Hello folks,
well – Valentin’s music is not everybody’s cup of tea for sure. And it was
not either the day he showed up at St.-Chartier two and a half decades ago,
playing his music and changing the hurdy-gurdy ever since. Not really
co-incidence (even if he asserts it is) that later on he called a CD
“Heresia”: When he started to revolutionize either playing techniques
developing new ways of playing far beyond the pure traditional techniques as
well as instruments by challenging luthiers to adapt their instruments for
his then unique playing style, many traditionalists called him a Judas and /
or heretic. But no one can deny that he has had an impact on the modern
hurdy-gurdy like no other. Without him, probably a small couple of hard core
gurdyists would still sit gathering in Central France playing “Bourrée
carrée de St.-Chartier” and no one would give a damn. In his first years
Valentin split up the gurdy players in two fractions: the ones who screamed
“traitor” and the others who adapted a famous citation and said “Clastrier
is god”. Neither of these extreme positions is true, but without any doubt
he is and was the most influential hurdy-gurdy player who made the
difference – without him the instrument would still not be accepted as a
fully-fledged instrument but be smiled at by professional classical
instrumentalists, as a necessary evil to stage Leopold Mozart’s
“Bauernhochzeit”.
I can understand that Valentins music is not for anybody’s taste and this is
very okay – since you can’t argue on taste. For me also much of his music
does not really touch my heart, especially in case Valentin plays jazz music
together with Michael Riessler and Carlo Rizzo. These recordings are deeply
impressing qua virtuosity of three individuals together on highest level.
But me personally, I can’t stand this music any longer than 5 minutes. Yes,
it impresses my brain, but not my heart. Nevertheless, there are CDs by
Valentin that are worth listening, to name his first recordings on “La
vielle à roue de l'imaginaire”. And if one day you get the chance to see
Valentin life on stage – please do yourself a favour, put aside your
objections and go for it. This may change your perspective sustainable.
Seeing him solo life on stage – THAT is the moment when he touches me
deeply. Valentin does not only use the hurdy-gurdy as a percussion
instrument by simultaneously playing and tapping it – at the same time he
also uses a kind of big wooden stomp box with a mike inside for percussive
effects played with his feet. One has to see this before believing it … Any
time I see and hear him playing I get inspired wishing that I could do just
a little of what he can do and it highly motivates me to rehearse.
Even if one does not like Valentin’s music I would highly recommend his new
book “La vielle & l'univers de l'infinie roue-archet“. The DVD included
showcases his coup-de-poignet techniques and your eyes may pop out seeing
what is possible. All his various coups are illustrated with a kind of
wheel-position-mandalas and also you can see them animated on the DVD.
Unfortunately, it is in French only, but if you can read French a little or
if you have somebody at hand who could translate, than the book would
probably help to improve your playing.
Sincerely yours,
Ulrich
_____
Von: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] Im
Auftrag von Jim Petersen
Gesendet: Mittwoch, 4. Februar 2009 21:04
An: [email protected]
Betreff: [HG-new] Re: Valentin's music
I find it interesting how taste varies from individual to individual. How
do we arrive at these different tastes, what stimulus while we were growing
up formed these variances? Although I do not doubt the man's talent for a
minute the "perfect" word I can use to describe what I heard, especially at
his site is "cacophony".
I do not know if it is my simplistic approach to life or my lack of music
theory but I think "if you are going to play music make sure it has a
point, it makes it more interesting for the listener."
This is not meant as a dig to the performer or meant to be harsh, I just do
not
understand it.
Discussion anyone?
Peace
Grey Aengus (aka Jim)
http://www.greyaengus.com
often in error, never in doubt
--- On Fri, 1/30/09, ungava <[email protected]> wrote:
From: ungava <[email protected]>
Subject: [HG-new] Valentin's music
To: "hurdygurdy" <[email protected]>
Date: Friday, January 30, 2009, 8:03 PM
I found an interesting site a youtube with Valentin Clastrier.
Valentin's web site in French with sound samples!
http://www.valentinclastrier.com/content/index.php
Valentin plays and briefly speaks (in French.)
Just to mention: his music always defies perfect words, but very
complex and exciting.
A thrill. Kind of rock slightly. Some jazz improv., which he clearly
has used devotedly with
the
hurdy gurdy on his own DCs. It seems to be
in D, the drone is hard to hear, but model, like melodicly centered
around A or the dominant tone, suggesting A minor almost but with Eb
in a D major that gives this an eastern feeling. The "Barana Trio,"
but it is more than 3 performers in this film. Behsat Uves drums,
Steven Kamperman soprano sax, Bart Lelivelt accordion... with guests
Valentin Clastrier/hurdygurdy, and Carlo Rizzo on the tambourine.
Live, April, 2007.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yib4QGNYja8&eurl=
refernce-the trio's site:
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewProfile&friendID=14
7140116
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