Hello Kim, I play a symphony made by Chris Allen. It has one drone string, two melody strings and one trumpet string and it is chromatic over 2 octaves. I am very content of this instrument because of the fine tone and its reliability, it works perfectly. It is more quiet than larger hurdies, making it a fine instrument for accompaying a singer. However, in a mix of instruments it can be heard better than I would expect. I have no experience with amplification of the symphony. I have tuned the drone to d with a capo to g, the melody strings to c' (very useful for medieval modal music) and the trumpet to d'.
I would strongly advice you to choose an instrument with a trumpet string. Then you can decide where to use it. The first appearance of a trumpet string on a hurdy gurdy in pictures is in "the garden of earthly delights"of Jeroen Bosch of about 1500, as you will know probably, but in late medieval instruments, often a facility for supplying a rattling to the sound is incorporated, so I think that more primitive predecessors of the trumpet string might have been used earlier, and, anyhow, I think that using a trumpet string in some medieval music may be appropriate, so I use it when I like it. Although I have only restricted capabilities on the trumpet string, it makes my playing more attractive for most listeners. I also play the Aachen, a hurdy gurdy that has been made by Chris Allen especially for medieval music. This might be an interesting option for you as well. It has a beautiful sound, somewhat louder than the symphony and it works fine. I have 2 drones (G and d'), two melody strings (in principle also in c' as on my symphony but with a very useful lower extension to a) and one trumpet string in a with capo to d'. In fact I have 3 more capos, but I seldom use these. You can hear it on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nR_R3FhkQ4E with explanations and demonstrations on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0J41t_XV5g http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9j1KmZuU-dw http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ciEmQOZlAs http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hAvGYyrKCY Good luck with finding a suitable hurdy gurdy! Ernic 2013/3/26 Kim Browers <[email protected]> > Hello all! > > I'm a brand new member, who has been agonizing over not owning a hurdy > gurdy for about 15 years. It's time to invest! I am specifically > interested in the Symphony models for their quietness, simplicity of keys > for a beginner (diatonic vs. chromatic scale, 3-4 strings, and generally > lacking trompette), primary source references from the Cantigas de Santa > Maria, and appropriateness for period Medieval music. However, I also play > a variety of ethnic music, and would like to be able to play both of > these genres on the same instrument if possible. I'm concerned about the > versatility of the Symphony for all those purposes, especially with Maqams > and scales that require chromatics and microtones. I have seen some > Symphony models that have been modified to suit a more modern musician, > with pickups, trompettes, etc. But I don't know if that would compromise > the integrity of use as a Medieval instrument, or if some of those things > get a free pass in our modern age. :) Can I even have both Medieval and > modern ethnic appropriateness on the same instrument? I was referred to > this group to discuss the pros and cons of these particular models, and > find a reliable manufacturer if I still decide this is the instrument for > me. Does anyone own this variety of instrument, or have you played one? > Any tips for a true novice? > > Yours in thanks, > Kim > > -- > -- > 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 unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out. > > > -- -- 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 unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
