Chitter, David, Chatter
Our longtime friend David Kaynor lost his battle with ALS this week. If you’ve been reading the Blind Pig for a good long while you’ll remember David our fiddle playing friend from New England.
The girls and I met David in 2012 during the John C. Campbell Folk School’s Dance Musician’s Week. That was the first year Chatter and Chitter got to take the class and we really had no idea what to expect. We all wondered if the girls would be able to keep up in class and wondered what the teachers would be like.
Turns out all our wondering and worries were for nothing. The girls loved the class. They gained tons of musical knowledge, made life long friendships with the teachers and the other students, and had a ball of fun while doing it!
Due to the great generosity of some anonymous people and the folk school itself, the girls have attended several Dance Musician’s Weeks since that first one. Over those years they strengthened their friendship with David.
Typically David would come a few days early for the class and stay with us so that he could spend more time with Chatter and Chitter.
In recent years the girls traveled to Michigan with David to play a series of concerts as well as to David’s home state of Massachusetts to play with him there.
The girls filmed a video of one of David’s original tunes “High Clouds.”
I hope you enjoyed the girls playing David’s beautiful tune.
Here’s some other video memories of David.
A video of David and the girls playing a tune he wrote for them “Twin Delights.”
The girls and David playing “Grasshopper Sitting on a Sweet Potato Vine” during one of his stays at our house.
An amazing fiddle tune “Wilson Holler” David wrote about where we live-it is performed by the Vermont Fiddle Orchestra.
Blind Pig reader Larry Griffith’s wife is continuing to improve. Please remember her and Larry in your prayers. If you’d like to send her a card here’s her address:
Anita E. Griffith
161 McKnight Street
Ashland, KY 41102
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I am so sorry to learn of his passing. But know that his music and his memory will live on. And when we are dancing in Greenfield his spirt will be there! I first heard David Kaynor at contra dances in S Amherst when at college n the 1970’s. Twenty five – thirty of us would dance once a month. Over the years the skill and the music of contra dancers and the number of musicians and dancers has grown exponentially.In part because David always welcomed new and experienced musicians of all ages, to come on up and play,! He took a lot of joy in being easily able to do several things well at once, call, play a melody, stamp his feet, add in harmonies etc! But he always played for donations only so anyone who wanted was able to attend. I’ve seen him calling a dance, when after hours of dancing with hundreds of people, 10 minutes from the end, a group of 4 people clearly new to contra dancing arrived. He stopped the dance, welcomed them right in, found them all experienced partners, showed them a few steps, and then continued right on! His lovely music was full of joy, his quirky jokes lightened the mood, but more than anything his skill was in building community.
You just can’t say goodbye to someone like David. His spirit, his music and the good memories will live on. Chitter and Chatter had their lives enriched by him and his friendship. I’m sure they provided good company, inspiration and company to him as well. That beautiful and soulful tune, High Clouds, is a good example of that kind of music. Katie and Corie really do it justice. I’m looking to hear it on Pandora or one of the other streaming services that they use.
Great post! God bless David Kaynor. We can all thank Bob Dalsemer for bringing him to the Folk School many years ago…
I was sorry to hear of David Kaynors passing as I listened to the video of the girls loving thoughts and tribute to him as they played the special tune High Clouds …then watched the video of them playing Twin Delights loved the lovely harmonizing …went on to read more about this man who made such an impact on so many . So glad you knew him so personally to treasure in your heart so specially. So glad to hear that Larry Griffth’s wife is continuing to improve … ❣️
So glad the you all got to know his sweet spirit and by learning and sharing his heartfelt music you have a bit of his soul.
You remind me again how I would like to have “Ashokan Farewell” played at my funeral. I listened to all the music at the links and of them all “High Clouds” is the one that I could just almost, almost hear the words that would match the tune. Somehow a fiddle can do that like no other instrument.
Of course David knew, and you all knew, long before that the parting was coming. We each and all know that about ourselves and one another. But to have a date, even an approximate one, intensifies it all on both sides. I am glad for both David and you all that you have the memory of each other and making music together, a treasure in earthen vessels.
O it must be a sad time for you all. I’m so sorry to hear this. I know he left good memories for them and you also. God comfort you all and his family. Prayers for you.
So sorry to hear about Mr. David’s passing! I watched the video the girls made honoring him and it was awesome! Such a great song and view this tribute was to him. So glad he has left his mark on Katie & Corrie as his music lives own through them as they are such a blessing to us and everyone that hears them.
I am so sorry for your loss! I lost a very best friend before Christmas! I gave her rides to chemo treatments and then we would do lunch! I miss her voice! I am relatively new to your blog so I just now experienced David’s talent! May God keep him close in Heaven!! Bless all of you!! I so enjoy the Blind Pig and the Acorn. Thank you to all of you for the work you have done and continue to do to keep Appalachian folklore alive!!!
That was a beautiful tribute to David! I remember when you took that trip to MA and Vermont and how much you enjoyed it! Your musical talent and sweetness just keeps growing.
A beautiful song from the soul of a beautiful man
Sorry to hear about David. He was such a presence in the music of the Folk School. He will be missed but remembered with great fondness by those he taught.
We hear you, Tipper. Good luck with the new hosting. Technology is wonderful – when it works!
David would be proud of the beautiful job the girls did with his tune. Praying that Anita will continue to improve with each new day and that the Lord will give Larry the strength to help her along the way.
Lord have mercy, ladies, I’m sorry to hear of David’s passing, but if he’s watching (and I believe he may be from on high,) he will definitely be comforted by Chitter and Chatter speaking kind words over him and playing a beautiful tune from high atop a mountain with a spectacular view. David plays in the band of heaven now and what a band that is!!!! No eye has seen nor ear has heard just how wonderful it must be!!! Every time you play with all your heart and in joy, your friend will be there in those moments in all he taught you. RIP dear friend of my friends!!!
My condolences to all who knew him. I only knew him through your blog. If only more people could have half the affect on others as he did, the world would be so much better. What a legacy! Thanks for sharing David with us and especially sharing his music as you pass
it on.
The background view captures the tune perfectly. Even David agrees by the rushing wind. May God grant him eternal peace and may perpetual light shine upon him. Amen.
What a wonderful friendship you folks made with David through the years.A true blessing
your paths crossed in in this life.God is so good and gracious, to fill the empty and void place in our hearts of the loss of family and friends,with good memories, more family and friends, and most important a very Lively Hope that we will see them again some day.
I understnd how it is to lose a close friend. In the past six months I have lost two friends who worked with me in Boy Scouts for over 20 years each. I miss sitting around a camp fire and talking with them. I know with the loss of your friend David there is a place in your heart that can’t be filled. Thank you for sharing your feelig with your readers. Because you talk about things people face in the daily lives is one of the reasons I like reading your blog.
Dennis Morgan
So fortunate to have known this wonderfully talented man. I am sure his town will miss him also.
I am sorry to hear of the death of your friend David. We lost a dear friend , Brenda to this disease. The minor league baseball team In Greenville, SC along with others in Greenville have had awareness and fundraising events this week to raise funds for research of ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease. Glad to hear Larry’s wife is doing better.
Beautiful tribute! We desperately need a cure for it and Alzheimer! I’ve lost family and friends to both. Prayers and hugs to all!
What a wonderful friendship you folks made with David,a very special person. God is Good and Loving,to gracefully fill the empty, and void places in our hearts of our loss of family and friends,with lovely and happy memories and with more family and friends.
David was such a sweet, talented, and giving man, a great support to the girls as they explored ther young musical talent! He will be missed and he is missed by the whole musical community!