RE: [HG] Harpe de Gourde
I'm under the impression that harpe de gourde is an etymological back-formation, posited to explain the origin of the English term hurdy-gurdy. To my knowledge, there isn't actually much evidence for it's authentic and independent use. I'm not an expert, but my experience in linguistics has taught me to be skeptical when two terms for the same object are so similar in pronunciation, but lack a history of intermediate forms or a reasonable theory of phonetic mutation. This often indicates an instance of folk etymology, in which a term of obscure or even foreign origin is altered, so as to provide a straightforward justification for its form and meaning. I can't come up with a lot of examples off the top of my head, but this is a fairly common linguistic process. Gourd harp doesn't make much sense as a description of the HG, but hurdy-gurdy doesn't mean anything at all! Nathan Roy Date: Wed, 24 Sep 2008 13:09:05 -0400 From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: hg@hurdygurdy.com Subject: [HG] Harpe de Gourde Hello, someone just told me that he had saw the hurdy gurdy being referred to as a Harpe de gourde, or gourd harp. I've never seen this term for a HG, and was just wondering if anyone has info on its origins. Thanks! Vero -- Véronique Chau -- Telephone: (949) 701-7454 E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] _ See how Windows connects the people, information, and fun that are part of your life. http://clk.atdmt.com/MRT/go/msnnkwxp1020093175mrt/direct/01/
RE: [HG] Musical house.
Hmm... I'd like to know how they managed to find music-quality strings in the lengths needed for these instruments. I've been researching the trumpet marine (which is at least somewhat related to the hurdy-gurdy, as it probably inspired the trompette string) for a while now, and one frustration has been the limited scaling options. My hope was that 'cello and double bass strings were produced on enormous spools in the factory, and cut up only further down the line, but so far I've had no luck finding a source that allows me to bypass that last step. Gut is limited by the length of a sheep's intestine to something around six feet, and there doesn't seem to be any other kind of string for bowed instruments available in custom lengths. I guess it would be a good idea to contact these people for more information. For some reason, I've been working under the assumption that makeshift materials such as monofilament fishing line and aircraft wire are not made to high enough tolerances of uniformity, and would respond poorly to a bow, but perhaps I'm just being ridiculous there. Incidentally, since the strings in these instruments vibrate up and down their length rather than side to side, the wheel in a hurdy-gurdy adaptation should probably be mounted at ninetly degrees to the standard design, almost like my silly vertical bow idea. Also, there may be no way to activate a trompette bridge with longitudinal compression waves. Interesting stuff, at any rate... Nathan Roy Date: Fri, 15 Feb 2008 19:06:45 -0700 To: hg@hurdygurdy.com From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [HG] Musical house. That's pretty amazing. It reminds me of something I heard some years ago called The Long String Instrument, http://www.newalbion.com/NA102/ . Great if you like drones. Juan I got this link from another list I am on (bowed Psaltery) and, as it uses rosin to sound, thought the list members may be interested. Do watch the movies, the sound is amazing. Now, if we could add a wheel and trompette.. http://www.symphonichouse.com/ Colin Hill _ Climb to the top of the charts! Play the word scramble challenge with star power. http://club.live.com/star_shuffle.aspx?icid=starshuffle_wlmailtextlink_jan
[HG] Texas event
If I recall correctly, there's going to be some sort of weekend HG event in Texas this spring. Could someone please send me the specifics (dates, location, contact info) for that again? Since I'm living in Georgia, I didn't pay close enough attention the first time, but it may actually coincide with a trip I'm planning back to California. Might as well see if I can stop by on my way. Thanks... Nathan Roy _ Connect and share in new ways with Windows Live. http://www.windowslive.com/share.html?ocid=TXT_TAGHM_Wave2_sharelife_012008
RE: [HG] Colson for sale
I believe this is an email address. The at sign has been written out as _at_ to keep automated junk mail programs from finding it. Nathan Roy Date: Fri, 1 Jan 1904 01:23:16 -0700To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]: [EMAIL PROTECTED]: Re: [HG] Colson for sale 1825 Colson hurdy gurdy for sale, good condition, just little adjustments needed. For more information and pictures please contact Jesus Reolid, jreolid_ at _ wanadoo.es Regards. Hello, I am interested but the address you give for pictures does not take me anywhere. It is not a complete address. Can you be more precise? Thank you, Debra Dawson _ Shed those extra pounds with MSN and The Biggest Loser! http://biggestloser.msn.com/
RE: [HG] Customizing a kit
Hello there. I was in pretty much the same position as you when I first started looking for a hurdy-gurdy. I was in high school, without the cash to buy a professionally built instrument, so I sprang for that exact Musicmaker's kit you mentioned. I thought it was pretty vital to swap out the diatonic keyboard for a chromatic one, though, so I contacted Alden Hackman for advice on retrofitting. He ended up convincing me the kit would benefit from a lot more improvement than that, so I bought a bunch of replacement parts, including a new keybox, wheel, bearing and shaft assembly, drone bridges and strings. My father carved me improved versions of the tail-piece, chanter bridge, wings, crank and handle, and helped me put everything together properly. After a few years (!) of off-and-on progress, I managed to take the finished instrument to college and find someone familiar enough with the HG to set it up for me. Everything said and done, it cost me about $1000 for both the kit (from which I basically just used the sound-box and peg-head) and the upgrade materials. It does play, but not very pleasantly. I suppose I could still mess around trying to fix string pressure and such, but the huge F-holes in the soundboard, as pictured on Musicmaker's website, give it hardly any resonance. When I'd saved enough money to buy a higher-quality HG, the improvement was so significant I felt justified in spending almost three times as much. So, even with professionally made parts, the wood-working expertise of my father, and knowledgeable help in setting up the strings, the converted kit still turned out to be an inferior instrument. It was definitely a good way to break into the hobby, but perhaps not worth the cost. I know it stinks, but I don't think you're going to find a decent, entry level HG for much under $2000, unless someone really starts pumping them out of a factory! Anyway, sorry for the long email... Good luck! Nathan Roy From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: hg@hurdygurdy.com Subject: [HG] Customizing a kit Date: Mon, 17 Dec 2007 11:16:43 -0600 Hello group, My name is Joe and I'm brand new to the hurdy-gurdy. As a matter of fact, I neither know how to play nor do I own a hurdy-gurdy. But I am looking into fixing both of those problems soon. I've been researching the instrument and watching this mailing list for a little while and I've come to the conclusion that I want a hurdy with a chromatic keyboard. I read that it opens up many more options for playing music. I also want one that is affordable, since I am but a poor college student trying to finish up school. The latter part has been a real issue so far. This isn't a cheap hobby! So, I found some kits on the internet in my price range, but the problem is they have diatonic keyboards (Or tangents? What is the correct term?). I was wondering, since I am somewhat handy at tinkering, would it be possible to convert a diatonic kit, such as the one found at musikit.com (http://www.musikit.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGYCategory_Code=hurdy), into a chromatic keyboard setup? Thanks in advance, - Joe Share life as it happens with the new Windows Live. Share now! _ Don't get caught with egg on your face. Play Chicktionary! http://club.live.com/chicktionary.aspx?icid=chick_wlhmtextlink1_dec
