Browse Items (78 total)

[Lawrence County Dulcimer #2]

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This instrument was owned by David Schnaufer, and dates from the early twentieth century. Its unusual sound hole is identical to that of another instrument owned by G. of Pulaski, Tennessee. Given the unusual height of the bridge and nut, this…

"Barlow Knife"

This old-time fiddle tune is known either as "Barlow Knife" or as "Cabin Creek." The lyrics are typically presented as follows: I been livin' here all my life,All I got is a Barlow Knife;Buckhorn handle and a Barlow blade,Best dang knife that ever…

"John Henry"

This recording is of one of several old-time fiddle tune variants of "John Henry." Here, Schnaufer plays with a metal slide upon the lyre-shaped hole Tennessee music box from his personal collection.

"Down in the Valley"

"Down in the Valley," also known as "Birmingham Jail," is an American folk song that has appeared in many variants in different collections and performer repertories. Schnaufer performed this selection on the Decatur County Tennessee music box #2,…

"Arkansas Traveller"

"Arkansas Traveller" is one of the most famous, if not the most famous old-time American fiddle tunes, having served as a part of the folk repertoire since at least the 1820s. In this recording, Schnaufer performs this tune on the Decatur County…

[Lawrence County Dulcimer #4]

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David Schnaufer purchased this instrument from Carriage House Antiques in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, in the early 1990s. The instrument itself dates from the late 1800s, and although it is not signed, its likely builder is T. R. Goodman, as at least…

[Lawrence County Dulcimer #5]

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This instrument belonged to the current owner's grandmother, Emma Petty Richardson (1880s?-1948), who was originally from Giles County. She called it a "music box," played it some for her grandchildren, sitting and holding it across her knees.

[Lawrence County Dulcimer #6]

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This instrument originally belonged to the mother of the current owner, Rhoda Hood Newton, who had had it since before she was married. She was born in 1890 in Grassy, Alabama, and moved to Lawrence County when young. The current owner does not…

[Lawrence [Wayne] County Dulcimer #7]

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The current owner of this instrument reports that it belonged to her father, Joe Lee, of Waynesboro, Tennessee, who passed away in 1953 at the age of 83. He had grown up and lived in Wayne County, He was the only person she remembered playing it,…

[Lawrence County Dulcimer #8]

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This dulcimer was built by the accordionist Daniel McGee, who lived between West Point and Piney, Tennessee, probably in the late 1800s. His daughter, Beatrice McGee, was born in 1904, and had the box in later years, passing it on to its current…