This is a very strange nstrument , I spent some time looking at a picture of it trying to find wich was the most irritating detail and suddenly I realised that all the keys are equally spaced . So, forget a french or french canadian origin .
Later , in life , I came to look at pictures or " lyrnikis " (spl?) russian hg players of the 1930 period , not only their HG look much like the one at the museum but they also have equally spaced keys . On a french HG forum , I have been told that it would make sense for playing some old modal scales . I wish I had the musical education to make sense out of that affirmation. Henry who wish to find a solid evidence of HG playing in Nouvelle France . Original Message: ----------------- From: Nan Donald [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Thu, 12 Oct 2006 12:09:47 -0400 To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [HG] HG in Colonial America For many years in the musical instrument exhibit room at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, there was an incredibly, ummm "rustic" hurdy gurdy on display. If my memory serves me well, it was either made by a French-Canadian (or someone coming down from that region?), and was at least 100 years old, although I'm less confident about the second point. What was particularly memorable about the instrument was its extremely crude construction--I'm not sure the instrument was ever really playable. Does anyone else from the Boston/New England area remember this instrument, and if so, can they confirm, correct and/or amplify my memory of it? Not sure if this would move your research forward, Jocelyn! But if you live near to the MFA, and haven't seen this particular instrument, it would be worth seeing, if the staff would retrieve it for you from wherever they keep the collections that are not currently on display. Nan ----- Original Message ----- From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, October 12, 2006 12:10 AM Subject: RE: [HG] HG in Colonial America > > I do not know about the HG in New England , here in New France > > , > there are only two > documented presence on HG players , > The first in 1632 , a young boy , servant to the Jesuites was known to > play for the Indians > it is the one portrayed in the film " black robe " ( in the film the " > young boy " is Daniel Thonon > and the HG is a post 1700 lute back , well ... nice enough so far ) > > The other one was in Acadia , in Louisbourg the document is available > on the web and > the repro instrument at the Louisbourg museum was also made by Daniel > Thonon . > > It is possible that another instrument was caried by an army officer > who took it back in 1761 > but if it was never sold , stolen or mentionned in a will or a wedding > inventory , there is not > trace of it . > > By the way , no bagpipe of any kind , but a pipe &tabor method was once > sold . > > Henry > In Nouvelle France ( Québec ) > > Message Original: > ----------------- > A partir de: Jocelyn Demuth [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Date: Wed, 11 Oct 2006 18:44:43 -0400 > A: [email protected] > Sujet: [HG] HG in Colonial America > > > I live in New England and recently played the HG at a colonial craft day. > I > told the organizers that I didn't think the > HG was very big in colonial America but they didn't care. It was old, it > was cool looking at it was loud - so I played > anyway. It then dawned on me that I have absolutely no knowledge of the > history of the HG in the US. Anyone know > how the HG was used in the US? I guess some of them must have been packed > with the clothes, pots, pans and > other stuff people brougth from Europe - but anyone know anything more > than > that? > - Jocelyn > > -------------------------------------------------------------------- > mail2web - Vérifiez votre courrier électronique depuis le web sur > http://mail2web.com/ . > > > -------------------------------------------------------------------- mail2web - Check your email from the web at http://mail2web.com/ .
