But isn't that the beauty of many instruments - they can be played in just so many ways and cater for the likes of so many? I'm far from a purist/traditionalist or any other label but, by the same token, I have personal likes and dislikes in music and that far outweighs my love of an actual instrument. I'm happy to see our instrument played in any style possible and beyond. It's like comparing Segovia to Jimi Hendrix - both played guitar but a slight difference in their styles! I'd be selective about which CDs I buy though :) Colin Hill
----- From: Ulrich Joosten To: [email protected] Sent: Thursday, February 05, 2009 7:31 AM Subject: AW: [HG-new] Re: Valentin's music 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=147140116 --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "hurdygurdy" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/hurdygurdy The rules of posting, courtesy, and other list information may be found at http://hurdygurdy.com/mailinglist/index.htm. -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
