Nashville Dulcimer Quartet

Meet the Quartet! Sandy Conatser Natasha Deane Lee Rowe Linda Sack Calendar of Events Photo Gallery Recordings What's in the News Dulcimers for David Email the Quartet
	Jean Ritchie, The Nashville Dulcimer Quartet, and Jeff Hames joined Michael Johnathan on the WoodSongs Old Time Radio Hour on July 30 for a celebration of the mountain dulcimer. Together they explore the history and range of this delicate and dynamic instrument. You can hear the program (and see the video!!) when you go to the WoodSongs Old Time Radio Hour archive at http://woodsongs.com Click on the Old Time Radio Hour icon and then the Archive button. Click on the video icon for Performance #450. While you're there, you can also find David Schnaufer and Butch Baldassari at #377! Click here for more special photos from that night!
	The brainchild of world-class mountain dulcimist David Schnaufer, the Nashville Dulcimer Quartet began as an ensemble experiment in 1998. With a vision to explore the dulcimer's unlimited potential, David brought together four of his Blair School of Music students - Lee Rowe, Sandy Conatser, Natasha Deane, and Linda Sack. Combining the four's personalities and talent, the dulcimer's versatile and exquisite sounds, and Schnaufer's ingenuity and visionary leadership resulted in a magical collaboration. From classical pieces to rousing fiddle tune medleys, the quartet's repertoire surprises audiences with imaginative renditions and innovative arrangements featuring bass, baritone and traditional appalachian dulcimers, and the Tennessee box dulcimer. The Nashville Dulcimer Quartet has performed at various local and national venues including Nashville's Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum; Vanderbilt University's Blair School of Music; Nashville's Shakespeare In the Park Festival; Scarritt-Bennett Center's Celebration of Cultures; WPLNs Live in Studio C; Historic Rugby, Rugby, TN; Dulcimer Chatauqua on the Wabash, New Harmony, Indiana; Great River Road Dulcimer Festival, Pere Marquette State Park, Illinois; North Georgia Dulcimer Festival, Helen, Georgia; and Grand Old Dulcimer Day in Nashville.
	Their eclectic arrangements can also be heard on their debut recording, *Four Part Inventions,* a collection of traditional, classical, Celtic and European tunes, premiering in May, 2002. The CD, produced by David Schnaufer, presents the full range of the Quartet's talents in Turlough O'Carrolon's haunting Irish aire, *Si beag, Si mor, in smooth bass improvisations on Elk River Blues,* in a charming version of *Minuet in G,* and NDQ's signature piece, *Cuckoo in the Shady Grove,* a medley of the two traditional folk melodies done up in brilliant style. Featuring 14 instrumental selections. David Schnaufer was our mentor and cherished friend. He gave meaning to our music and will always be part of us. *Remembering David Schnaufer, 1952-2006* Click on the link above for some special remembrances of David.