Hello,
Am 11.08.2008 um 22:14 schrieb Leonard Williams:
Now and then I see references to "alto" hurdy-gurdy. What
determines the nominal voice of the instrument?
"alto" is french for viola. With hurdy gurdies "alto" at first is a
brand name or label used by hurdy gurdy makers. Some hurdy gurdy
makers label instruments as "alto" that are buildt to support the
viola c or the d above it (the c or d below "middle c") as lowest
pitch on the keyboard.
As there is no standardisation comitee sometimes also instruments with
violin g as lowest pitch (the g below "middle c") are called "alto".
As with violas, the "altos" open chanters lenght is usually but not
necessarilly longer, something like 36 to 42 cm.
My own HG has chanter at
438mm, drones at 457mm; chanter tuned to d above middle c, but keyed
in G
("white keys" are d (open) e f# g a b c etc.). Simple drones (no
buzzies)
are g, D, G. Does this configuration have a voice label??
So your instrument has an open strings lenght like what is by some
makers labeled "alto" but its chanter sounds in d', that is one octave
higher - at the same pitch the traditional french hurdy gurdies "en
re" sound. As with those instruments its keyboard layout is a C
keyboard setup but the g' string being replaced with a d' string. The
diatonic row of keys now becoming G major instead of C major: d e f# g
a b c ....
You also will find hurdy gurdies also having the same pitch being
labeled "cello" or "bass" by their makers. Very seldom you will find
an instrument that truly has a keyed string for pitches lower than
viola c (the c below "middle c").
I myself use an F chanter (~ 88 Hz, the F below viola c ak one note
lower than the low G drone) on my Weichselbaumer Alto.
kind regards, Simon
PS:
the four octaves of "D" used with hurdy gurdies:
d'' - the high chanter of the D tuning (one note lower than violins e'')
d' - the low chanter of the D tuning and the typical trompette (the
violins d')
d - the "petit bourdon" - the higher drone (the cello d)
D - the lower drone (one note above cello C)
