Shape Notes: Lewis and Clark (‘Beach Spring’)
Arranged by Peter Irvine, Words by Dick Dunagan | The shape note tune "Beach Spring" arranged for mountain dulcimer.
Shape Notes: Lorraine Lee Hammond
By Lorraine Lee Hammond | An update on Lorraine Lee Hammond and information about her arrangement of William Billings' shape note hymn "When Jesus Wept"
Shape Notes: Finding ‘do’ on the Fretted Dulcimer
Compiled by Fiona Potts | This feature is an assortment of articles from the DPN Archives, all centered around fretboards, shape notes, and tunings. Though not originally connected in any way, together they illustrate both the interconnectedness of the people and events during the decades that Maddie MacNeil was the editor of DPN...
Ralph Lee Smith
By Cathy Sabol, from the DPN Archives Vol. 8 No. 3 (1982) | McDougal Street, Greenwich Village, New York, 1956. The folk music revival was in full swing, and the Folklore Center was selling dulcimers 'imported' from North Carolina for $30.00 a piece. Ralph Lee Smith, freelance writer and player of the harmonica, guitar, banjo, and bones, decided to invest in this strange instrument. Fortunately it came tuned. ...
Sam Rizzetta: Showing you the tools
Compiled by Fiona Potts | I wanted to share Sam Rizzetta's story in his own words – first with excerpts from Maddie MacNeil's interview of him in Vol. 9 No. 1 (1983) (we adapted the cover of that issue for this anniversary issue), followed by selections from his "The Answer Column" and "Technical Dulcimer" columns through the years....
Profile: Vincent Farsetta
By Linda Paulus | Vincent Farsetta didn't start life in the mountain places that eventually would infuse his soul. He was born just thirty miles from New York City while Jean Richie and Alan Lomax were jumpstarting urban interest in the Appalachian dulcimer, and where folk music waves were washing over, around, and through Greenwich Village...
DPN Restrung: The Doubleback
By Butch Ross | Highlighting and examining the story "The Doubleback" by Nick Engler, from DPN Vol. 2 No. 3 (1976).
Gatherings: Jean and Lee Schilling
Jean and Lee Schilling, who ran the Folk Life Center of the Smokies and hosted the Cosby Dulcimer Convention, were featured on the cover of Maddie MacNeil's first issue as the sole editor. She wrote a short piece about them and included the arrangement "Mountain Sky" from Jean. I am reprinting them here, followed by some festival reports and a few of my favorite vintage ads.
Letters to the Editor: Memories of Maddie and DPN
Bill Collins, Ken Longfield, and Paul Crocker share their thoughts, memories, and images.
Collector’s Corner: Memory Garland
By Carilyn Vice | Instead of her regular column, Carilyn Vice has shared a collection of photos in memory of the dulcimer players featured in this issue. Her regular column will return in November.