Well, I have a similar story to tell: It wasn't a film which inspired me but a CD.
In 2004 somebody from Israel gave me a I Muvrini CD (a Corsican group). I fell in love with the sound of an instrument I had no idea what it was. I took the CD around the world with me, asking all musicians (and music lovers) I met whether they knew which instrument it was. Nobody did. About a year later another French friend who knew about my love for I Muvrini or better for this unknown instrument found an I Muvrini DVD (Il Muvrini รก Bercy) in a supermarket in Toulouse. I watched it nailbittingly and when the sound I loved came on: I saw this funny instrument with the beautiful sound. So I phoned around and got my answer: it was a hurdy gurdy. It took me several more month to find out who the player was and what make he played: Gilles Chabenet plays a Siorat. I didn't dare buying a Siorat being a total beginner and therefore I listened to many sounds and makes and in 2006 I heard Simon Wascher playing in Germany. I loved the sound of his music and instrument. He plays a Wolfgang Weichselbaumer. So I went to St. Chartier last year, tried many different makes and models. The decision was difficult but I bought a Weichselbaumer. Unlike the guy Matt spoke to on the phone I am happy with my choice and still in awe of the instrument, well hurdy gurdies in general. I do play other instruments but a hurdy gurdy is a very different challenge. But I was surprised how very few people, actually nobody --- especially professional musicians --- could identify the instrument when listening to the CD. Christa On 06/07/07, Matthew Szostak <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Isn't it interesting how little the film music has to do with the hurdy-gurdy, yet hurdy-gurdy players seem to be so excited about it. Yes, it's fun and interesting to see a hurdy-gurdy in the hands of a famous person who isn't playing it (Probably a first, but not the last, I suppose), but I mean, really! I spoke recently to a guy on the phone who fell in love with the sound of the hurdy-gurdy after seeing that movie, and he bought his own - thirty *years* ago!. He thought it was defective from the start (which it may well have been) because of how different it sounded. Poor guy - I hated being the one to break that kind of news. Now if it's authenticity you're after, skip the hurdy-gurdy and take second look at the *sailing* scenes... ~ Matt
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