Sweet Mountain Dulcimer

By Jim Hornsby

With their new CD, Sweet Mountain Dulcimer, Denise Gartin and Diana Coss transport us back to another time; a time when our country was young and entertainment was, to paraphrase Mike Seeger, a personal accomplishment rather than a commercial purchase. The music is a mixture of beautiful folk ballads and sacred songs performed in solo and duet renditions as they would likely have been heard at family gatherings and community events in early American settlements.

Denise and Diana are both remarkably talented musicians. Denise studied dulcimer with David Schnaufer at Vanderbilt University’s Blair School of Music, and her skill and dedication to the instrument are apparent. Diana has a Masters Degree in Music from Washington University, teaches singing, and performs regularly with the Memphis Opera Chorus.

They first recorded together in 2010 for a project entitled Music in Middle Tennessee 1780–1800, a production featuring many talented musicians who donated their time and talents to benefit historic homes in the Middle Tennessee area. The ladies enjoyed the experience so much they went on to produce this lovely CD, and we sincerely hope that they will keep up the good work. The combination of dulcimer and voice is sweet music indeed.

LISTEN

Cuts from Sweet Mountain Dulcimer:

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Scarborough Fair  (Solo by Denise Gartin)

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Johnny Has Gone For A Soldier (Solo by Diana Coss)

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Black Is The Color Of My True Love’s Hair (Duet by Denise and Diana)

To learn more about the music and how to order the CD, visit www.dianacoss.net.

Jim Hornsby

Meet the Author…

Jim Hornsby is a native Tennessean and a Nashville resident for the past twenty-five years. He retired from a career in law in 2008 after thirty-five years as a practicing attorney and Administrative Law Judge. He is a member of the Association for the Preservation of Tennessee Antiquities, a four-term past president of the Nashville Old-Time String Band Association, and a fiddle player with various old-time bands.

Jim is an avid writer and photographer and has traveled extensively throughout the U.S., Central America, Europe and the Mediterranean. Most recently, Jim, his daughter, Rebecca, and Susie Coleman began publishing the Dancing Noodle Magazine. He considers it a privilege and pleasure to support the arts community, and looks forward to the opportunity to bring readers many more articles that promote the arts and artists in Nashville and beyond.