Delcimore

"Dulcit tones and mysterious drones" live cicadas, the hum of a Tennessee music box, the virtuosity of David Schanufer and Stephen Seifert, add a cut with Cyndi Lauper singing a Schnaufer original, mix it with Seiferts 21 cuts of traditional mountain dulcimer and you've just added an essential to your collection. If you aren't a dulcimer fan, please buy these two CD's. If you are already familiar with this sweet, versatile instrument of the angels, well…..

Stephen Seifert's "Mountain Dulcimer" is a great mix of traditional melodies and waltzes. Stephen is a master and moves around the fret board quickly and smoothly. My favorite here is "Cluck Old Hen", but with tunes like "Seneca Square Dance", "Barlow Knife" and "Westphalia Waltz", there's no doubt I'll wear this one out, and thanks Stephen for letting us know the tunings of each song so we can get a little close to learning some of these tunes.

I am not sure what planet David Schanufer is from, but he sure brought a load of creative genius with him to this one. Track one on his "Delcimore" CD, an original entitled "Brush Arbor" was recorded with live newly emerged 13 year old cicadas in the back ground. Cyndi Lauper (a student, yes, of David's) embellishes David's wistful immigrant song, "Twilight Eyes". This song is so pretty it gives me goose bumps. Stephen Seifert joins in on several cuts adding Tennessee music box and baritone dulcimer along with standard dulcimer accompaniment. Traditionally flat picked tunes like "Cold Frosty Morning" and "Bill Cheatham" put the instrument back in the mountains. "Blackberry Winter" just blows me away. This song is performed and recorded live with the Columbus Symphony. The symphonics beautifully ramble on for several minutes, intersperced with the dulcimer. David takes off on "Blackberry Blossom" at full speed and if you have never attempted dulcimer, well, this tune puts David back in outer space. He ends this recording still out there but in an ethereal sense with "Waltz of Waters", a collaboration with the great, late Townes VanZandt and another chorus of cicadas. These CD's are essential, must have CD's. Contact Stephen at SCS Recordings, PO Box 891, Hendersonville, TN 37077 or visit him on line at www.collectingdust.com or e-mail at: info@collectingdust.com .