The Tennessee Music Box

[Pinetop]

dulcimers strung with four equidistant strings were also known as "harmonies" (long o) in some communities, I've been told..

[razyn]

Interesting, if true before about 1870. If that naming tradition is much later than that, they might have been called "harmonies" by someone who was familiar with the Tennessee Valley harmonia box.

And I'm idly wondering where (presumably on this continent) these 4 string harmOnies were found.

[strumelia]

And I'm idly wondering where (presumably on this continent) these 4 string harmOnies were found.

And I'm idling wondering who told Pinetop about 'harmOnies'.

[axl doozer]

In reference to the video at the Cowan book fair: The fellow (with the long hair) is Geoff Roehm. He is a luthier who lives in Sewanee, TN, just up the mountain from Cowan. I started building bass guitar bodies on a whim and he was nice enough to let me, my daughter and a friend of his come up to his shop and see some his stuff. He provided a lot of good advise and showed/played a TMB for us. It was the first time I had seen one. I'm 41 and have grown up in the county (Franklin County) that is mentioned in several posts on this forum and had not seen a TMB until Geoff showed one to me three weeks ago. My wife went to school with several Steeles. I'm sure they are grandchildren of the folks mentioned previously.
Now I'm lurking this site daily. Once I finish the basses and a couple of bookshelves I have to give a few of these TMB's a try.

[KenH]

Be sure to read the Conaster/Schnaufer referred to in the very first post on page 1 here. That, plus these pages of thread are pretty much the definitive documentation on the subject and there are plenty of dimensions and closeup details to make a good reproduction or two...

[axl doozer]

Will do.

[razyn]

And btw I'm actually from nearby Shelbyville -- just haven't lived in my home town since, umm... 1946. Visited a lot, though.

[axl doozer]

If you ever make it back down this way swing into the pickin parlor in Belvidere on Saturday night. The same music is being played as when you left 46 years ago. Music starts at 6 and by 6:05 the seats may be gone. Bring an instrument. Two weeks ago there were 27 people playing with all types of instruments (none of which were electric).
From the looks of it-cell phones and the Internet won't kill traditional music during my lifetime. Several young folks playing and listening (including a Jim Wood fiddle student).
Also utilitarian instruments aren't dead in this area. There is a washtub bass strung with weedeater string leaning against the back wall in this place. Doesn't see a lot of play time since there are usually one or two Kayes in the house.

Darren

[strumelia]

Darren, This is indeed a great thread, but you might also enjoy some of the TMB information and videos posted in the Box Dulcimer Group over on FOTMD:
http://mountaindulcimer.ning.com/group/boxdulcimers

[axl doozer]

will do. thanks.