Saw your avatar and was immediately struck with visions of your just reward for being a hammer dulcimer player, playing for eternity among the ash heaps of Hades. Which ring of perdition would that be, pictured? But I suppose it all depends on whether one is referencing Dante or another tradition…
Now THAT’S funny!!! 
And this is why we dig you Nano!!! It is my understanding that the fiddle and not the dulcimer is the Devil’s instrument. 
This picture originally comes from luthier Micheal Allen, who makes wonderful dulcimers and other instruments. I tweaked the color a bit for drama’s sake.
Which ring of perdition would that be, pictured? But I suppose it all depends on whether one is referencing Dante or another tradition…
Wow..my former Latin professor would love this. Personally I’d guess that the most former players would be found in the “Wood of the Suicides” for those poor souls not up to the task of tuning a 60 stringed instrument! We can only guess as to the location of deceased bodhran players.
However, like anything it depends on who you ask. I can find little real theological evidence of any musical instruments in Underworld apart from the occasionally concert by Orpheus, as music is oft citied as tangible proof of divine grace. Yet in the astoundingly bizarre “Garden of Earthly Delights” by Bosch, we see the lute, shawm, hurdy gurdy and bray harp consigned to eternal damnation. There must have been something in the rye bread he ate.
Despite the opinions of self appointed critics of the present age, the dulcimer was once most frequently seen pictures in the hands of the angelic chorus, second only to the harp, likely due to it’s etheral tone.
Then again we have a depiction from no less than Hans Holbiens that the grim harbinger of death himself appears claiming his victim, dulcimer in hand…
I can’t find a picture of it on the web, but my all time favorite picture of Death playing a musicial instrument is that of him playing a flute made of a human femur. In Fritz Lang’s Metropolis there is a great scene where a stone carving of Death leaps off the wall of an ancient church. coming to …life… and then playing such a flute.
Apparently Death is also a natty piper. Here we see Death frolicking with the Pope himself, playing his set. Looks like part of the four hand reel…
So from what evidence I can gather, the angel of Death plays flute, pipes and dulcimer. May explain my life of late!!! 
I would think both would be found in the “Desert of the Social Suicides”, myself.
Now, folks, you know I’m giving Chad stick all in good fun. He’s a fine dulcimer player. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, of course.
I would think both would be found in the “Desert of the Social Suicides”, myself. >
Exactly… and a rather crowded desert it is! Several other local musicians leap to mind. (Perhaps musician is too strong a term, “instrument owner”, after John Winston’s comment about bodhran players vs. bodhran owners applies to other instruments as well.)
Now, folks, you know I’m giving Chad stick all in good fun. He’s a fine dulcimer player. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, of course.
Hell…you thought that would offend me??? 
Um, Giving the dulcimer player…stick…did you drag that pun out on purpose my man??? Oy!
Say..have I been “outed” ??? Invoking Jerry Seinfeld? 
Nay, really Nano, you’re too kind. And you’re brave enough to be seen playing in public with me! Hey, what’s the point in getting up in the morning if you can’t make fun of yourself ocassionally?? As our own Joseph said the other day, " Most human conflict stems from people taking themselves too damned seriously." Too true.
Chad
I will temporarily suspend my paranoia for the sake of civil discourse.
Hello, and thank you. Personally, I can’t imagine a more prime target for my japes than myself. For as Sun Tzu said, “Make forays in fertile country in order to supply your army with food.”
My daughter suggested this “sight gag” and it’s pretty good,
OPA!!!
I will temporarily suspend my paranoia for the sake of civil discourse.
You have nothing to worry about…I had others in mind.
sniff Okay. sneef
