I have tried the "loaded gut" strings of Aquila (bourdon d on my symfonia, 1.80 mm equivalent, so at a low tension), but they proved to be very breakable. Aquila stopped production and is preparing production of an improved type (http://www.aquilacorde.com/catalogo8.htm). It may be a very interesting, more authentic alternative for overspun bourdon strings, although probably nobody can say if something like this type of string was available in the 15th century. Catline may be a good choice, but at this moment I use copper overspun nylon strings (Aquila DE) on low tension, at least it sounds well.
The suggestion of Leonard Williams that it is more authentic to play at a lower a (415 Hz or lower) does not apply to the 15th century, essentially this belongs to the baroque era. In the 16th century you would expect a rather high a (485 for instance), but for practical reasons I would suggest simply 440. If your main repertoire is medieval, I would advise you to tune the chanterelle one tone lower to c', keeping the bourdons in G, d and g. (Then you will need something to fix the second key (for d') in pressing position when tuning the strings.) It may look awkward, but for a large part of the medieval and renaissance repertoire, where dorian and mixolydian modes prevail in tunes suitable for hurdy gurdy, it is really fine: when playing with a d-drone one often has a c' as the lowest note of the melody, and with a chanterelle in d' you would have to transpose the melody a fifth or an octave. If you change the chanterelle to c', the tangents must be retuned; see http://hurdygurdywiki.wiki-site.com. Ernic 2007/12/9, [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>: > > From what I've read, overspun strings weren't used until the late 17thc. > at earliest. Before that, lighter strings were twined together when you > needed something really heavy. > > I've never heard what such strings sounded like, but they probably had > their own problems.... > > -Bill > > > ************************************** > Check out AOL's list of 2007's hottest products. > (http://money.aol.com/special/hot-products-2007?NCID=aoltop00030000000001) >
