lewis: 01/13/19 05:09:18PM
Lets have some fun and laughs..
OFF TOPIC discussions
Here I am about 25 years ago, holding up two snapping turtles I caught by hand from our duck pond. 
(seriously!)
Lets have some fun and laughs..
OFF TOPIC discussions
THAT'S not gonna happen !!! ... temps get below 70 I lose my sense of humor altogether .........
Lets have some fun and laughs..
OFF TOPIC discussions
Hi there Ken, good to hear from you . Might be some milage in it, especialy if Sam will repeat that skinny dipping thing in December !!!
John
Lets have some fun and laughs..
OFF TOPIC discussions
John I'll have to say that FOTMD has some real HOTTIES!!!!!!! Think we should do a calendar?