Dwight Diller: West Virginia Mountain Musician

by Lewis M. Stern

Dwight Hamilton Diller is a musician from West Virginia devoted to traditional Appalachian fiddle and banjo music, and a seminary-trained minister steeped in local Christian traditions. For the past 40 years, he has worked to preserve archaic fiddle and banjo tunes, teaching his percussive, primitively rhythmic style to small groups in marathon banjo workshops. This book tells of Diller's life and music, his personal challenges and his decades of teaching an elusive musical form.

Genres: Music

216 pages, Paperback

Published April 25, 2016

Reviews

[Terry Ransom · Rating 4 out of 5]

The subject of this book is Dwight Diller, a tradition keeper from the mountains of West Virginia. He was my only true banjo teacher. And, he taught me about the pulse of music, life, and faith. Lew Stern's book about Dwight draws from hundreds of sources to paint a portrait of someone who largely defies definition. I like it because it reminded me of so many of my own conversations with Dwight and brought me back to a place of personal humility. My only criticism is that it is somewhat academic with all of its footnotes and repetitive cross-references. But, to be fair, it probably needed that in order to qualify for publication as a musicological treatise. I am grateful to Mr. Stern for taking on such a rambling tale of one of the most enigmatic characters I will ever know.

[Brad · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating portrait of a living legend of old-time music. Could use tighter editing and larger type though.