Hello Kim. It seems that my posting has been lost, so I send it again.
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 Op donderdag 28 maart 2013 00:02:17 UTC+1 schreef Kim het volgende: > > Greetings! > > My first message appears to have been lost in cyberspace, so I apologize > if this is a repeat! > > I have seriously been wanting a hurdy gurdy for about 15 years, but have > never been able to justify the money for an instrument I've never played. > However, I have decided to take the plunge! I'm looking to get my very > first vielle a roue, and am seeking some experienced advice! > > I'm primarily considering a Medieval reproduction "Symphony" model. From > what I understand, these generally have 3-4 strings, no trompette and are > quieter than later period/modern models. They appeal to me for their > Medieval music appropriateness, quietness for acoustic accompaniment of > vocals, and diatonic scale for ease of learning (fewer buttons!). The > negative side is that the lack of trompette will eliminate what makes a > hurdy gurdy sound so distinctive! I have also heard negative comments > about a generally unpleasant/inferior sound quality from these > models. From what I gather, the same features that make it simple may make > it TOO simple to be worthwhile. I also play a variety of ethnic music, and > want to use one instrument for both genres if possible. However, the > diatonic scale would make Maqams and micro tones impossible to play, which > is obviously extremely limiting. There are some hybrid options for > Symphony models with a Medieval exterior, aesthetic and basic construction, > but have a trompette, and at least a 24-key chromatic scale. Some even > have pickups included. My concern is if I am intending to use this as a > Medieval reproduction, will it compromise the integrity if I decide on a > hybrid? Or is that given a general pass, as long as liberties aren't taken > with the music itself? > > And then there are the websites of manufacturers on the internet that I > have frequented, but really know nothing about. I'm looking for advice > from someone who has played the Symphony style, what to look for, what to > stay away from, some reviews of manufacturers, etc.. If this isn't the > best instrument for an absolute beginner, I will also weigh that in as > well! > > Any and all info is appreciated in advance! I'm very excited that > this group even exists! > > Cheers, > 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.
