The following are more stories about David from a few of his many friends.
8.7.2006
Like everyone else in the dulcimer community, I am saddened by the news of David's illness. I have enjoyed the privilege of his instruction (via festival workshops) five times since 1999, and I continue to be in awe of his knowledge, musicianship, and his love for his dulcimer
"compadres."
While doing some internet searches concerning David, I came across this article. It really speaks a great deal of who David is and how he has influenced the music world for a lot of years.
Check it out!
My prayers continue for David . . .
Ed Foley
8.10.2006
This is a reprint of a story I wrote which was included in the "Folk Artist News" in the Spring 1997 issue. I came to know David through seeing him at many festivals during the 90s. At one of these times David told this story. I asked his permission to retell the story, and here it is, as it appeared in "Folk Artist News".
Thumbing To Austin
by Peggy Carter
"It was the early 70s and a young, enthusiastic geology student at Sul Ross University was visiting in Austin, Texas, with friends, taking a hiatus from his studies for the weekend. Pulling away from the rest of the crowd, he dashed into a music store to ask about a strange, small, stringed instrument he saw in the window. The salesperson knew only that it was a "dulcimer" with a price tag of $30 that included free lessons.
The music poured from the heart-shaped sound holes as he gently pulled his fingers across the strings. The sound was entrancing! Here, in the simplest form was a foreshadowing of the outer limits of dulcimer playing!
The young man and his new dulcimer went back to Sul Ross and spent the rest of Sunday night getting to know each other. Impatiently he played with the frets and the strings, trying to figure out how to pull a tune from its inner depths. Monday morning he was half way to class when he was overcome by a desire to try again to master the strange instrument. He stopped dead in his tracks, changed directions — as though coming to a life changing decision, and ran back to the dorm. He pulled the dulcimer out from under the bed and began again to pick and strum, pulling music from its strings as though he was creating something from nothing. Recognizable tunes began to emerge, tentative at first, then coming more confidently.
He went to a few classes the rest of the week and on Saturday he thumbed toed 300 miles back to Austin for his first free lesson. This pattern was repeated for several weeks until the young man and his dulcimer headed home to La Marque, Texas. Totally forgetting the academic life, he immersed himself in his music. Many free lessons later, as you might have guessed, David Schnauffer became the National Mountain Dulcimer Champion at Winfield, Kansas, launching his career as a top performer, recording artist and teacher. He has appeared in solo and with the Cactus Brothers on the Nashville Network, one of which has sold over 50,000.
[Keep in mind that this story was written 10 years ago (1977), and doesn't include any of David's more recent accomplishments.]
David is quiet and unassuming with a gentle naivete and Southern drawl that will completely take you in! He has one focus in life — his music, and it shows in his flawless performance of traditional and not-so-traditional music, from Bob Wills, to The Everly Brothers, to Cindy Lauper. I don't believe its overstating it to say that David Schnauffer is the current, PREMIER Mountain Dulcimer virtuoso!"
Peggy Carter
8.15.2006
Our first recollection of David was when we met him for the first time at the Southern Ohio Dulcimer Festival in Ripley, Ohio. We had, of course, heard of him and read about him and listened to his recordings. But meeting him and taking one of his classes was unforgettable. We were "paper trained" dulcimer players and David taught songs by demonstrating them - no paper - and of all the tunes we've learned these are the ones we have never forgotten.
We had a similar experience a few years later at the first Dulcimer Chautauqua on the Wabash. The first class was David's on Friday evening. He taught us "Forked Deer" with no paper and it is also one of the few tunes that we can play "paperless". This can only be attributed to his incredible talent as a teacher and his willingness to pass along to others his musical genius.
At the end of the class someone asked if he would sing "Tennessee Valentine". We can still see him sitting there in front of us playing and we can hear that wonderful voice singing "Tennessee Valentine".
At one of the Kentucky Music Weeks in Bardstown, we were fortunate to have had lunch with David at Old Talbot Tavern. During lunch, David shared many stories with us, but the one that is most unforgettable is the story of "Squirrel Heads and Gravy". We were familiar with the tune, but, of course, were unfamiliar with this "delicacy". We had a lot of laughs during lunch along with that great Old Talbot corn bread that David enjoyed so much.
Every time we tune our dulcimers we remember a time when David and Steve Seifert were performing on stage at the Dulcimer Chautauqua on the Wabash. They were between songs and retuning. David tuned rather quickly, but Steve kept tuning and tuning. David would glance over at him as he waited. Steve kept tuning - wanting to get it just right. Finally, David leaned into the microphone and said, "Well, folks we don't know what song we're going to play next, but by God we'll be in tune when we get there". The crowd broke up. Then they broke into one of that great "Black Mountain Rag" that they did so well together. Every time we tune we think of that and smile. I (Tom) even smile when I'm tuning the 37 strings on my autoharp!
At another Dulcimer Chautauqua on the Wabash, David and Jean Ritchie gave a lecture and demonstration on dulcimer history. Can you imagine -- the two most knowledgeable authorities on the dulcimer on the same stage! Just before the discussion started, Jean said that she wanted to be sure to be situated so she could see and hear everything David had to say so she could "learn something" - a tribute to David's contribution to dulcimer history and tradition.
Just before that Dulcimer Chautauqua I purchased one of my most prized possessions - a Schnaufer Model McSpadden. Before the lecture with Jean Ritchie David allowed me to help carry his wonderful dulcimers in from his car - something I will always consider an honor. As we set up for the lecture, he told me the story of how the Schnaufer McSpadden was developed and how it differed from the other McSpaddens. I learned why my instrument sounded so wonderful and played so easily.
I received an email from David this past May. He had responded to an email I sent about the tunings he used on the Tennessee Music Box album. We are from Findlay, Ohio and David spent many summers in his youth staying with relatives in Findlay. He started out the email like this: "Dear Tom and Vicki, Hope this missive finds ya`ll 'Down By the Old Mill Stream' and pondering Tell Taylor's place in pop music history. I miss fishing down at the park!" He then went on to provide the tunings I had requested.
What we will remember most of all is David's kindness, honesty, sense of humor and sheer musical genius. He always made time for everyone - no matter how busy he was - no matter how elementary the question - he was always there to patiently answer any question and share his skills. He is dedicated to preserving an important part of our musical heritage, and, at the same time taking the dulcimer in new directions.
Tom and Vicki Stuckert
8.15.2006
My memories of David come only from his CDs, "Dulcimore" and "Dulcimer
Deluxe". I have played them over and over and thinking one day I want to watch and hear him play and even take a class. But that will not be. So the first day I heard of his illness, I went to the Internet and found his teaching DVD. It is wonderful. I recommend it to all who have not seen him in person.
Peggy Spofford
8.18.2006
I spent many summers with David in Mountain View. He was my first inspiration. So many stories I wouldn't know where to begin. He is a great teacher, wonderful friend and of course master strummer. I had the good fortune just a few months ago to visit with him here at my home when he came to see an old dulcimer that I had purchased. He spent all night checking it out and playing it. So glad for that visit. He tried his best to make a strummer out of me but finally told me that I was just destined to be fingerpicker. Even though our styles differ he always had a word of encouragement for me.
I kept him more than once too long after class asking questions when he needed to go eat something. But polite as he was he would just keep talking until one time he just sat down and we had to get him some juice and candy and then take him to lunch. I felt so bad but he never said a word.
The funniest story I remember was several years ago when he was making some "old time music tapes" for a radio show. He was on his way to Mountain View and stopped in Memphis to spend the nite. He took in his recorder to do some more recording and his dulcimer but left everything else in the car including over 150 tapes he had already made. We were standing outside at the Folk Center when he said, "Alls I got to say is I'd like to have been a fly on the wall when whoever took my stuff found out that all they had was some Amish pants and shirts, some old time music tapes and some insulin," then he just laughed and laughed.
Please join me in praying for his pain and his life.
The Lowly Fingerpicker,
Linda Brockinton
Linda's website
8.23.2006
David, please come back. We all miss you.
Kerry Coates
8.24.2006
My friends,
I am heartbroken to know that David is gone. I have so many fond memories of him and I know that his spirit lives on in all of us who were inspired by his gentle soul and tremendous musical talent. His playing was soulful and true. He will be missed.
With heavy sadness,
Thomasina
8.24.2006
Dear Friends,
One of my personal heros in the dulcimer world died yesterday after a battle with cancer. His name was David Schnaufer, he was 53 years old. Although I never had the opportunity to meet David, I have learned many things about good mountain dulcimer playing from him. Everyone who did know him spoke about his gentle nature and the kindness in which he treated everyone he met. As one member of our "dulcimer family" put it . . . "I know the music sounds much sweeter in heaven tonight". I just wanted to share the video of David playing "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" in tribute to his beautiful soul . . .
I will truly miss him.
Nancy Davis
8.24.2006
I met David as a friend. Never solicited a lesson from him. Never asked how he played something. Never asked him to show me a lick. Even though we met at Cosby a long time ago at a dulcimer festival we instantly became friends and dulcimers and music were second in our relationship. And yet I learned more about the dulcimer from this man more than any other teacher, workshop leader or jam host ever. A dear friend has passed and a damn good dulcimer player, Boy Howdy!
"Follow Your Bliss"
Alan Darveaux
Alan's website
8.24.2006
Dear David:
Goodbye for now, my friend and master -- vaya con Dios -- You truly enriched this earth. I relished every experience I ever had with you and only regret that there were not more, but as another musical genius once said:
"If I don't meet you no more in this world, I'll meet you in next one -
And don't be late."
John (Coyote) Blosser
8.24.2006
I have called David "friend" for many years. Around 1990 he came through Vermont and stopped at our dulcimer store. We were visiting and a customer came in and was looking at CD's. She picked up one of David's I had for sale and asked me if it was any good. (I chuckle) I told her to ask David as he was standing there. She was surprised. She said "You came all the way from Texas to Vermont???" Well, we laugh -- she bought the C.D . . . David signed it for her. That night he gave a workshop and the next night an in-house concert. He stayed at my house for two nights and we had a wonderful day together riding around with me showing him Vermont.
He will be missed.
Peace.
George Haggerty
8.24.2006
The forwarded messages above may be shocking news to many, certainly very sad news. My impression is it was expected, at least by a few, but just for a matter of a month or two. I heard only this past Monday when catching up on e-mails after a trip, and I felt just blown away to hear he was so sick - and now he's already gone. As many folks knew, David had a diabetic problem for many years, but this apparently was cancer, one found too late to do much about.
For those who didn't have more of a chance to know David, I'll tell you he was an incredibly beautiful and gentle soul - who had a lot of soul (and great sense of humor) - in addition to being a phenomenal mountain dulcimer player, easily the best ever. He certainly took the mountain dulcimer farther into the country music world - and we are speaking of Nashville here - than anyone. But one never felt that David played to be 'the best'. He simply was that kind player because he devoted a tremendous talent to his love of the music and the instrument. And he shared all that with anyone who loved those same things.
He will be greatly missed by many. It helps one's sadness only a bit to think of something a friend suggested - that if anyone is sitting and playing with Hank Williams somewhere tonight, it is surely David. A few other friends say the rest well...
Leo Kretzner
8.25.2006
I first met David back in the late 70s - in Colorado at Bonnie Carol's Rabbit Junction I believe - and then again on the west coast at one of the Kindred Gatherings. It was obvious he was hanging out on the cutting edge of dulcmerdom. Around 1980 he was on a pilgrimage to find an old guy in Florida who made Jews Harps by hand (he did and showed me a bunch of them) and so visited me in Gainesville. Even then he was playing what seemed like crazy
stuff... 4 equal distant strings and tuning two a half step apart. He also showed me a "new" (then) tuning of D F# A and taught me Cocaine Blues in that tuning. We had a great time together.
I remember he really made me laugh when he said sometimes he'd get saturated with all that "plinka plinka dulcimer" and have to go to a punk rock bar to balance out . . . ;-)
I must admit that as impressed as I was with his talents, I had no inkling he would hit Nashville and end up making the impact he did on the music world. I guess greatness often dresses in rather everyday disguises.
He had too short a dance here...
I miss him...
David Beede
David Beede's website
8.25.2006
David's trip to Nashville:
David was living in West (by God) Virginia with Alan Freeman and family. He headed West and stopped in to visit and stay awhile. He said, "Look at this, I'm headin' to Nashville. Got a session set up with Chet Atkins", and pulled out this funny little record in a paper sleeve with two arms stretched out printed on the sleeve. It was his promo copy of "Rosie's Arms". He was excited and all I could say was, "Any musician who lined up a session with Chet Atkins in Nashville is definately on the way." The gleem and satisfaction I saw in his face I'll never forget.
We had seen a lot of dirt, dust and dulcimers over the years traveling to places, but David headed to Nashville. Left no doubt he would be a great influence there. I knew it, we all knew it.
A reserved, quiet man turning the Nashville scene on its ear with a little box of an instrument with three strings -- imagine that. He is legendary and created an unassuming legend in his time. It's our responsibility to share David's legacy with every new dulcimer player we meet. That's how I see it and that's part of my tribute to David to all I meet in this dulcimer world.
"Follow Your Bliss"
Alan Darveaux
Alan's website
8.25.2006
Like everyone, I was deeply saddened to hear of David's death.
Having had the good fortune to have him as a teacher for a week at the Northeast Dulcimer Symposium in '91, I was prompted to get out the scrap book to see what I had. I haven't opened this book in quite a while, since I gave up directing the week-long event I founded in the early 80's, but this evening I opened the book randomly to begin my search, and there he was, without having to turn another page. I have many fond memories of that week, from watching his teaching style and listening to him play, to having some treasured one-on-one moments of playing, talking, and experimenting with all kinds of sounds acoustic and electronic.
I saw him a few years later with the Cactus Brothers when they played here in Portland (ME). He had just come off a bad period of illness and was struggling to keep up with the demands of the road, but it was so wonderful to see him again, however briefly, and great to see him in a band context.
As often happens, our lives take us in all directions, and often away from people we would like to spend more time with. I would have loved to have made more opportunities to make music with him, but at least I had that one. And until we are both on the same side of the fence again, I'll have some happy memories to fall back on.
David Moore
8.25.2006
I only met David a couple of times, and couldn't say I knew him well. His reputation, and his music, preceded him though, and I know that the world is a poorer place since he died, and a richer place since he lived.
The first time he and I crossed paths would have been in about 1988, or '87, at the Bob Evans Farms Dulcimer festival and contest. He was one of the judges, and I was a contestant. That was the year that my glasses fell on my dulcimer during my performance. I only passed a
few words with him, but he was kind enough to compliment me on my ability to keep playing through that, even if I didn't place.
The next time was around 1996. I was at the Ft. New Salem Dulcimer Festival and he stopped by for Sunday to do a workshop and a concert. The weather was miserably hot that year, and the event is held mostly outdoors. There's no air conditioning, little shade, and only a few fans here and there. I'm told the workshop was good, but I KNOW the concert was great. He joked with the audience of that small festival, and made everyone feel that he'd come there to play for them personally. He played his set with sweat pouring down his face, and made it one of the best sets I've heard.
I'm glad I got to meet him, and though I didn't know him well, I'll miss him.
Steven K. Smith
Steven's website
8.26.2006
One of the memories I have of David was at one of our Mardi Gras Festivals. I wish I could remember which one it was, but it was probably around 1996. I was a "newbie" then and knew from everyone talking in our club how great David was. I understood what they meant when I heard him the night before performing in concert and was just amazed at what he could get out of a dulcimer!
Well, another greenie asked David a question while Billy and I were outside. Not only did David answer him, but he stopped in his tracks and knelt down in the gravel driveway to show him exactly what he meant. I was so impressed at his humility and his desire to share his love of the dulcimer. I'm also glad to say that Billy stopped traffic so David was not squished.
Debi Zoerner
Bayou Dulcimer Club
8.26.2006
I believe David provided the first workshop the North Georgia Foothills Dulcimer Association ever sponsored. If memory hasn't failed me, this was in 1989. At that first workshop, I remember not only his patience and wonderful musicianship, but also being struck by the way he held the dulcimer on its side. Everyone I had seen up until then had the instrument flat on their laps. The music reached the audience/class more loudly and we could see his fingering easily. (Alas, my hands are too small to fret just using my fingers without the thumb, and I find the dulcimer position uncomfortable to my left arm and shoulder when playing sitting down. A dulcimer stand that tilts the dulcimer forward a bit does help keep a shorty's arm and shoulder relaxed and makes hands visible.) He was very impressive as a teacher and musician.
Maybe twenty to thirty people showed up for his workshop and a few more for the concert. (Peggy Martin, do you remember?) The NGFDA was new and had two small playing groups. Now it has 16 mountain dulcimer satellites and one hammered dulcimer one. It is putting on its 18th Fall Festival, going from the Thursday to the Sunday before Thanksgiving, this year. Over 250 people have registered in the past several years and the evening concerts have attracted over 300-350 people. The fall doings have gone from that one fabulous, single instructor to over 20. David taught and performed for this later crowd of students and fans, too. As always, the last time he and Steve Seifert played together on stage, they electrified the very large crowd of listeners.
The growth of the number of people interested in the dulcimer can only be attributed to the love, devotion, and studious work of ambassadors like David Schnaufer. Blessed is he for his contribution to the creation of a wonderful, expanding "family".
Pam Deemer
8.28.2006
I too have been struggling to try and put into words just what David and his music have meant to me personally ... and I don't think I'll ever be able to express it adequately.
David is the reason I play the mountain dulcimer, pure and simple. I heard his album "Dulcimer Deluxe" sometime in the mid-80's, and immediately had a new-found respect for this simple little 3-stringed box, and what it could do, in the right hands. I started "following him around" from festival to festival, taking as many classes from him as possible. The first one was at the Great Black Swamp Dulcimer Festivals in Lima, Ohio. As impressive as his music was, the thing that really got my attention was his teaching method. All of his workshops were always "filled to overflowing", but the thing that I noticed was that no matter how many students were in the class, and no matter what level they were at, somehow he was able to "touch" each one individually, and give them something that was just exactly what they needed at that point.
He had deep and genuine respect for music, whatever genre, and for those who played it, at whatever level, and for those who listened to it and appreciated it, at whatever venue. At that same festival in Lima, during his set on the mainstage concert, in front of perhaps 300-400 people, in the middle of some speed-of-light fiddle tune, he suddently stopped, and told the audience that he had just made a mistake, and though he knew that many were not even aware of it, he'd like everyone to hear it the way it was supposed to be, so with everyone's indulgence, he'd like to back up, get a running start, and try it again. And when he got to that point the 2nd time and "nailed it", a huge ear-to-ear grin came over his face, and the audience burst into spontaneous applause. His great talent was matched only by his humility, and he was constantly reminding us that he was, after all, "one of us". It drew us in and and inspired us.
The impact David had on the music world in general, and the dulcimer world in particular, cannot be overstated . . . but those contributions, as amazing as they are, are dwarfed by the impact he had on the lives of all those he came in contact with. His was a kind and gentle spirit, with a certain "grace" about him, that made all of us better human beings just by having the privilege of knowing him. Anyone who met David even just one time for 5 minutes came away feeling like he was one of their best friends . . . and the truth is, he was!
I also have a vision of what some of those heavenly jam sessions must be like today. I'm sure by now he's gotten together with Hank Williams (Sr), Chet Atkins, Roy Acuff, Bill Monroe, Johnny Cash, Ray Charles, and Bob Wills . . . but also Thelonius Monk, Mississippi John Hurt . . .
and then Bach, Beethoven, and Mozart. I can just see him going up to them, sticking out his hand, and saying "Howdy, I'm David, I play the mountain dulcimer, and this is how it goes."
He's still paving the way for when the rest of us get there.
Play well.
Peace.
Tull Glazener
8.29.2006
I had the thrill to meet David when he and Stephen Seifert taught some workshops in Carthage Missouri (boy I miss Summerfest). The first year it was all day, the next year just two hours.
The first year I was a very new player. I had been to two festivals before that I was actually pretty discouraged. Lots of fun but I couldn't play the tab they passed out - even after leaving.
But things were different with David and Steve. They taught method and tips and not just tab. My style of playing goes back to that first all day workshop. What they taught me made my playing still some much smoother and efficient. They wanted us to get it! They even made us all get in tune with each other and while playing if, as a group we didn't sound right, they would stop us and explain what to do. I learned so much from David. Thanks.
Since his passing I've had 5 of his CD's randomly playing in my house. Man, the range is amazing - from blitzing speed in Delcimore to down right sweet playing to accompaniment in Uncle Dulcimer. I'm impressed. Listening to him while I work has had me playing more too!
Thanks David.
Kevin Smith
9.11.2006
Someone mentioned last week viewing a video hoping to see David Schnaufer.
There is a video downloadable on the Internet at
Woodsongs.com. Click on "Archives" link.
Scroll down to show number 377 which includes songs played by David Schnaufer and Butch Baldassari. You get to hear and see his wonderful playing & hear his
great sense of humor & infectious laugh.
Thanks to Michael Johnathon for making this wonderful archive of music
available.
Stephen Van Houten
9.13.2006
Rest easy, David. We will take it from here. We'll meet yea there someday and tell you how it went.
Kerry Coates
9.14.2006
Was thinking about Kentucky Music Weekend and Pine Mountain up Kentucky way and I remember being at Iriquois Park when they had torn down the ampitheatre. The shell was still there but just a lonely tower was left out in the seating area. Groups were playing from the make-shift stage.
David, I think Fred, maybe Gary Gallier and I were talking about how much music had been heard from the old ampitheatre and wondering if it would ever be the same. The group on stage finished and the crowd applauded. David turned, looked at us and said, "We don't need no stinking ampitheatre."
"Follow Your Bliss"
Alan Darveaux
Alan's Website
June Apple
The new CD has about 5 unreleased cuts of David himself. 100 per cent of the sales proceeds will go toward buying dulcimers for children in David Schnaufer's name. What a great group of musicians ... David himself, Sarah Elizabeth, Debbie Porter, Lee Rowe, Adie Gray, Butch Baldassari and others.
This new CD brings together mandolinist
