Object Details
Description
This Epinette des Vosges was made by Dennis Durogi in Carlinville, Illinois, in the 1960s. It is trapezoidal-shaped possibly made of cherry, with 15 metal frets, 2 heart-shaped sound holes and 4 small round sound holes, carved out pegbox with 5 wood friction tuning pegs, ornately carved tail, and rounded head.
Dennis David Durogi (1935-2017) was an artist and teacher of fine arts at Blackburn College in Carlinville, Illinois and SUNY Freedonia in New York. After his retirement he became a master craftsman and luthier, making mountain and hammered dulcimers and psalteries.
Anne Grimes (1912-2004) was an American journalist, musician, and historian of American (particularly Midwestern) folklore. Grimes studied voice and piano at Ohio Wesleyan and initiated graduate studies at Ohio State University. Following her education, Grimes was a music teacher, music and dance critic, and radio host. After WWII, Grimes began collecting and documenting folk songs throughout Ohio, as well as collecting Appalachian dulcimers and zithers. She would continue this work, performing, recording, and lecturing on instruments from her collection throughout the rest of her career.