Your favourite tunes on lap dulcimer

Subject: Your favourite tunes on lap dulcimer
From: katlaughing
Date: 17 May 01 - 01:50 PM

I have to expand my repertoire! Played at hospice this morning, went longer than usual and wound up having to repeat some songs, although with variations.

Anyway, I need a list, as I can never remember the names when I just sit down to play for someone. I have a short list, about 45 minutes worth and all I need is the title, if I already know the song. Of course, I won't know all of the ones that you all do, but I can learn them and I would love to hear what your favs are on the lap/Appalachian/mountain dulcimore and add them to my list. I know there are a bunch of standbys that I am just blanking out on! Thanks!

kat

Subject: RE: Your favourite tunes on lap dulcimer
From: jeffp
Date: 17 May 01 - 02:16 PM

One of my favorites is My Grandfather's Clock. Another good one is I'll Fly Away. I think that covers my entire repertoire on dulcimer, come to think of it.

jeffp

Subject: RE: Your favourite tunes on lap dulcimer
From: black walnut
Date: 17 May 01 - 02:48 PM

I'd love to hear what you've already come up with, k.
Any chance you could cut/paste the list?

~b.w.

Subject: RE: Your favourite tunes on lap dulcimer
From: Walking Eagle
Date: 17 May 01 - 02:52 PM

Oh Geez, where to start? I'm sure everyone else will have tunes, so I'll just name a few. Black Mountain Rag, Southwind, Banks of the Ohio, and Simple Gifts should get you started.

Glad you liked the hint about strumming at the widest part of the instrument. Sounds right purty, don't it?

Subject: RE: Your favourite tunes on lap dulcimer
From: Sorcha
Date: 17 May 01 - 03:07 PM

MacPherson's Lament/Rant
Old Joe Clark
Gentle Annie
Dona Dona
Wayfaring Stranger

Subject: RE: Your favourite tunes on lap dulcimer
From: Chicken Charlie
Date: 17 May 01 - 04:01 PM

"False William" has a melody that lends itself to the dulcimer/dulcimore/dylcimur. When I do it I find myself singing in more of a mountain voice than usual. Fun. If you don't recognize it/know it, get back to me.

I also love older hymn tunes, which have marvellous set chord possibilities.

Beautiful Savior
Just As I Am
are good starters.

More fun are "Jesus Thy Blood and Righteousness" (air/tune is "St. Crispin") and "How Can I Keep from Singing," which I learned for a contemp. wedding and then learned was trad after all. At opposite ends of the temporal gamut, Foster's "Hard Times" and "We Shall Overcome." Finally for by now necessary faster change of pace song, a couple decades back "praise music" folks took "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" and jumped it up, tempo-wise. I like to do all this stuff with banjo picks.

Speaking of which, I'm just coming back off a day away at a conference and haven't caught up on my posts. I don't know if anyone is still speaking to me after the hard time I gave all the noter users of the world. Guess I'll find out.

Adiosaderci for the moment,

CC

Subject: RE: Your favourite tunes on lap dulcimer
From: katlaughing
Date: 17 May 01 - 04:06 PM

Okay, bw, here's the list:

Holy Manna
Country Roads
Aunt Rhoady
Missouri Waltz
Irish Lullabye
Ode to Joy
Simple Gifts
Amazing Grace
Walking in the Light
The Seine
Been Ridin'
Wayward Wind
Early One Morning
Tell Me Why
Colorado trail
Yosha and Josha
Down in the Valley
Sweet Hour of Prayer
O Bury Me Not
Raglan Road
Kitty Alone
Hard Times
Hobo's Lullabye aka Just Before the Battle Mother
Jean Petite Biron
One of my Own, I have yet to name
and, I am working on Are You Lonesome Tonight, Aura Lee, some Hank Williams, All I Have to do is Dream, and, thanks to Mike Byers' suggestion, I am going to learn Fur Elise, check out Bach's Sheep May Safely Graze and Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring. Which gives me an idea...I think I will get out my old piano books and look through them, too.

Oh, no! I think I've opened up a Pandora's Box, so many tunes, so much practise!!**BG**

Yes, WEagle, very purdy!!

Anyone know of any Chinese or Japanese tunes?

Thanks a bunch, really, all of you!!

kat

Subject: RE: Your favourite tunes on lap dulcimer
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 17 May 01 - 04:08 PM

DAD tuning:
Wildwood Flower
Rocky Top
White Coral Bells (nice round)

DAC tuning: (I think)
Shady Grove

Capo with DAD (I think):
Johnny I Hardly Knew Ye

Pretty Saro (forgot which tuning)

Subject: RE: Your favourite tunes on lap dulcimer
From: GUEST,Les B
Date: 17 May 01 - 04:25 PM

Scotland the Brave

Soldier's Joy

Old Joe Clark

Red Haired Boy

Bonaparte Crossing the Rhine

Subject: RE: Your favourite tunes on lap dulcimer
From: Chicken Charlie
Date: 17 May 01 - 04:41 PM

Your basic all-purpose Japanese folk tune is "Sakura" (cherry-blossoms) which I think would sound good. Oh--here's a weird related item. A samisen (originated in Okinawa, which mainstream Japanese think of as their hillbilly country) can be tuned in several ways, but one is DAD, which is the way I learned to tune my KY d.

This leads me to think that the Weldgeist, which I always envision as a LARGE rock dove without too much sense, is brooding over the world, thinking D .. A .. D ..... D .. A .. D. People on high mountains have better reception than lowlanders, who have more interference from microwaves, AM radio, TV, etc., and do not pick up on the vibes. They find themselves uncontrollably driven to make three-stringed instruments tuned in this manner. And here you thought you left all the weird stuff on the other thread.

CC

Subject: RE: Your favourite tunes on lap dulcimer
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 17 May 01 - 06:00 PM

Pretty Saro - CGG

Shady Grove - CGBb

Cockels adn Mussels - DAD

Johnny I Hardly Knew Ye - DAD capo on 1

Subject: RE: Your favourite tunes on lap dulcimer
From: Charcloth
Date: 17 May 01 - 08:09 PM

I'm not expecting you to jump right in & do this but the COOLEST!! thing I ever heard on the Mnt. dulcimer was the Medley used in the movie "The Last of the Mohcans." Jane Stewart out of Sidney Ohio recorded it on her CD because she impressed all of us so much. Once at a living history encampment she played it just as a storm was rolling in & with the lightning & thunder we were all just awe struck it looked like the fort was under attack.

Subject: RE: Your favourite tunes on lap dulcimer
From: black walnut
Date: 17 May 01 - 09:01 PM

Holy fretted zither, kat! You've got some list there!

~b.w.

Subject: RE: Your favourite tunes on lap dulcimer
From: Sorcha
Date: 17 May 01 - 09:14 PM

Charcloth, I found a track listing for Mohicans, and there is no medley listed on it.......what's the name/names, please?

Subject: RE: Your favourite tunes on lap dulcimer
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 17 May 01 - 10:16 PM

Charcloth, I'm interested too. That soundtrack is one of my favorites.

Subject: RE: Your favourite tunes on lap dulcimer
From: Mudlark
Date: 18 May 01 - 12:25 AM

The Water is Wide is beautiful on the dulcimer, so is Dvorak's Whatever, the other title of which is, I think, Going Home. The Masterpiece Theater music, whatever that is. Lots of Jewish folk tunes...don't know names. The poem Golden Apples of the Sun set to music (heard on a Judy Collins album)...very beautiful. Also a great old Dillard dance tune...Same old man, sittin' on a mill, mill turns around of it's own free will, grain in the hopper and the other in a sack...ladies step forward while the gents step back. Jack o'Diamonds. Anathea.

Sounds like you've got a pretty good list of your own, Kat! How do you like playing for Hospice...been thinking about doing that myself....

Mudlark

Subject: RE: Your favourite tunes on lap dulcimer
From: catspaw49
Date: 18 May 01 - 12:47 AM

Ya know katmyluv..............I think there's a whole world of unexplored music just waiting to be adapted to Appalachian Dulcimer. For instance, I just posted this list of Frank Zappa songs on another thread:

"Weasels Ripped My Flesh"
"Prelude to the Afternoon of a Sexually Aroused Gas Mask"
"My Guitar Wants to Kill Your Mama"
"Latex Solar Beef"
"Lonesome Electric Turkey"
"Half A Dozen Provocative Squats"
"Cletus Awreetus-Awrightus" (really)
"Dinah Moe-Hum"
"Nanook Rubs It"
"Don't You Ever Wash That Thing?"
"The Illinois Enema Bandit"
"Broken Hearts Are For Assholes"
"Why Does It Hurt When I Pee"

Just a thought..................

Spaw

Subject: RE: Your favourite tunes on lap dulcimer
From: Lin in Kansas
Date: 18 May 01 - 02:06 AM

Well, I don't know about following Spaw's list, but here are a few I like for dulcimer:

The Minstrel Boy
Tennessee Waltz
Kentucky Waltz
Waltz Across Texas (can you tell I like waltzes?)
Little Redwing (slowly!)
The Ash Grove
Wings of a Dove
You Take the High Road, I'll Take the Low

and of course,

Amazing Grace
Will the Circle Be Unbroken

Sounds like you're having a great time with your new instrument, kat!

Lin

Subject: RE: Your favourite tunes on lap dulcimer
From: John P
Date: 18 May 01 - 07:17 AM

I've been playing some Breton tunes on the dulcimer lately. Three of them are called "An Dro" and the fourth is called "Hanter Dro". Also:
Ye Banks and Braes
Bonnie Sweet Robin
Bouffons
Over the Mountain (a version of The Three Ravens)
The May Song
also lots of endless noodling . . .

John

Subject: RE: Your favourite tunes on lap dulcimer
From: Charcloth
Date: 18 May 01 - 11:49 PM

Sorry I didn't get back sooner But, On the Last of the Mohicans sound tract it is listed as tracts 3 & 6 based on the "The Gael". If you remember the movie it is the scene where the jig is being played & they are kissing at the Fort.

Subject: RE: Your favourite tunes on lap dulcimer
From: katlaughing
Date: 19 May 01 - 12:18 AM

LOL@Spaw and his list! Thanks everyone. I've more than enought to start learning new ones!! But, of course, this will be a list I come back to many times, I am sure.

I had a headstart, I think, on learning tunes. I already knew most of the ones I posted, by ear, and also have played piano and violin all of my life, so it just seems pretty natural to pick them out on the dulci, too. NOW, it will be learning the tunes of the ones you all have posted, or remembering the ones I knew, and getting them down pat.

Charcloth, I will look into that, too, as I loved the music in that movie. Which reminds me, the tune from Legends of the Fall ought to be great on dulci, too, and how about Mollyand Jay's fiddle tune that everyone thinks is from the Civil War era? Name escapes me at the moment, and ALSO their Lover's Waltz. (I love waltzes, too, Lin!)

Mudguard, I really like playing at the Hospice. None of the people come out of their rooms, which is fine with me. I sit in the big living room and play as though I am at home. It is very comfortable. I wrote a little bit about one old lady, who came out last week to listen and visit, in my thread about COLD FEET. If you put that in the filter box and set the date to a week or so, it should come up.

I am off to practice, now. Thanks very much! OH! I should've asked this before: if any of you know of midis for any of the tunes you've posted, maybe you could note it in this thread, for those of us who may not know certain ones, if it isn't too much trouble.

THANKS!

katchangingtheworldonedulcimeratatime:-)

Also, should have mentioned, I am NOT singing and playing all of those tunes, at the same time, yet! That takes more co-ordination, as my fingers don't keep up with my voice!:-)

Subject: RE: Your favourite tunes on lap dulcimer
From: Pinetop Slim
Date: 19 May 01 - 08:20 AM

Because Shaker tunes always sound right on MD: Love Is Little, Bow and Be Simple, Shaker Life (minor tuning).
Because the Mixolydian mode scratches itches that you can't get at any other way: Black Is the Color, The Cruel Sea, Goin' to Boston.
Because they joined the MD to mainstream music: Sweet Lady Jane, Pack Up Your Sorrows, Wendy Waldman's Spring Is Here.
Because some Christmas tunes sound good all year: The Cherry Tree Carol.
Just because: Aragon Mill.

Subject: RE: Your favourite tunes on lap dulcimer
From: Art Thieme
Date: 19 May 01 - 06:52 PM

Jean Ritchie doing "Nottamun Town" Artus Moser doing "I Went Up On The Mountain" Cindy Mangsen doing "Hard Is The Fortune" Sally Rogers doing "The Female Sailor" Jean Ritchie "The Cuckoo"

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: Your favourite tunes on lap dulcimer
From: Sorcha
Date: 19 May 01 - 06:58 PM

kat, I think Ashoken would be difficult, with that C natural in there......not sure how you would find it in an Ionian tuning, and you can't leave it out, it's what makes the tune.

Subject: RE: Your favourite tunes on lap dulcimer
From: katlaughing
Date: 19 May 01 - 07:55 PM

That's the name of it...couldn't remember. You're probably right, Sorcha, unless I could transpose it to a different mode. I am just ignorant enough to try and not know any better!*BG*

Thanks, PSlim and Art!

Subject: RE: Your favourite tunes on lap dulcimer
From: Sorcha
Date: 19 May 01 - 08:07 PM

dammit kat, I am going to have to come up there! Tell me when.......OK?(really!)

Subject: RE: Your favourite tunes on lap dulcimer
From: Susan A-R
Date: 19 May 01 - 09:48 PM

I was playing the dulcimer a lot when I was listening to Priscilla Herdman's Waterlilly album a lot, and pretty much anything on that album works. I've also liked a lot of dougie MacLean songs on dulcimer. Now as for Zappa, I'll have to check it out!! 'Spaw, I had recurring dreams about playing electric mountain dulcimer while in college.

Subject: RE: Your favourite tunes on lap dulcimer
From: Ma-K
Date: 19 May 01 - 10:28 PM

Sorcha.....push the string at the 8th fret to get that note in Ashoken in ionian......Mary

Subject: RE: Your favourite tunes on lap dulcimer
From: Ma-K
Date: 19 May 01 - 10:31 PM

Sorry ..push that 8th string about 1/4" to the side to get that note for ashoken... Mary

Subject: RE: Your favourite tunes on lap dulcimer
From: Sorcha
Date: 19 May 01 - 10:33 PM

Ahhh, I see. You have to "bend" it........

Subject: RE: Your favourite tunes on lap dulcimer
From: catspaw49
Date: 19 May 01 - 10:54 PM

SusAR I am SO glad to see you back around more......I've missed you! Electric Mountain Dulcimer huh? LOL

KAT.....I can only second all of these wonderful suggestions. Someone suggested "Pack Up Your Sorrows" and that is one you need to learn! Find Richard and Mimi (Baez) Farina's recording and you'll see what I mean.

You've also been talking about "effects" and such. As you know I love Frank Proffitt and his fretless banjo playing. You can get some of that effect (although you may not care for it) by using the "sliding noter" technique. On the right song, it's a great use for a noter and you get a kind of fretless banjo sound. One that Frank did that I like the effect on is LITTLE BIRDIE. Maybe not the best for a hospice, but still a oldie and goodie.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Your favourite tunes on lap dulcimer
From: Bill D
Date: 19 May 01 - 11:19 PM

"Whoa, Mule"...was the first chorded tune I learned (though it sound fine with jus melody string & drones)

and one I really love is the Australian song Do You Think That I Do Not Know

Subject: RE: Your favourite tunes on lap dulcimer
From: GUEST,Karen Jolley
Date: 20 May 01 - 12:13 AM

I have a lot of old tablature I've collected over the last 20 or so years for lap dulcimer. My favorite tune is a fingerpicked version of "Princess Royal," which is a version of an O'Carolan tune. I learned to play by taking lessons from Ruth Barrett and Randy Wilkinson workshops.

I think noters are useful only as missiles; I use three fingers and thumb on my left hand and either a soft pick or my right-hand fingers to play.

-Karen

Subject: RE: Your favourite tunes on lap dulcimer
From: katlaughing
Date: 20 May 01 - 12:39 AM

Missiles...I LOVE it! Thansk, Karen! Of course, through the generosity of a couple of these 'Cats, I am bound to at least try using the noters they have so kindly made.

Actually, SPAW, I did like the noter effect I got when I used a film canister the other day. I am working into a mix of noter, no noter, pick, no pick...kind of a Diversity of Dulcimer playing. :-)

I am noting all of these tunes, people, thanks so much. I really am paying attention. Have also been visiting the French Folk Music site which is listed in the links, for some aswesome tunes. That's where I learned Jean Petite Biron.

Thanks very much!

kat

Subject: RE: Your favourite tunes on lap dulcimer
From: GUEST,Karen Jolley
Date: 20 May 01 - 02:37 AM

You're welcome-- and if you're ever into a bluegrass thing, then I'd suggest trying a small glass tube, like a section from a pipette from a lab, for that 'bottleneck' or slide guitar effect...

But I still think noters are wallbangers. ;)

-Karen

Subject: RE: Your favourite tunes on lap dulcimer
From: katlaughing
Date: 20 May 01 - 09:33 AM

LOL....another side-splitter....stop my sides hurt!**BG**

"Oh, what's that you are using on that beautiful instrunment?"

"Oh, that? It's a not..errr, I mean it's a WALLBANGER! And, it's also a MISSILE!"

LMAO!

kat

Subject: RE: Your favourite tunes on lap dulcimer
From: Sorcha
Date: 20 May 01 - 09:35 AM

(Is his first name Harvey?)sorry, just couldn't help it! I'm up way to early to suit me!

Subject: RE: Your favourite tunes on lap dulcimer
From: GUEST,Diane Marshall
Date: 20 May 01 - 10:16 AM

Here's a few of my favorites: visit and hear the tunes plus lyrics: www.midigal.com Just click on the catagories such as HYMNS, CELTIC, FOLK, and my ORIGINALs. And tell me what you like on my web site won't you? I need some more inspiration! Diane

Subject: RE: Your favourite tunes on lap dulcimer
From: katlaughing
Date: 20 May 01 - 11:38 AM

Diane, I'd like to, but your addy does't work. I can find you listed under some stuff on Cakewalk, but when I just try www.midigal.com...it's a no go. Try, again?

Subject: RE: Your favourite tunes on lap dulcimer
From: redhorse
Date: 20 May 01 - 12:06 PM

I can't believe no-one suggested Waterbound: I learnt it off a Mike Seeger recording; it's the only tune I can play on the dulcimer and everyone else with a dulcimer seems to play it

Subject: RE: Your favourite tunes on lap dulcimer
From: Bill D
Date: 20 May 01 - 02:49 PM

one more... Three Jolly Rogues of Lynne