Atop a hill in Tennessee

This from Jan Pulsford 08/26/06

This morning hundreds of people paid tribute to David Schnaufer in the grounds of the Dyer Observatory

Set on one of the highest peaks around Nashville it was a perfect Tennessee morning for such an event. The cicadas were singing as the sun shone down with the August humidity bringing the promise of another afternoon of temperatures in the 90s.

David's brother is a pastor so he lead the service. Not a dry eye in the house as Sarah, David's prodigy, played "Amazing Grace " on the dulcimer and after more tributes from Mark, a fellow professor of music at Blair, came more music from the Nashville Dulcimer quartet

There were many tears. Lelia, who had been cooking for David in the hospice said" I can't believe it's all over." I said "It'll never be over . . " and I do believe that. His legacy will live on into the history books.
How fortunate we all were to have known and been touched by the life and soul of someone called David Schnaufer

Letting Go

This from Richard Oakland

in such places time has no meaning,
for the earth holds the note,
while the wind sings it.

The clouds carry it,
the sky paints it
and in your heart,
you remember it.

From Jim Roberts

David was a kind and unique individual. I used to see him regularly at Bongo Java's before he would go to teach. He would sit with his coffee, immersed in the daily news. I remember many times including one which he showed off a set of beautiful "bones" to me.

I am stuck once again at how life is fragile and how every moment counts. They seem to pass by so quickly! David reminds me of the uniqueness of each us as we try to do art. He was very good at it!

Martha Graham below said it best:

There is a vitality, a life force, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique, and if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium; and be lost. The world will not have it. It is not your business to determine how good it is, not how it compares with other expression. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open. You do not even have to believe in yourself or your work. You have to keep open and aware directly to the urges that motivate you. Keep the channel open...

... No artist is pleased. There is no satisfaction whatever at any time. There is on a queer, divine dissatisfaction, a blessed unrest that keeps us marching and makes us more alive than the others".

In addition, I draw get comfort in some books by Sylvia Brown, "Life on the Other Side" and " The Other Side and Back: A Psychic's Guide to Our World and Beyond".

Not only do these books give me great comfort in times like these but they help me to understand that our spirit and creativity go forward 100 fold after death.

Rest in Art my friend! A new life has begun!

This from John Lomax 8/23/06

This from John Lomax 8/23/06

R.I.P. David Schnaufer
9/28/52 - 8/23/06
Cancer
He brought the dulcimer into
the 21st century. Even played
solid body ELECTRIC dulcimer.
His videos of "I'm So Lonesome
I Could Cry" and "Fisher's Hornpipe"
introduced thousands to one of
America's few indigenous instruments.
For more, my son's piece ran in today's
HOUSTON PRESS
http://www.houstonpress.com/Issues/2006-08-24/music/racket.html
NASHVILLE SCENE
Also ran it, in a slightly-edited version in today's edition
Nashville Scene
Here's online obit from Peter Cooper at the Tennessean, will be in tomorrow's paper:
Tennessean

Here is the address for donations to David's Blair program.

David Schnaufer Fund
Blair School of Music
Vanderbilt University
2400 Blakemore Ave
Nashville, TX 37212
Attention: Dean Mark Wait

This is a blog to honour the memory of David Schnaufer, king of the dulcimer who passed away Wednesday August 23rd in Nashville TN
Please post your memories and comments