I haven't yet gotten my DPN but will be sure to pay special attention to your remembrance, @ken-longfield.
Dr. George Orthey, Mountain dulcimer and Autoharp maker
Thank you, Dusty. For any writer, it is helpful to have an excellent editor, which Ashley Ernst is. My thanks go to Ashley for her help and encouragement.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
I just want to bump this discussion and point everyone to @ken-longfield's excellent obituary of George Orthey in the current (Nov 2020) issue of Dulcimer Players News. It is very well written and contains a lot of information about Orthey's life and the instruments he built. Well done, Ken!
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Dusty T., Northern California
Site Moderator
As a musician, you have to keep one foot back in the past and one foot forward into the future.
-- Dizzy Gillespie
updated by @dusty: 11/26/20 12:50:24AM
And that's not all Leo, 200 hammered dulcimers, one guitar, and various other instruments.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
1,500 dulcimers AND 1,500 autoharps?!? I only really knew of the former. Amazing productivity!
Think of just how many strings that represents!
@ken-longfield I offer my deepest sympathy, Ken. I only know of Mr. Orthey by reputation. Wishing for comfort for all who mourn his death.
I'm very sad to hear this news. George Orthey was one of the great dulcimer makers. I have 2 of his dulcimers, and my friend Geoff Black has more. Orthey dulcimers are very light, small bodied and responsive, and incredibly loud (by dulcimer standards). For the last few decades of his life he concentrated on his famous autoharps, but his dulcimers will always be treasured.
Sad news. Orthey was well respected luthier in both autoharp and dulcimer circles.
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Dusty T., Northern California
Site Moderator
As a musician, you have to keep one foot back in the past and one foot forward into the future.
-- Dizzy Gillespie
Dr. Orthey sounds like a truly amazing man. I'm very sorry to hear about the loss of your friend, Ken.
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Site Owner
Those irritated by grain of sand best avoid beach.
-Strumelia proverb c.1990
This is sad news. Dr. George Orthey was also a colonel in the US Army, and a veterinarian, too. He lived quite a distinguished life. The dulcimer world has lost another fine craftsman and enthusiast. May God comfort George's family at this time of grief.
It is with great sadness that I share the news of the death of my friend, Dr. George Orthey. During his lifetime he built over 1,500 dulcimers and 1,500 autoharps. An article about George appeared in Dulcimer Players News, Vol. 13, No. 1, Winter, 1987.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
