Hi all,
I think, better than "strange scales with missing notes" (Graham, I
know you meant no negative connotation :^) we can refer to the lira
more accurately as a primarily pentatonically organized instrument.
This is similar (and note here the etymological similarity as well)
to another instrument which is also primarily pentatonic in nature,
the lyre. The plucked lyre was played in Kievan-Rus earlier than the
lira, and it can be conjectured that the melodic patterns of tunes or
accompaniment utilized by these slavic bards (skoromokhi) were more
easy to transfer to a lira that was pentatonically capable. (Of
course, it is equally compelling to surmise that an instrument would
be easier to make, especially by non-professional luthiers, if one
didn't have to deal with pythagorean math on the keybox layout...)
In any event, as some of our colleagues have pointed out, its "home"
is centered around D, and the pentachord is arranged as C-D-F-G-A. If
you have one of those kids Waldorf-school lyres, tunes the (lower)
five strings to this pattern & you'll be able to play the tune that
way, too.
cheers,
Vlad
Wolodymyr Smishkewych
wolodymyrsmishkewych.com
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
On Jun 19 2008, at 07:57, Graham Whyte wrote:
The instrument I think, is a Lira (Lyra)
Liras have strange scales with missing notes
Look at the key spacing
The tune is played in D with D and A drones
In fact it is in Authentic Dorian mode
It works well without transposing on a G/C Gurdy
You need no top row keys
Tuning as follows
Chanterelle(s) in G as normal
Trompette in D as nornal
Petit Bourdon tuned up from C to D
Optionally Mouche tuned up from G to A
I scored the first few bars (its not 100% correct but close)
You can view the score as a PDF at
http://www.altongate.co.uk/music/Lira_01.pdf
The second line is the same as the first line but an octave higher
Graham
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Behalf Of David Smith
Sent: 19 June 2008 02:15
To: aHurdyGurdy
Subject: [HG] Russian Folk Tune
Hello,
On YouTube I have been listening to a Russian folk tune played on
hurdy gurdy. I would like to learn to play it, but I can't seem to
get started. It sounds like it's in a minor key or some sort of
mode. Does anyone know what the starting note is or what drones to
use? If I can get started on the melody, I think I can figure out
the rest. I would really appreciate any help, it is a haunting
tune. Here is the website:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DX08nQows0
Thanks,
David from Michigan, USA
