On December 18, 2005, GODC members wanted to do something special for our inspiration and founder, David Schnaufer. A monetary gift, along with an original 16 x 20 framed poster, was presented to David. Less than a year later, we mourned the passing of David, August 23, 2006.

Limited edition prints of the poster were made so that they could be shared with those who wanted to keep David’s legacy alive. The original artwork has been donated to the Anne Potter Wilson Library housed at the Blair School of Music, Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. The Digital image is presented here for your enjoyment and for the precious memories.  Take a moment to read the story behind '“All My Children”.                                              

“All My Children”

If you’ve only been playing the mountain dulcimer for the last few years, you may know little or nothing about the late David Schnaufer. David was a giant of the mountain dulcimer world who passed away all too soon in 2006.  

Why is David still worthy of admiration? He was a self-taught master dulcimer player who won the national dulcimer championship held in Winfield, Kansas. He is credited with bringing the Appalachian mountain dulcimer into contemporary music through his virtuoso playing and original compositions, including a concerto for dulcimer and orchestra. David was a member of the country-rock band The Cactus Brothers. At the same time, he was a sought-after sessions musician who played dulcimer with artists such as Johnny Cash, Emmylou Harris, the Judds, and many others. He collected and wrote definitive histories of mountain dulcimers and the Tennessee Music Box. The Blair School of Music, Vanderbilt University, invited David to join the staff as adjunct professor of dulcimer. These achievements, along with his founding of the Grand Old Dulcimer Club of Nashville, are the impetus for this poster.

David’s personal impact on the people who learned from him is the real story behind this unique artwork.  As a student of David’s at Vanderbilt University, artist, and member of Nashville’s Grand Old Dulcimer Club, I was asked by the club to draw a tribute to our beloved teacher. Presentation would be during the club’s Christmas holiday celebration. The concept was to model the work on the 50th anniversary comic strips that had so honored the newspaper comic Blondie.

Whimsical bantering by fellow players came to mind, bringing characters to life. Now they reflect dulcimer players’ universal experiences as they learn to play the instrument.

David is depicted in the pose of Michelangelo’s David, but standing on a yellow chair. The yellow chair has a basis in fact. When David was grooming us to have a performance group, we met at night in a high school cafeteria. The chairs were typical plastic and metal chairs, like the one shown in the drawing. The acoustics were very poor. One night David stood on a chair, and said, “It sure sounds better up here.” It was not in David’s nature to put himself on a pedestal. We in the dulcimer community looked up to him, being grateful for how he enriched our lives in the most basic, humble ways. David’s dream of having a performance group is the origin of the current Nashville Dulcimer Ensemble.

As you enjoy the bantering of David’s loveable comic children, look for other images meaningful to the dulcimer family. May they give you a smile and inspire you to identify with the joyful challenges that come with learning to make “sweet sounds.” If you are a dulcimer player looking for inspiration as you learn and play, you’ll find it in the humbleness of David Schnaufer, our humble giant. Grab your pick, start strumming and know you’re in very good company.

Original artwork and description by Judy Beier

Prints of the poster are available from Judy; contact her at jbeierart@comcast.net