September 2024 - "Sarah"

Photo of David with “Sarah” by Maria von Matthiessen

David Schnaufer and Wanda Parrish with the dulcimer “Sarah”

During the 1980s and 1990s, David Schnaufer made numerous guest appearances on the popular “Nashville Now” television show hosted by Ralph Emery. It was an entertainment/ talk show focused on country music performers, and was watched by millions from all over the country on the Nashville Network cable channel. Shortly after one such appearance in 1987, David received a letter from Mrs. Wanda Parrish, originally from Big Tyler Mt, WV. She included some photos of an old mountain dulcimer built in 1911 by Dennis McCown of Big Tyler Mt. as a “courtship present” for Mrs. Parrish’s great-aunt. Although her great-aunt never wound up marrying the builder, she kept the dulcimer, and it had been passed down in their family for several generations. Mrs. Parrish asked for David’s help in appraising it, as she was interested in selling it. She was then living in Thorntown, IN, so David made the trip to meet with her and evaluate the instrument in person. He found it to be extremely well-crafted and in excellent condition. Its diatonic frets were under the melody string only, and it was fitted with the original wooden tuning pegs. David immediately fell in love with its sweet voice, and made an offer to purchase it on the spot, which Mrs. Parrish accepted. She was overjoyed to see the instrument go to such a “good home”.

David named the instrument “Sarah”, and played it often in concerts when he traveled to festivals all over the country. In 1988, he and his long-time songwriting partner Herb McCullough wrote a song about what it must have been like for a young woman of “courting age” in Big Tyler Mt., WV, in the early 20th century. It was loosely based on the story of Wanda Parrish’s great-aunt, but of course David and Herb “embellished” it a bit for the sake of a good song. David included the song on his 2001 album “Uncle Dulcimer”.

Here's a link to a YouTube video featuring David Schnaufer and Vince Farsetta performing "Sarah" during a concert at Poor David's Pub in Dallas, TX, circa 1989.  Many thanks to Deb Porter for preserving and making this video available. 

And here is a link to a video of the Starlings doing their unique version of the song.  Steve Stubblefield (dulcimer, vocals); Mitchell Vandenberg (bass); Tim Bryan (bowed dulcimer); Bryan Robinson (guitar).  Recorded in Austin, TX, circa 2012.

Enjoy the tune, and as David would say, “Keep on pickin’”!

In music and friendship,

—Tull

As a reminder, shortly after David’s untimely passing in 2006, Deb Porter started the “Dulcimers for David” project. Its goal is to honor David’s memory and continue his vision by providing dulcimers to young people who have expressed an interest in playing but may not have a means of getting an instrument of their own. To support that effort, a number of CDs and DVDs have been produced, and 100% of the sales of those items go to support the project. (NOTE: Several of the “Dulcimers for David” products that were previously sold out are now back in stock!)

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