This month's tab is an arrangement of a hymn of Thanksgiving for all of life's blessings titled “Thanks to God For My Redeemer”. The original Swedish words were written by August Ludvig Storm in 1891 under the title “Tack, o Gud, för vad som varit”. Storm was an officer in the Swedish Salvation Army at the time, and was inspired to write the poem after a profound experience of personal spiritual renewal. The hymn is a poetic litany of unwavering gratitude, expressing thanks not only for blessings but also for trials, losses, and challenges.

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The month of October is often associated with spooky tales of apparitions and ghosts. In that spirit, this month’s free tab offering is an arrangement of the 19th century English folk ballad “The Unquiet Grave”, also known as “Cold Blows the Wind”. The story related in the ballad is actually much older, and similar accounts can be traced as far back as the 15th century.

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After having moved to Nashville in the 1980’s, David Schnaufer began a recording project that eventually would be released as 2 separate albums on cassette tape format - “Dulcimer Deluxe” and “Dulcimer Player”, both of which were released in 1989. One of the tracks on “Dulcimer Player” was an instrumental arrangement of the Christmas hymn “I Wonder As I Wonder” , in honor of the legendary folklorist, musicologist, and dulcimer player John Jacob Niles (1892-1980). Niles had started collecting folk songs in the Appalachian mountain region at the age of 15, and continued following that passion throughout his entire life.

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