Since this Advent calendar is going to end before the Feast of
Stephen, I reckoned I'd go ahead and get this one up here. Now, I'll be
the first to admit I'm not a musician, at least not the "I have an
intuitive grasp of the way scales and chords and musical theory actually
work" kind of musician. I'm adept at bending recording technology to my
will, I know some guitar and ukulele chords, can operate a few musical
instruments, and may even sing reasonably on key for the length of a
song or two. My keyboard has a piece of tape above the keys labeling the
notes. In other words, I have to work at getting these sounds
together; sometimes through many torturous takes. The dulcimer you hear
here (and can see a Sears Wish Book ad for below) was given to me by my
Dad for Christmas in 1979, if I recall correctly. I had received a
guitar for Christmas in 1977, and my Father sat patiently with me,
trying to impart his innate 'feel' for music (where chords change,
simple turnarounds, etc.), but eventually gave up in frustration at my
lack of "ear." I could make the chords, but I couldn't quite hear where
they fit. Still can't. I guess he figured since the dulcimer had less
frets and strings and nothing as frilly as chords to worry with, I might
be able to make something approaching music on it. Well, here it is. The
only tune I ever learned on the dulcimer to the point of what could be
called competence. I'm sure my good friend Kimberly tired of hearing me
play this song incessantly during the run-up to the RLC V recordings in
1988, but I finally got it down, even arranging the centuries-old melody
in kind of a round that actually evened itself up and came out properly
at the end. As for the dulcimer, the poor thing was sadly busted beyond
repair in one of my many moves 'round Norfolk, and lives now only on
this recording.
This is the second in a series of RLC stories and songs I'll be
bringing to you this month. Please help support us by simply clicking
the ad that appears below the song. After you've given the song a spin,
of course.
