Homestead mailing list

[Roy Morgan <k1lky AT earthlink.net>]

On Jun 29, 2008, at 4:50 PM, tonitime AT juno.com wrote:

> Hey Roy!
>    I have dabbled in hammered dulcimers and the unhammered, too!   
> What a
> beautiful, often haunting sound they make.

Toni,

Indeed!

>  My neighbors - 4 of them-
> play well.  ...We have many partays and social occasions here -
> and always, folk bring their instruments along to play around the fire
> pit or on porches.

A story I only partly remember:

In the 40's a radio person was interviewing a very ol-time banjo  
player from the south (a then aged black fellow).

Interviewer:  "I never see you use any sheet music."

Banjo player: "Oh! Sheet music is notes. They ain't no notes on a  
banjo. Ya jus' PLAY."

>  I hope you do have time to take up such a wonderful
> hobby.

That could be a bit of fun, yes.

> Friend figured out he was making a couple dollars per hour
> making them for sale, so stopped doing it a long time back - before  
> i got
> MINE!

Too bad.  Well, maybe you could get a kit and make a passable  
instrument. I understand the $2 per hour thing.  I am quite able to  
restore old radio receivers and transmitters (and antique clocks quite  
some time ago). Trouble is that only a few folks are willing to afford  
the money it takes if I'm to get anything like a good "wage" for the  
work.  I'm very persnickety about the work.

> Can anyone here recommend a good cd of such music??  That is a thing
> within my grasp.....and it would make my field work a pleasant time.

I look forward to answers. I have some tapes of dulcimer music I've  
liked in the past.  Likely I got them at some festival or gathering  
from the musician's table.  Eventually, after we move and I can unpack  
more of my "stuff", I'll locate them but till then I can't make any  
suggestions.

Roy

PS: Do you know much about old pianos?  We are getting an old one in  
fine shape with our new house.


Roy Morgan
k1lky AT earthlink.net
Lovettsville, VA 20180