Yes, it is quite possible for people with normal craft abilities to make their own instruments. In the 1960’s people in the UK were inspired by hurdy-gurdy performers, but there were few makers. The HG really took off when I supplied plans in the 70’s, and using these many successful instruments were made. These amateurs later went on the buy from the professional makers who were becoming established, some of whom used the plans I sold. We also gave frequent week-end workshops, and with the combination of performance, teaching and plan availability the HG renaissance came about. But oh, how I wish people would play the right notes – and above all, in time! The transformation from player to musician takes time and needs informed guidance over an extended period. Fortunately basic knowledge is readily available from any competent teacher of other instruments. There are two stages in learning: the first is to gain physical control over your instrument, and the other is to play in such a manner as to give pleasure to others. But the art of making music (as against merely playing notes) can only be learned directly from a musician and can not be learned from a book. It would not seem unreasonable for the sum of money or time taken to learn an instrument to be proportional to the money/time outlaid in buying it, just as when buying a car you may have to pay perhaps 1/10th of its value in learning to drive it. MP From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: 30 October 2011 07:22 To: Digest Recipients Subject: [HG-new] Digest for [email protected] - 4 Messages in 3 Topics Today's Topic Summary Group: <http://groups.google.com/group/hurdygurdy/topics> http://groups.google.com/group/hurdygurdy/topics * Affordable Hurdy Gurdy Construction [2 Updates] * Sharing some Hurdy Gurdy tunes-- Rommelpot [1 Update] * Sharing some Hurdy Gurdy tunes [1 Update] <http://groups.google.com/group/hurdygurdy/t/79bfa931dac4f3aa> Affordable Hurdy Gurdy Construction Leonard Williams <[email protected]> Oct 29 02:16PM -0400
I built my own hurdy gurdy after years of longing to own one without the means of purchase. I had some experience with woodworking, some good tools (power and hand), and very good plans for an early renaissance model purchased from a professional builder. Because of the bizarre grain of the wood I had (American elm), I had trouble finding someone willing to surface the wood (a rough plank) to my dimensions; I had to rough it on a table saw and get final thicknesses with a hand plane and scrapers. With some patient telephone coaching from the designer of the instrument I was able build a simple (no trompette, single chanter, 3 drone) hurdy gurdy. Howerever, it was a number of years before I finally got the ³finished² instrument set up satisfactorily (This forum was a great help in the final stages!). I am no longer sure of the material costs, but it was far less than a professionally built instrument. I am proud of the result of my labors, and builcing my gurdy fulfilled a desperate need. BUT‹would I do it again? I think not‹I¹d try to save up and buy one from a craftsman/artist who knows what he¹s doing. This is certainly not intended to discourage anyone from trying to build a hurdy gurdy or any instrument on his own‹by all means try it if you really want to! I learned a lot from the experience and do not regret it‹just be aware that it requires a good deal of patience. There is an element to instrument building that is purely mechanical, but every collection of wooden parts is an organic entity which requires its own peculiar tweaking to become a musical instrument. Regards, Leonard Williams _ [: :] / | | \ | | | | (_==_) !~¿ timw <[email protected]> Oct 29 03:30PM -0700 I am trying to post a few photos of my peghead. I am building a lutebacked gurdy with Graeme McCormack's 'Jiri' plan: /Users/altawinters/Desktop/100_6838.JPG /Users/alta/Users/altawinters/Desktop/100_6844.JPGwinters/Desktop/ 100_6840.JPG Thanks for looking, Tim <http://groups.google.com/group/hurdygurdy/t/62cbb7cef6e79dac> Sharing some Hurdy Gurdy tunes-- Rommelpot [email protected] Oct 29 06:29PM -0400 Dear David and all-- I have built a rumble-pot, and so am able to fill in a little a bit of info there. The hurdy-gurdy is uniquely appropriate to play a tune with this title. A rumble-pot is used as a percussion instrument sometimes, much as the Norwegians use a jaw harp. It has the sound of a hoot, or a cow fart, and is played at intervals to accentuate the beat, not unlike the chien. Cheers, Alice ALICE, You probably know there are two forms of rommel pot, one which uses a bunch of horse hair (apparently taking two people to play it since you must pull on the hair while holding the pot) and the other which uses a stick and can be played by one person. You must put resin on your fingers. It must be played strictly in time and constantly, an art which many people seem to find difficult. The Rommel pot is typically a seasonal instrument. MP In a message dated 10/29/2011 11:01:40 A.M. Central Daylight Time, [email protected] writes: http://youtu.be/lYPYacq2Ewg <http://groups.google.com/group/hurdygurdy/t/811ec0348ffa68d6> Sharing some Hurdy Gurdy tunes timw <[email protected]> Oct 29 09:01AM -0700 Thanks for sharing your videos, David. I really enjoyed listening and seeing your gurdies. It must be especially gratifying to play on an instrument you build yourself. Tim On Oct 28, 6:13 pm, "[email protected]" <[email protected]> wrote: You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Group hurdygurdy. You can <mailto:[email protected]> post via email. To unsubscribe from this group, <mailto:[email protected]> send an empty message. For more options, <http://groups.google.com/group/hurdygurdy/topics> visit this group. -- 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. To reduce spam, posts from new subscribers are held pending approval by the webmaster. -- 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. To reduce spam, posts from new subscribers are held pending approval by the webmaster.
