Watch this new generation of dulcimer players perform! Congratulations to Lorinda Jones, the Heartland Dulcimer Club and everyone who made this special performance possible for us to enjoy!
The "Tradition Continues"...
... was a phrase associated with David that appeared on many of his Blair recital programs. I received an email from a Indiana dulcimer player named Tom Harleman this week that I want to share because he is a perfect example of how David and dulcimer teachers inspire the rest of us to carry forth tradition. (If you're new to the dulcimer world, Tom mentions making an instrument called a "Tennessee Music Box" below; it is a unique kind of dulcimer that almost disappeared from history until David Schnaufer and some of his friends re-discovered it. You can read about that part of the story in Pluck, or search "Tennessee Music Box" online.)
Tom writes: The night before the Aug. 25, 2018 Dulcimer Celebration sponsored by the Central Indiana Folk Music and Mountain Dulcimer Society (IndianaFolkMusic.org) I grabbed some wood from the garage and quickly built a Tennessee Music Box (dulcimer). An old pine 2x4, some 1x3 pine boards, some luan subflooring, and a staple gun. Using saws, planes, drills, eye bolts (tuners) and glue I finished the dulcimer. But the staple gun frets needed tuned. I played it briefly at the Dulcimer Celebration. This week I tuned the frets and swapped the fiddle tuners for authentic hook eyelets for tuners. To simulate a turkey quill I used a long thin scrap from a plastic bucket banjo project. Now, are you ready?
Watch Tom play "Rock the Cradle Joe" on his creation!
And, remember the wonderful song, “Barlow Knife”? Tom plays it here.
Tom's letter made a huge impression on me: his making a working Tennessee Music Box in one night, his smooth playing, and even the cheery voice of the music box. It made me reflect on people like the Dulcimer Boomers upon whose shoulders new generations of teachers stand to carry forth the traditions to teach the rest of us, especially those who are learning to play an instrument for the first time, and learning about the enormous dulcimer music canon for the first time.
When we moved to Kentucky and I first joined a dulcimer club, I had never heard of most of the music the members played. What a great way to make one's way into the discovery of America's music heritage: to learn to play and sing the music our ancestors preserved for us. I suspect that the only thing better than learning to play their legacy music is to play it on an instrument one builds like Tom did. He was inspired by David Schnaufer, and I have no doubt his experience will inspire someone else down the road who sees his video. So let's make a pledge never to take our dulcimer teachers for granted; to tell them how grateful we are for their hard work, patience and willingness to be our conduits to past and future music. To thank them often for inspiring us to exceed our own expectations for ourselves.
And that's how The "Tradition Continues".
If you would like to send Tom a note to compliment his playing or to ask him a question, contact him at tomharleman@gmail.com.
And please leave a comment underneath his YouTube videos; it will help more people find them.
Reposted from https://www.davidschnauferpluck.com/post/the-tradition-continues
"Wellyn" revisited
Bob Force wrote “Wellyn” back some fifty years ago, and it is still timeless. Bob writes: “I find it fascinating Wellyn crossed over oceans and cultures and landed a young, next generation Asian dulcimer player, [in 2010} at a major fest playing it. Cross cultural, for sure.” Enjoy Bob Force’s original composition “Wellyn” played on the beach. The dulcimer player look like he’s having the most fun—of course! Courtesy of Robert Force.
Message from the Knoxville Area Dulcimer Club: Take a class with Rudy Ryan
The Knoxville Area Dulcimer Club cordially invites all people in their area to take an Appalachian Dulcimer Class with Rudy Ryan. See details for registration below.
Collectors, Take Note: Rare dulcimer for sale
George Gills of Virginia sent us photos of a pristine Keith Young dulcimer he has for sale. Keith Young was a distinguished musician and luthier in Annandale, Virginia who passed away in 2012. He was a close friend of David Schnaufer’s in the seventies and had a sterling reputation as a dulcimer builder. You can read about Keith here: If you are interested in this dulcimer, please contact George for more information: georgegills@aol.com.
Mountain Dulcimers for Sale: 1 Mark Edelman, 1 Black Mountain
Friend of the GODC John Hill has two mountain dulcimers for sale. John writes: “The first is a Mark Edelman 4 string dulcimer. No 6/12 fret, 28” string length. It is in excellent condition with a very few cosmetic marks. It has high quality Grover tuners and the sale includes a fiberboard- style case. I am asking $195.” If you are interested, call John at 615 419 7691, or e-mail him at jhill_phd@comcast.net
Edelman dulcimer for sale
Back of Edelman dulcimer
“Below is a Black Mountain 4 string dulcimer. It is rather plain but it has a pleasant tone and sustain. Effective string length is 26 inches. It has the 6 1/2 fret installed. I am asking $100.”
