A word from Vienna about Oberammergau...

I arrived in Vienna with Christoph last night around midnight, had a very short sleep and a fast breakfast, and then before I even knew where I was, I found myself on a train heading to the airport to meet Gramma. The trip to the airport was uneventful in that I managed to get on all the right trains and end up at the right airport at the right time, but there was one pretty strange thing-- there was a live Gypsy band playing ON the train. Not at the station, but actually standing up in the train, playing accordions and fiddles and everything. I'm pretty sure this actually happened, although it sure does resemble the kind of dreams I often have.

Gramma and I took a taxi to the hotel in the middle of the city (I can tell it's the middle because the streets are so narrow that cars don't fit). It'll probably be sometime tomorrow when she comes alive again. She's here, she's fine, she's looking good, but she's definitely getting kicked in the butt by jet lag. I can totally understand that, and actually, I'm thankful that today's a resting day because I still haven't caught my breath since the Cimbalom World Congress.

I've just come from five amazing days in Oberammergau, Germany, communing with some of the world's best dulcimer/hackbrett/cimbalom/etc. players. There was absolutely no time to be blogging from there, but if I'd had the chance, I could've written all about the massive variety of music I was hearing, the reunion of friends from the 2003 congress in Appenzell, meeting many new friends, and sharing an absolutely unforgettable experience with my fellow Americans.

Here's just a sample of the music that went on there.





And here's where we were, Oberammergau.






I'll post more photos on my Flickr page: www.flickr.com/photos/butchandchristie

More Chattanooga Action!

Dan Landrum and Alan Shikoh, two members of my current favorite band, Zitherjaz. They're hot! And Chattanooga is starting to find out!

We survived Kentucky Music Week 2006!! Five full days of teaching, learning, jamming, decorating cakes, and meeting amazing people from everywhere. Butch held down mountain dulcimer camp while Christie injected some of her je-ne-sais-quoi into hammered dulcimer camp. There's probably dozens of players out there right now wondering what ever happened to the good ol' days of just playing the darn thing... Now they feel they must syncopate and make it funky!

Photo #1: Christie, Mary Carty, and Rich Carty. Mary and Rich sold me my first HD back in 1995 and Rich gave me my first lessons (and my first paying gig!). It was wonderful to spend the week with them.

Photo #2: The enormous Stephen Seifert--- that's a regular sized dulcimer he's playing! He must've eaten the magic beans at the buffet...

Chattanooga Dulcimer Fest, Day 1

Photo: Randy Clepper, Mark Wade, and Dan Landrum try their hand at making a little dragon buddy. Later, Mark's dragon buddy suprised us all by saying the phrase, "I've fallen and I can't get up" in seven different languages. I can't believe how many amazing dulcimer players are in this one place at one time!! We're having a blast. And there's more to come. www.chattanoogadulcimerfestival.com

General Butler State Park

Kentucky Music Weekend promo tour, stop #1. General Butler State Park, in Carrollton, KY. We opened for Gary Gallier, who in turn opened for Zoe Speaks. It was a nice night of music all around, in a beautiful lodge, all organized by Miss Nancy. Where would we be without Nancy? Sitting at home, wondering where all the fun is. There are plenty of chances to check out more of these concerts! More dates on our myspace page: www.myspace.com/christieandbutch.
See you out there!!

Photo: The very handsome and talented Gary Gallier