Song Samplers

Volume 50 Number 4: November 2024

Editor’s Desk Playlist

 

News & Notes Playlist

 

DPN Restrung Playlist

 

Pandemic Reflections and QuaranTUNE Playlist

 

Therapeutic Music Playlist

 

Music Remembers - “Whoa Mule!” Playlist

 

John Lomax III Playlist

 

Introduction to “Dink’s Song” Playlist

 

50 years of ODPC FunFest Playlist

 

20th Anniversary of Sandbridge Hammered Dulcimer Retreats Playlist

 

Celebrate Dulcimoon’s 50th Talk Playlist

 

Lil Rev’s Dulci-lore Corner - “Stephen Seifert’s March” Playlist

 

Volume 50 Number 3: August 2024

Vol. 50 No. 3: Dan Landrum, Off to California

This issue is dedicated to Dan Landrum, DPN's third editor.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR:

The Silver Chord

Sad news, Gladys Nielson passed away Thursday, April 18th. She turned 92 in February and lived in Sisters Oregon.

Gladys and her late husband were featured in DPN many years ago. The article was a love story, how two dulcimer players met at a festival, married and shared many years together in North Carolina. Gladys was a very talented mountain dulcimer player, and also played the hammered dulcimer. She was originally from Claremont, California, and was a grade school teacher. She retired and moved to Oak Glen, California.

She had a small music store next to The Old School House in Oak Glen. She had a dulcimer club that met once a month at The Old School House. She then moved to North Carolina where she taught mountain dulcimer at Brasstown. Her husband passed away several years ago. Then she moved to Sisters, Oregon, to be with her daughter. 

She taught many how to play the dulcimer. At jams, she knew all the tunes and songs and brought her sweet charm! The picture is her at The Old School House stage area at a jam. This was taken when she was going to Oregon. 

We will all miss her as she brought joy to so many dulcimer players.

– Doug Thomson, Alta Loma, California

Editor's Note: The story mentioned above is in Vol. 31 No. 4 (2005) and was written by Bonnie Carol.

 

Vol. 50 No. 3: Joellen Lapidus

This issue of DPN features Joellen Lapidus and her unique and inspiring dulcimers.

 

Vol. 50 No. 3: Howard Rugg

This issue features mountain dulcimer builder Howard Rugg, an under-recognized yet influential and innovative luthier in California...

 

Vol. 50 No. 3: Blue Lion Dulcimers

Ever wondered about the name Blue Lion Dulcimers? Did you know that Bob and Janita Baker might have been cactus farmers instead of dulcimer makers? Learn more about this building couple in this issue of DPN!

 

Vol. 50 No. 3: Meet Guru Dulci Baba - Kevin Roth

The world's first dulcimer playing puppet!

 

Vol. 50 No. 3: Max ZT

Max ZT 'On Becoming' a Grammy nominee.

 

Vol. 50 No. 3: Sam Edelston

Dulcimers Belong in the Spotlight - Sam Edelston.

Vol. 50 No. 3: Review of Sam Edelston’s “Rehab Reunion”, by Butch Ross

ALBUM REVIEW

Sam Edelston: 'Making Waves'

By Butch Ross

In 2011 I got a call from Sam Edelston inviting me to be a featured performer at the Nutmeg Dulcimer Festival. Toward the end of our call, he commented that he had been working on a version of "Bohemian Rhapsody," and said it should be done by then. 

"Oh?!" I said. "I'm working on a version of that myself." So that October, during the lull in the festival, Sam and I got together in an unused classroom to play our dueling versions of "Bohemian Rhapsody." It was interesting to compare notes, as parts of my arrangement that were fairly simple were real knucklebusters in his. While the parts of my arrangement that were giving me fits had simple and elegant solutions in Sam's hands.

"Bohemian Rhapsody" is, of course, on Sam's first full-length album "Making Waves," along with 11 other surprising and delightful covers and three original songs. Except for the last two songs, the album consists of solo dulcimer and occasional singing, augmented with the tasteful application of additional instruments; mostly bass and drums/percussion. 

The album kicks off with "Looking at the Waves," a sprightly original that serves as both opening track and mission statement. It's a jaunty little song that would not be out of place on a Robert Force/Al d'Ossché album. What follows then is a set of fun and surprising, mostly classic rock songs that you might expect to hear on a Friday night at your favorite local watering hole. Songs by Paul Simon, Neil Diamond, and Billy Joel stand shoulder to shoulder with unexpected rockers from Motorhead, Bruce Springsteen. and the aforementioned Queen.

My favorite tracks are the ones where he turns things on their head. For example, his take on The Beatles’ "Please, Please Me" moves through the kind of wild and unexpected iterations that would give Beatles songs like "A Day In The Life" and "Happiness Is A Warm Gun" a run for their money. You wouldn't think that the heavy metal band Motorhead and finger-picked mountain dulcimer would go together, but in Sam's hands you find yourself thinking, "Yes, that is exactly how you would handle that situation."

But it isn't all just rockers. Sam plays mountain and hammered dulcimers on a wonderfully delicate version of Chicago's "Colour My World,” with a lovely vocal from guest Teddy Parker; sings robotically in the Gary Numan-influenced original "If I Can't Get to You"; and turns in a nice vocal performance on Brandi Carlile's "You and Me on the Rock," a song which segues effortlessly into a reprise of "Looking at the Waves." These last two songs are the only ones to feature multiple overdubbed mountain dulcimers, a fact worth noting, as Sam's arrangements of all the songs on this album are full, complete, and well thought out. 

All songs are in 1-5-8 tunings except "Looking at the Waves," which is in DGD. Sam plays a standard McSpadden dulcimer on a couple of songs, though a lot of these tracks feature his Rod Matheson "Black Wolf" dulcimer with 0+/1+/8+ frets, as well as any number of fully chromatic regular and baritone dulcimers from Folkcraft, Bear Meadow, and Matheson.

Sam has been around the dulcimer scene for many years, but he only recently started doing this full time. It's taken a long time to get "Making Waves" out into the world, but it was well worth the wait. The album is $15, plus $5 S&H. It is available to purchase at SamTheMusicMan.com or by mail: Sam Edelston, 34 Daffodil Lane, Cos Cob, CT 06807. It will also be available on all streaming platforms.

Butch Ross is an internationally renowned dulcimer player, songwriter, live looper, and all-around stand-up guy who probably never owes anyone money. Online at butchross.com.

"MAKING WAVES" TRACKLIST

"Looking at the Waves"
"Wild Horses"
"She’s Always a Woman"
"Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard"
"Sweet Caroline"
"Colour My World"
"Please, Please Me"
"Call Me"
"If I Can't Get to You"
"Lucy in the Sky"
"Ace of Spades"
"Bohemian Rhapsody"
"Born to Run"
"You and Me on the Rock"
"Looking at the Waves (Reprise)"

Sam Edelston is on a quest to bring dulcimers into widespread public awareness. His repertoire ranges from rock to opera, and from big band to bluegrass. He also plays guitar, banjo, and hammered dulcimer. Find him at samthemusicman.com.

 

Vol. 50 No. 3: DPN Restrung - The Unexplored Locrian Mode

Butch Ross dives into the Locrian mode in his column this issue.

“Dust to Dust” Lyrics

Dust to Dust

By John Kirkpatrick

Digging graves is my delight,
A digging graves for you to lie in,
Digging graves from morn to night,
I earns me living from the dying,
Digging graves the whole day long,
And as I dig I sing this song,
To anybody that comes along.
Dust to dust and ashes to ashes,
And thus begins my song.

I bury you all, there’s none has favour.
Don’t spend your time in seeking gain;
No gold from death will ever save yer.
Mighty men with wealth and riches,
Beggars too in rags and stitches;
All end up in the wooden britches.
Dust to dust and ashes to ashes,
And so my song goes on.

Some we bury with foul diseases,
Some will die still young and pretty.
Death will take just who it pleases,
For in death there is no pity.
Mangled men with sightless eyes,
Babes in arms and maids likewise,
Fit or foolish, weak or wise.
Dust to dust and ashes to ashes,
And so I sing my song.

You might be dancing in the street,
You might be gay, you might be grieving.
You might be singing a song so sweet
But you’ll not cheat death, there’s no deceiving.
In the street or in the hall,
Whether you skip or whether you crawl,
Death could come any time at all.
Dust to dust and ashes to ashes,
And so my song goes on.

Death come early, death come late,
It takes us all, there is no reason.
For every purpose under heaven,
To each a turn, to each a season.
A time to love and a time to cry,
A time to laugh and a time to sigh,
A time to be born and a time to die.
Dust to dust and ashes to ashes,
And so I end my song.

 

Vol. 50 No. 3: Betty Smith

“Betty Smith”, in Dulcimer Players News, V22. #1, 1996.

 

Vol. 50 No. 3: Bruce Hornsby

We caught up with Bruce Hornsby in this issue of DPN! Learn about how he discovered the dulcimer, and meet dulcimer maker and player Bert Berry.

 

Vol. 50 No. 3: United Breaks Guitars, Northwest Breaks Dulcimers

Bing Futch's dulcimer was damaged by baggage handlers 15 years ago. When Northwest gave him the runaround, he wrote a song about his experience, which later led to his name appearing on Jeopardy!

 

Vol. 50 No. 3: Hunting and Taming the Wild Paddled Dulcimer

In the late 1960s Dick Hulan rediscovered the first female soloist on the Grand Ole Opry, hammered dulcimer player Kitty Cora Cline. He also unlocked the tuning pattern used on "paddle" dulcimers in the region.

 

Vol. 50 No. 3: Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift and dulcimers at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

 

Vol. 50 No. 3: Lil Rev's Dulci-lore Corner - Boogie Woogie on the Dulcimer

 

Volume 50, Number 2: May, 2024

Vol. 50 No. 2: Highlights

A collection of videos related to the various musical artists and topics covered in Dulcimer Players News Vol. 50 No. 2. This is a big anniversary year for the magazine, and this issue covers when Maddie MacNeil was editor. Topics include Bill Collins, Sam Rizetta, Ralph Lee Smith, No Strings Attached, the bird song, and more.

Vol. 50 No. 2: Madeline “Maddie” MacNeil

Dulcimer Players News Vol. 50 No. 2 is dedicated to former editor Madeline "Maddie" MacNeil. Please enjoy this collection of videos featuring and commemorating her.

Vol. 50 No. 2: DPN Restrung - Doubleback Dulcimer

Videos related to Butch Ross' "DPN Restrung" column. This time we focus on the Galax "doubleback".

Vol. 50 No. 2: Vincent Farsetta

Dulcimer Players News Vol. 50 No. 2 features a story about multi-instrumentalist Vincent Farsetta.

Vol. 50 No. 2: Sam Rizetta

Dulcimer Players News Vol. 50 No. 2 features long-time contributor Sam Rizzetta. Listen to some of his music and performances here.

Vol. 50 No. 2: Ralph Lee Smith

In Dulcimer Players News Vol. 50 No. 2 we remember the work of long-time DPN supporter and columnist Ralph Lee Smith. Featuring videos of Ralph Lee Smith and videos of the Creed Russell dulcimer.

Dulcimer Players News Vol. 50 No. 2 features several stories about shape notes and finding "do."

Vol. 50 No. 2: Randy Marchany & No Strings Attached

Dulcimer Players News Vol. 50 No. 2 features an article about the band No Strings Attached (NSA).

Vol. 50 No. 2: The Bird Song & Margaret MacArthur

Listen to variations of "The Bird's Courting Song," also known as "Leatherwing Bat," "The Bird Song," "The Birds Harmony," and "The Woody Querristers," as well as a variety of songs in the same family, including Playford's "Goddesses," "North Country Lass," "Geordie," "Hind Horn," "Congaudeat turba fidelium," and many others. This playlist also includes videos about dulcimer player Margaret MacArthur who collected a version of the "Bird's Courting Song" from Fred Atwood in Vermont.

These videos are related to Lil Rev's "Dulci-Lore Corner" column: the song "Asheville Junction," also known as "Swannanoa Tunnel."

Volume 50, Number 1: February 2024

YouTube Playlists & Other Resources

We are once again providing playlists related to the content in this issue. You can view them here or on our YouTube channel. Be sure to hit the “Subscribe” button to be the first to see our latest videos!

Here are links to some of the resources mentioned in this issue:

Other links are listed with the videos related to each story below.

Download Gloria Fletcher’s arrangement “My love is like a red, red, rose,” a Scottish traditional folk melody. Play it for your Valentine!

 

Vol. 50 No. 1 Highlights

A collection of videos related to the various musical artists and topics covered in Dulcimer Players News Vol. 50 No. 1. This is a big anniversary year for the magazine, and each issue will focus on a different era of the magazine. This first issue covers the first few years of the magazine, when Phil Mason was editor, and focuses on some of the founding and forgotten figures in the dulcimer revival, including Jean Ritchie, Howie Mitchell, Richard Fariña, Dorothy Carter, and more.

 

Butch Ross DPN Restrung

Long-time DPN contributor and supporter Butch Ross has started a new column called "DPN Restrung," where he tackles and modernizes articles from the DPN Archives. In this issue he tackles the first article in the first issue of DPN - frailing for the dulcimer.

For more resources by Butch Ross visit butchross.com/dpn.

 

Jean Ritchie

Without Jean Ritchie, the "Mother of Folk," there would have been no dulcimer revival. If there had been no dulcimer revival, there would have been no Dulcimer Players News. It only seems fitting, then, for the first commemorative issue to feature her. Here is just a small sampling of Jean Ritchie's music and videos featuring Jean, including several versions of "Over the River to Feed my Sheep," also known as "Over the River Charlie," "Charlie," and "Weevily Wheat."

Jean Ritchie donated her first dulcimer, made by Jethro Amburgey, to the Kentucky Historical Society in 2002. View it online at bit.ly/jeankyhs.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art holds the "Anniversary" dulcimer George Pickow made for Jean, his wife, in 1952. View it online at bit.ly/pickowmma.

Listen to Alan Lomax's field recordings of Jean Ritchie at the Lomax Digital Archive, online at bit.ly/ldaritchie. These include "Weevily Wheat," another name for "Over the River to Feed My Sheep," recorded on May 5, 1949.

 

Howie Mitchell

Howie Mitchell was an influential mountain and hammered dulcimer player. He passed away in February 2023, and as one of the dulcimer community's "founding figures," he is featured in the first commemorative issue in Volume 50. Listen to music from his many albums.

Howie Mitchell albums at the Free Music Archive

After obtaining the permission of the original artists or their descendants, David Mitchell digitized and shared many of his father’s personal recordings online at the Free Music Archive. These include two versions of “To Celia”/”Drink to me only with thine eyes,” one with Howie and David, another with Howie and Ruth Meyer. Howie’s 4-string arrangement of the song originally appeared in DPN Vol. 4 No. 4 (I transcribed it into TablEdit to include in the magazine).

Other Free Music Archive Howie Mitchell recordings include:

Folk-Legacy Records (now owned by Smithsonian Folkways label)

Howie Mitchell Albums:

Other Folk-Legacy Albums of Note:

Hearts of the Dulcimer Podcast Episodes

Episode #032: The Legendary Howie Mitchell

Episode #037: Golden Ring: A Gathering of Friends for Making Music

 

Doug Berch, Through the Decades

This issue of Dulcimer Players News features hammered and mountain dulcimer player and builder Berch. The story features excerpts from his letters and interviews through the past 50 years, plus an update on what he is doing now.

 

Harry Ferguson's Reverse Pedal Dampener

Meet astronomer and hammered dulcimer player Harry Ferguson, who recently shared his plans for an innovative pedal dampener with Dulcimer Players News. He invites others to make and enjoy them. Listen to him using it, and listen to other versions of "Bas-Pelles Eriks Brudpolska."

 

Paul Adams

Reunite with luthier, singer, and songwriter Paul Adams (PD Adams) in this issue of Dulcimer Players News. As a luthier, Paul wrote a few letters to the editor in the early years of DPN, and now he is an award-winning musical artist. Subscribe today at dpnews.com.

 

L'il D'bl Bass

Dulcimer Players News Vol. 50 No. 1 includes a story about the L'il D'bl Bass, a new type of bass dulcimer created by Terry McCafferty and David Beede. In this playlist, find videos about the instrument, how to play it, and the makers.

 

3D-Printed Dulcimer

The first 50th Anniversary commemorative issue of Dulcimer Players News features the Stephens Lutherie 3D-printed dulcimer. Watch videos about the dulcimer and other builders and players mentioned in the story, and about other 3D-printed instruments. I am the only one who wants someone to design a 3D-printed travel dulcimer??

 

Richard and Mimi Fariña

Another of the dulcimer revival's founding figures, Richard Fariña is featured in Vol. 50 No. 1, the first of a series of commemorative issues celebrating 50 years of Dulcimer Players News. Follow along with the songs Patricia Delich mentions in her article about the Fariñas, and watch a few more videos relating to the dulcimer revival.

Hearts of the Dulcimer

Patricia Delich (author of this issue’s article on Fariña) and her husband Wayne Jiang produced the documentary film "Hearts of the Dulcimer" in 2013. After the film, they started the "Hearts of the Dulcimer" podcast, which ended with episode 60 in 2023. Several episodes feature Fariña and related musicians, and other episodes focus on other musicians in this issue.

Each episode has a resource page with more information, photos, and video clips. And of course, there is dulcimer music throughout every episode.

Listen at dulcimuse.com/podcast, or search for "Hearts of the Dulcimer" in any podcast app.

Episodes featuring Fariña:

  • Richard Fariña Tribute (Episodes #004 & #005)

  • Richard Fariña and the Cambridge Folk Music Scene (Episode #022, Part 1: A Conversation with Rick Turner; Episode #023, Part 2: A Conversation with Ed Freeman)

  • A Conversation with Judy Collins (Episode #028)

Further listening:

  • Neal Hellman - Episode #014: Neal Hellman: Part Folk, Part Classical, All Acoustic; Episode #017: Dulcimer Short Story with Neal Hellman: Celebrities at the Renaissance Faire

  • Episode #036: The Many Modes of Stephen Seifert

  • Episode #040: The Orchestral Dulcimer [features Seifert]

  • Episode #047: Stay Home and Play Dulcimer: with Stephen Seifert

  • Episode #042: The Multifaceted Bonnie Carol and Max Krimmel

  • Episode #049: Stay Home and Sing with the Dulcimer: with Aubrey Atwater

  • Episode #051: The Sweet Harmonies of Aubrey Atwater and Elwood Donnelly

  • Episode #052: Grant Olson Dulcimer Explorer

  • Episode #057: New York, New York [Doug Berch]

  • Episode #058: Ashley Ernst, Publisher and Owner of Dulcimer Players News

 

Roger Nicholson & Modes

Roger Nicholson was a prominent dulcimer player in the United Kingdom and an early contributor to Dulcimer Players News. His writing on modes is included in Dulcimer Players News Vol. 50 No. 1, along with excerpts from other interviews and mode-related selections.

 

DAA - the forgotten tuning?

One of the articles in Dulcimer Players News Vol. 50 No. 1 is "In praise of DAA - the forgotten tuning?" by Dan Evans. This playlist features the songs referenced in his article, as well as some other videos about the DAA tuning, including a couple of Christmas carols in DAA.

 

Jerry Rockwell - Chord Progressions, Modes, and Pentatonic Scales

Meet Dulcimer Players News columnist Jerry Rockwell! Jerry has been a long-time DPN supporter and contributor. He is starting a new DPN column focused on chord progressions, modes, and pentatonic scales. His goal is to provide approachable exercises that introduce music theory concepts so subtly that you don't even know you are learning them. If you want to learn more, visit jerryrockwell.com or join his Patreon community at patreon.com/jcrockwell_dulcimer_teaching.

 

Dorothy Carter

Dorothy Carter was another early contributor to Dulcimer Players News, who played hammered dulcimer and many other instruments in the zither family, who is featured in Vol. 50 No. 1. Jim Couza describes hearing her perform as "one of those mysterious experiences that happens to you just once in a lifetime," and characterized her as "the most underrated folk musician on the East Coast." Her second album "Waille Waille" has just been reissued by Palto Flats (New York City) and Putojefe Records (Berlin). The album is now available on LP and CD at paltoflats.com (North America) and putojefe.com (Europe).

 

Kindred Gathering

The first 50th Anniversary commemorative issue of Dulcimer Players News features a story about the Kindred Gathering, also celebrating 50 years in 2024. Learn about the origins of this festival and listen to music and videos from some of the founding figures.

 

Buckeye Roadshow

Buckeye Dulcimer Festival organizers Shari Wolf and Chris and Joe Steiner have formed the band Buckeye Roadshow. They host monthly hybrid Zoom jams - find more information and music at https://www.buckeyedulcimerfestival.com/bdfzoomjams.htm. Read about the venture in Dulcimer Players News Vol. 50 No. 1. Subscribe at dpnews.com.

 

Dulcimer Orchestra Symposium

Dulcimer Players News Vol. 50 No. 1 features a story by First National Dulcimer Orchestra leader Judy House about the upcoming Dulcimer Orchestra Symposium, focusing on the differences between a symposium and a festival.

 

Volume 49, Number 4: November 2023

We received positive feedback regarding the YouTube playlists included with the last issue, so we are repeating the process for the November issue. Instead of having a downloadable song sampler, please enjoy several playlists related to the content in this issue. You can view them here or on our YouTube channel. Be sure to hit the “Subscribe” button to be the first to see our latest videos!

General

A YouTube playlist featuring music and videos related to Dulcimer Players News Vol. 49 No. 3 (August 2023). Including videos by or about this issue's contributors, as well as musicians featured in our "New Releases" article and other features.

Click here for tab to Gloria Fletcher’s “O Come, O Come Emmanuel,” included in the playlist above, which appeared in Vol. 47 No. 4.

Mark Alan Wade also shared his three-part arrangement for “A Minor Christmas Celebration!” (Patapan & Noël nouvelet). Click to download the Score (all parts), Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.

National Championships 2023 Walnut Valley Festival

Congratulations to the Walnut Valley Festival 2023 national champions: Mickey Sweeney (hammered) and David Wilson (mountain).

Kevin Roth Interview

In August 2023, DPN and Kevin Roth discussed his latest projects: the book and accompanying album "Between the Notes" and his latest album "Dulcimer Dreamland." This playlist features Kevin's music in addition to the full interview.

Wonder of Wales

Read about the experiences of harpist and dulcimer player Lorinda Jones traveling through Wales in the article "The Wonder of Wales" in Dulcimer Players News Vol. 49 No. 4 - November 2023.

“C’est l’aviron qui nous, mène"

Learn about French-Canadian music for the dulcimer in Marc Mathieu's article in Vol. 49 No. 4 (November 2023).

Mathieu presents “C’est l’aviron qui nous, mène" as a typical French-Canadian song suited to the dulcimer. A Canadian variant of this song appears in the 1910 book "Forty-four French Folk-songs and Variants from Canada, Normandy, and Brittany," collected and harmonized by Julien Tiersot, the English translations by Henry Grafton Chapman. "En revenant de la joli' Rochelle" or "As I came back from beautiful Rochelle" is on p. 76-77, with the following additional English and French lyrics and notes on p. 78. You can view a digital version of this book at bit.ly/dpn-44frenchfolk.

The refrain with this version is different from the refrain shared by Marc Mathieu. Note that the first line of each verse is repeated, and the second line of each verse becomes the first line of the next verse.

1. En revenant de la joli' Rochelle,
J'ai rencontré trois jeunes demoiselles. 

Refrain:
La voilà ma mi' qu' mon cœur aime tant!
La voilà ma mi' qu' mon cœur aime! 

2. J'ai rencontré trois jeunes demoiselles;
J'ai point choisi, mais j'ai pris la plus belle.

3. J'ai point choisi, mais j'ai pris la plus belle;
J'l'y fis monter derrièr' moi, sur ma selle.

4. J'l'y fis monter derrièr' moi, sur ma selle;
J'y fis cent lieues sans parler avec elle.

5. J'y fis cent lieues sans parler avec elle;
Au bout des cent lieues, ell' me d'mandit à boire.

6. Au bout des cent lieues, ell' me d' mandit à boire;
Je l'ai menée auprès d'une fontaine.

7. Je l'ai menée auprès d'une fontaine;
Quand ell' fut là, ell' ne voulut point boire.

8. Quand ell' fut là, ell' ne voulut point boire;
Je l'ai menée au logis de son père.

9. Je l'ai menée au logis de son père;
Quand ell' fut là, ell' buvait à pleins verres;

10. Quand ell' fut là, ell' buvait à pleins verres,
A la santé de son père et sa mère.

11. A la santé de son père et sa mère; (bis)
A la santé de ses sœurs et ses frères.

12. A la santé de ses sœurs et ses frères;
A la santé d'celui que son cœur aime.

1. As I came back from beautiful Rochelle,
There did I meet three pretty damoselles.

Refrain:
Here's the one for me, here's the one I love,
Here's the one for me, here's my loved one.

2. There did I meet three pretty damoselles,
I did not choose, but took the greatest belle.

3. I did not choose, but took the greatest belle,
I set her up behind me on my saddle.

4. I set her up behind me on my saddle,
One hundred leagues, and not a word was spoken.

5. One hundred leagues, and not a word was spoken,
When they were o'er she asked me for some water.

6. When they were o'er she asked me for some water,
I took her then to where there was a fountain.

7. I took her then to where there was a fountain,
When she got there, she would not drink the water.

8. When she got there, she would not drink the water,
I took her to the dwelling of her father.

9. I took her to the dwelling of her father,
When she got there, she emptied all the glasses.

10. When she got there, she emptied all the glasses,
Drinking the health of her father and mother.

11. Drinking the health of her father and mother,
Drinking the health of her sister and brother.

12. Drinking the health of her sister and brother,
Drinking the health of him who is her lover.

There has been found in Normandy a variant of this song (see Moullé's "Mélodies populaire de la Haute-Normandie"), the great age of which is confirmed from another quarter, by the fact that it has already been noted in an ancient French manuscript published by Gaston Paris under the title of "Chansons du XVe siècle." Here are the first couplets, preceded by a line which serves as the refrain of the whole song:

Faisons bonne chère, faisons la, faisons.

En m'en venant de Paris à Rochelle,
Je rencontrai trois jeunes demoiselles.
A mon avis je choisis la plus belle,
Et la montai sur l'arson de ma selle.

Make we good cheer, make good cheer, good cheer.

As I came back from Paris to Rochelle,
There did I meet three lovely damoselles.
As I believe, I chose the very fairest;
Upon my pillion then I set my dearest.

The verses, which at the beginning are almost identical, diverge from this point, though not without preserving, more or less, the character of songs of gallantry.

St. Basil's Hymn

This issue features Ted Yoder's arrangement of St. Basil's Hymn and information about Val Cortoni's instructional video series "Tympanim." This playlist features other well-known versions, including the hammered dulcimer version by Malcolm Daglish and the piano version by George Winston, as well as some folk versions.

The Friendly Beasts

Learn how the Gregorian chant Orientis Partibus became the Christmas carol "The Friendly Beasts."

Deck the Halls

Dulcimer Players News Vol. 49 No. 4 (November 2023) features a story about the Welsh origins of the holiday song "Deck the Halls." Enjoy a selection of videos related to Welsh music, "Nos Galan," and "Deck the Halls."

The Sussex Carol

This issue features an arrangement of the "Sussex Carol" by Geoff Black.

Sussex Carol Lyrics:

On Christmas night all Christians sing
To hear the news the angels bring (x 2)
News of great joy, news of great mirth
News of our merciful King’s birth.

Then why should men on earth be so sad?
Since our Redeemer made us glad (x 2)
When from our sin he set us free
All for to gain our liberty?

When sin departs before His grace
Then life and health come in its place (x 2)
Angels and men with joy may sing
All for to see the newborn King

All out of darkness we have light
Which made the angels sing this night (x 2)
"Glory to God and peace to men
Now and for evermore, amen!"

The words were first published by Luke Wadding, Bishop of Ferns, in his 1684 book "A Smale Garland, of Pious and Godly Songs," p. 40. Ralph Vaughan Williams included "On Christmas Night," an arrangement based on the song collected from Mrs. Verrall of Sussex, in "Eight Traditional English Carols," 1919.

Joni Mitchell Live “At Newport”

Read Butch Ross' review of the Joni Mitchell album "At Newport."

Revival and Evolution - Dulcimers in Germany

Connecting to the mountain dulcimer’s German roots while expanding its horizons. On a recent trip to Germany, mountain dulcimer player Brian Bohlman connected with Martin Oesterle, who runs an amazing dulcimer shop and school in Ludwigsburg, near Stuttgart. He shared his experience and his new album "Into the Light" with Dulcimer Players News.

Mandy Tyner's Artist Spotlight Series

Dulcimer player and teacher Mandy Tyner created a series on her channel to highlight other musicians. Read more about the series in Dulcimer Players News Vol. 49 No. 4 (November 2023).

 

Volume 49, Number 3: August 2023

We are trying something new with the August 2023 issue of Dulcimer Players News.

Instead of having a downloadable song sampler, we have compiled several YouTube playlists related to the content in this issue. You can view them here or on our YouTube channel. Be sure to hit the “Subscribe” button to see our latest videos! Check back in November for the next issue’s playlists.

For the collection of music accompanying “To Swing or Not to Swing” by Ken Kolodner visit sandbridgedulcimer.com/swing.

Vol. 49 No. 3: General

A YouTube playlist featuring music and videos related to Dulcimer Players News Vol. 49 No. 3 (August 2023). Including videos by or about this issue's contributors, as well as musicians featured in our "New Releases" article and other features.

Playlist Index:

  1. Pam Bowman - Evart 20222 by Ken Kaiser

  2. Waiting for a Train (Jimmie Rodgers cover) on a mountain dulcimer by contributor Dusty Thorburn

  3. My latest dulcimer build by Karen Smith-Gratto

  4. Pooh Songs by Carol Walker

  5. “Gerudo Valley” - Hammered Dulcimer and Percussion by Colin Beasley

  6. Swallow’s Tune by Amy Hollindrake

  7. Possum Up a Gum Stump/New Rigged Ship/Drops of Brandy by Stan Ransom

  8. Swingin’ with the Eighties by Ken Kolodner and Mary Lynn Michal

  9. DJ Hamouris talks with Melanie Johnston by Dulcimoon

  10. The California Dulcimer Adventure with Carilyn Vice by the Hindman Settlement School

  11. Art of Wayne Jiang by Wayne Jiang

Vol. 49 No. 3: Crankies

Volume 49, Number 3 (August 2023) of Dulcimer Players News features an article about crankies. Here is a collection of videos about crankies, featuring how-tos and performances.

Playlist Index:

  1. The Devil’s Nine Questions/Billy in the Lowground by Anna Elizabeth

  2. When the World Comes to An End: Crankie by Brendan Taaffe

  3. A “Crankie” version of Lord Bateman sung by Elizabeth Laprelle by Bill Spence

  4. Welcome in Another Year — Crankie by Country Dance & Song Society

  5. The Crankie Festival Players by Doug Plummer

  6. The Maple’s Lament Crankie by Benjamin Foss

  7. The Lost Gander by Timothy Morton

  8. “Pickett’s Charge” by Ellen Cherry (Crankie by Katherine Fahey)

  9. Cold Snap Crankie by Holly Hildebrand

  10. Quilts Told Stories - Crankie by The Crankie Factory

  11. Crankie Workshop: An Introduction to Crankies by Juneau-Douglas City Museum

  12. How to Make a Crankie by Juneau-Douglas City Museum

  13. Zero to Crank in 65 Seconds, the New Travel Crankie Box by The Crankie Factory

  14. How to Make a Crankie by Pie Car Productions

  15. All I Ask is a Tall Ship: Crankie by Brendan Taaffe

  16. Young Emily Crankie by Zoe van Buren

  17. Winnipeg Crankie Festival - Friday Night by Home Routes

Vol. 49 No. 3: Gourd Instruments

Volume 49, Number 3 (August 2023) of Dulcimer Players News features an article about a mountain dulcimer made from a gourd. Here is a collection of videos featuring a variety of gourd instruments.

Playlist Index:

  1. Gourd Banjo and Hammered Dulcimer by Brad Kolodner

  2. Cedric Watson on Gourd Banjo “Darlin Cori” by Cedric Watson

  3. Peace Comes Dropping Slow — Mountain Dulcimer and Electric Gourd Dulcimer Instrumental by Michael Futreal

  4. How to rock a three stringed gourd dulcimer like a blues guitar! - “The Tree” Dulcimer by Home Grown Instruments

  5. East Virginia and Cluck Old Hen on homemade Bottle Gourd Banjo by Ben Greco

  6. Black Eyed Susie on Gourd Banjo by Brad Kolodner

  7. Blue Violet Waltz by Brad Kolodner

Vol. 49 No. 3: Remembering George Haggerty

Dulcimer player and builder George Haggerty passed away in June 2023. Read his obituary in Dulcimer Players News, Vol. 49 No. 3 (August 2023).

Playlist Index:

  1. DAA Mountain Dulcimer Fest - George Haggerty by Wayne Anderson

  2. American Appalachian Music - Limberjack/Dulcimer by Kolbgil

  3. Haggerty’s Dulcimer Daze by Wayne Anderson

Vol. 49 No. 3: Remembering Gary and Toni Sager

Former owners of Prussia Valley Dulcimers Gary and Toni Sager passed away in 2023, Gary in March and Toni in July. Read their obituary in Dulcimer Players News, Vol. 49 No. 3 (August 2023).

Playlist Index:

  1. Remembering Gary Sager by Melrose Dulcimers

  2. Harmony Harvest Gary and Toni Sager by AllAmericanFE

  3. Dulcimerica 123 - KMW Pt. 1 - Mountain Dulcimer by Bing Futch

  4. Mountain Dulcimer - Dulcimerica Video Podcast #76 by Bing Futch

  5. Gary and Toni Sager by Bing Futch

  6. 2011 MFMF - Gary and Toni Sager - The Isle of Innistree by FMSMVideos

  7. 2011 MFMF - Gary Sager - Steel Guitar Rag by FMSMVideos

  8. Gary & Toni Sager @ the “Pikin’ Porch” by Mike Clemmer

  9. Gary and Toni Sager by Teri West

  10. Toni and Gary Sager KMW 2014 by Chuck Moseley

  11. Prussia Valley Dulcimers by watchman8653

  12. The Dulcimers: An Appalachian Christmas Concert! by Southern Ohio Museum & Cultural Center VIDEOS

Vol. 49 No. 3: Parson's Farewell

Deborah Hamouris shares her baritone mountain dulcimer arrangement of "Parson's Farewell" in Dulcimer Players News Vol. 49 No. 3, from her new book “Baritone Folio.” Included here are several versions of the tune and a video of the dance.

Vol. 49 No. 3: Un Canadien Errant

Susan Trump shares her mountain dulcimer arrangement of "Un Canadian Errant" in Dulcimer Players News Vol. 49 No. 3. This playlist features several versions of the tune on a variety of instruments.

Vol. 49 No. 3: Shepherd's Wife Waltz

Pam Bowman shares her hammered dulcimer arrangement of "Shepherd's Wife Waltz" in Dulcimer Players News Vol. 49 No. 3. This playlist features several versions of the tune.