Hurdy-gurdy Mailing List - October 2000
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Our deepest thanks to Maxou Heintzen for this fabulous photograph, taken at Saint-Cloud near Paris in 1957 by an unknown photographer.
The following are the archives of the Hurdy-gurdy Mailing List, sponsored by Alden and Cali Hackmann of Olympic Musical Instruments.
Date: Sun, 01 Oct 2000 15:27:45 GMT
From: Asier Larrinaga Guerrini <asierdbg _at_ hotmail.com>
Subject: [HG] begineer
Hello, I'm just finishing a very cheap model of h-g. The key box is the
finishing thing I have to make. I have used cheap materials and an own
design (it's like a coffin, all in black...), but soon I'll start with
serious plans and materials. Well, do you have some help for a begineer?
Thanks, Asier
Date: Sun, 01 Oct 2000 13:59:21 -0500
From: Rob McConnell <robrmcc _at_ mts.net>
Subject: [HG] Hi Everybody
Hello Hurdy Gurdy Fans:
I am new to the Hurdy Gurdy email list, so thought I would introduce
myself and my interests.
I became interested in the Hurdy Gurdy this summer following our local
folk festival (Winnipeg Folk Festival) which featured a couple of
players. Frankly before then I did not realize that it had keys to
play. I thought it was just something that you cranked and that droned
away kind of like the drones on a set of bagpipes. I was quite amazed
at the virtuosity of the instrument.
Anyway my interest is primarily in building. My son plays guitar
locally with several groups, Irish, English, Northumberland, French
Canadian music etc. A couple of them are very interested in getting a
Hurdy Gurdy into the mix. So the first step is to build an instrument,
the second is to find someone who wants to attempt to play it. If not me
then perhaps my son. We could look for one to buy, but as I said, my
interest is primarily in building.
My son is a professional Luthier (or is trying to be at any rate) and we
share a shop. Currently I am building and designing Bodhrans with a
friend. We have had some modest sales success and are working on a
professional model that will be easier to tune then the commonly
available models are. So I have access to tools, various woods, have
significant background in wood and metal working, and am fascinated with
mechanical mechanisms.. The Hurdy Gurdy seemed to be a natural
progression.
Currently I am pulling together plans from various sources with the
intent of learning and pulling the best I see from each plan into a
model I feel I can succesfully build. After our experience with
Luthiery in the guitar building world, I believe the design of a hand
built insturment evolves depending on the techniques and tools available
to the builder. We have seen many quite different but still very
successful guitar designs.
If anyone has any experience to share regarding plans I would very much
appreciate hearing about it.
I am very excited about this, and very surprised and encouraged to find
the amount of information I have so easily available on the internet.
Obviously a lot of the credit for this needs to go to Alden and Cali
Hackmann of Olympic Musical Instruments.
Anyway, that is it for now.
Rob McConnell
Date: Sun, 1 Oct 2000 13:50:47 -0700 (PDT)
From: Alden Hackmann <darkstar _at_ u.washington.edu>
Subject: [HG] Archives are up
The archives for May, June, July, August and September are up. You can
find them via this webpage:
http://www.hurdygurdy.com/hg/listarch/hg_arch.html
Hopefully in future there will be less time elapsing between the end of
the month and the archive being available.
Alden F.M. Hackmann darkstar _at_ u.washington.edu
Web: http://www.hurdygurdy.com/hg/hghome.html
"Beati illi qui in circulum circumeunt, fient enim magnae rotae."
Date: Sun, 1 Oct 2000 13:52:52 -0700 (PDT)
From: Alden Hackmann <darkstar _at_ u.washington.edu>
Subject: [HG] Stolen HG has been found
Barb Knudsen's stolen Boudet hurdy-gurdy has been found and will be
returned to her. Thanks to everyone who has helped her to look for it.
Alden F.M. Hackmann darkstar _at_ u.washington.edu
Date: Sun, 1 Oct 2000 18:42:24 -0700 (PDT)
From: Alden Hackmann <darkstar _at_ u.washington.edu>
Subject: Re: [HG] begineer
Asier wrote:
> Hello, I'm just finishing a very cheap model of h-g. The key box is the
> finishing thing I have to make. I have used cheap materials and an own
> design (it's like a coffin, all in black...), but soon I'll start with
> serious plans and materials. Well, do you have some help for a begineer?
Have you read the "Building a Hurdy-Gurdy" webpage on hurdygurdy.com?
What do you need to know about the keybox?
And do you have a picture or two you could post on a website (or send to
me, the listmaster) so we can see what you're building?
Alden
Date: Sun, 1 Oct 2000 18:45:29 -0700 (PDT)
From: Alden Hackmann <darkstar _at_ u.washington.edu>
Subject: Re: [HG] Hi Everybody
Rob -
It sounds as if you're starting off in the right direction. Keep us
posted, OK?
Alden F.M. Hackmann darkstar _at_ u.washington.edu
Date: Sun, 1 Oct 2000 19:10:47 -0700
From: R. T. Taylor <rtaylor _at_ amp.csulb.edu>
Subject: Re: [HG] begineer
I am always amazed that someone can create a musical instrument as
complicated as a Hurdy Gurdy. I have never made one but I have played all
kinds and qualities.
I have played on some rather primitive instruments that were made with cheep
materials. And expensive instruments made by professional builders.
Some of the instruments that are made with "cheep" materials sound just
fine. And some made with more details and expensive materials don't sound
that good.
The most important thing for me is the care that you put into building the
instrument. Making sure that the dimensions are correct for the Bridges,
keyboard, keys and tangents is important to play in tune and have an
instrument that is easy to setup. The care in making the tangents will make
it easer to make 2 melody strings sound good without unusual noises etc.
If you live near other players, check out their instruments. And if there
are museums around you, check them out too. The first "quality" Instrument
I saw was a Pajot sitting in a display case in the Music department at UCLA.
Good luck with your Hurdy gurdy.
r.t.
Date: Mon, 02 Oct 2000 15:31:06 -0400
From: Henry Boucher <boite _at_ sympatico.ca>
Subject: [HG] Inexpensive instruments <g>
Hi Rob ,
Do you have the Destrem and Heideman book on HG tuning and set-up ? It
is
the first step to understand how a HG really works .
Wich style of instrument would you like to build ?
French ? Swedish ? Hungarian ? Flemish ? Baroque or Folk ?
( same question to Asier )
R.T.
I had the occasion to play a Hungarian HG recently , I noticed that
the size of the key buttons are not the same as the " standard" HG , it
is very
noticable on the 3th note ( the D if tuned in A ) wich is very narrow ,
is it a traditionnal feature or was it
special of the instrument I tried ?
Henry
Date: Mon, 2 Oct 2000 16:43:07 -0700
From: R. T. Taylor <rtaylor _at_ amp.csulb.edu>
Subject: [HG] Hungarian stuff
> I had the occasion to play a Hungarian HG recently , I noticed that
> the size of the key buttons are not the same as the " standard" HG , it
> is very
> noticable on the 3th note ( the D if tuned in A ) wich is very narrow ,
> is it a traditionnal feature or was it
> special of the instrument I tried ?
>
> Henry
That is such a good question. And I asked Bela Szerenyi, And Robert Mandel
that same question.
Robert said that it was a joke on some people that bought a Tekero. The keys
were made in a way to make playing very hard intentionally by the maker. But
even the old instruments that I have seen in Hungary have keys that are in
positions and in sizes that are different from the Western European Hurdy
Gurdys. The Hurdy Gurdys and the Tekeros that Robert makes and plays have
keys that are similar to the ones in western Europe. He says that it is
easier to play that way.
Bela says that they are tradionaly made that way and it is not a mistake.
If you play on a French Vielle the keys seem to be in logical positions.
They are evenly spaced, Get smaller as you go up the scale, and each key is
positioned a little bit to the right, going up the scale. But the Hungarian
Tekero keys seem very strange and in the "wrong positions".
I first played on a Barshony Tekero and thought that it was impossible to
play. Especially the third key. The key was so small that my smallest finger
was too big to play it. Then I bought one from Istvan Meyer and it had the
same strange keyboard. Since my teacher forced me to play it, I got used to
the unusual key positions.
Barshony, by the way is sort of like the Pajot, Tixier, Lambert of France.
He was one of the last makers and players in Hungary and his instruments
have influenced a lot of the people that have made instruments since the
1970's.
Years later I bought a Tekero from Bela. His keys are slightly different
from the Barshony tradition. So are the instruments made by Nagy Balazs. The
bottom row of keys ( the natural white keys) are sort of like the western
European design. They get smaller as they go up the scale. The 3rd button
on the bottom is not too small. But the top row of keys are still in some
positions that seem illogical. Three of the keys are positioned on top of
the lower row keys instead of between the. These are keys 3,6,7.
I asked Bela why he does not change the keys or offer to make keys like the
other instruments that he sees at St. Chartier. "I make traditional
Hungarian instruments" was his answer. Actually it was a long conversation.
I just shortened it a bit.
But the most interesting reason I can find for these keys was found by
observing the ornamentation.
I asked Bela why all my Hungarian teachers play different notes and
ornamentation for the same tunes. It breaks down like this. There are 2
basic styles of playing. One from the Left side of the Tiza river and one
from the Right side of the river. One style is a bit more simple and the
other has some special ornamentation. Some people have referred to this as
the "Sentesh style" ( please forgive my spelling) As it turns out, the
position of the keys may make it easier to do this type of ornamentation.
Well at least for my teachers it does. Havasreti Pal and Bela are expert at
this type of ornamentation. I am not. A good example of this style is on
track 2 of Magyar Tekerozenekar CD " Kertunk Alatt".
So there you have it.
Now on another note..... "A"
Your explanation above says " noticeable on the 3th note ( the D if tuned in
A)".
This leads me to think that you tuned the melody string to A.
A lot of Hungarian music is played in the key of "A,". Actually a lot is
modal but who cares. Anyway the tradition is to tune the melody string to
"E" and the drones in 'A". You play on the keyboard using a lot of the
"accidental" buttons on the top row. Sounds like extra work. But this way
you get the sound of the open "E" once in a while as you play and is part of
the "traditional Tekero sound".
Who is the maker of the Tekero that you played and who is the person that
owns it?
r.t.
Date: Tue, 03 Oct 2000 07:52:35 -0500
From: Rob McConnell <robrmcc _at_ mts.net>
Subject: Re: [HG] Inexpensive instruments <g>
Henry:
I don't have the Destrem book yet, but it was on my list to purchase. Can
you advise where it is easily available?
I don't really understand the difference between the Hurdy Gurdys from the
different countries, so was working mainly on what I liked the look of.
Right now I am getting plans from several sources and was going to look at
the plans and pick what I thought I could make. I really like the lute
back Lambert model which Michael Muskett has the plans for. There is also
a pictorial log from Greg Whitcombe that I was impressed with as well. So
I was going to aim for that first. If it proves too intimidating I will
likely go for a similar model with a teardrop shape body, but flat back. I
am also getting the Bosch plans, and a set of plans from Music Kits. That
will be my fall back if I feel I must abandon the idea of building from
scratch. Although I suspect it is not the best Hurdy Gurdy out there, I
don't expect my first one to be my last either.
Thanks for showing some interest.
Rob McC
Date: Tue, 3 Oct 2000 10:51:30 -0700 (PDT)
From: Alden Hackmann <darkstar _at_ u.washington.edu>
Subject: Re: [HG] Inexpensive instruments <g>
Rob said:
> > I don't have the Destrem book yet, but it was on my list to purchase. Can
> you advise where it is easily available?
Dusty Strings has it, 206-634-1656.
> I don't really understand the difference between the Hurdy Gurdys from the
> different countries, so was working mainly on what I liked the look of.
> Right now I am getting plans from several sources and was going to look at
> the plans and pick what I thought I could make. I really like the lute
> back Lambert model which Michael Muskett has the plans for. There is also
> a pictorial log from Greg Whitcombe that I was impressed with as well. So
> I was going to aim for that first. If it proves too intimidating I will
> likely go for a similar model with a teardrop shape body, but flat back. I
> am also getting the Bosch plans, and a set of plans from Music Kits. That
> will be my fall back if I feel I must abandon the idea of building from
> scratch. Although I suspect it is not the best Hurdy Gurdy out there, I
> don't expect my first one to be my last either.
Does Michael Muskett have plans available for a Lambert lute-back
now? The last I saw (several years ago) he had a Lambert guitar-shaped
and a Pimpard lute-back (and several others).
The Bosch plans are excellent, thanks to Marcello's fine research and
drawing. Nick Nourse has a very nice website showing his construction of
a Bosch HG from the plans.
If the "Music Kits" plans are the ones from Musicmaker's, they're a little
sketchy, and the shaft and wheel system leave quite a bit to be
desired. YMMV.
Alden
Date: Tue, 3 Oct 2000 13:52:22 -0700 (PDT)
From: Alden Hackmann <darkstar _at_ u.washington.edu>
Subject: [HG] Br�cker translation update
The typing and editing of the English translation of Marianne Br�cker's
"Die Drehleier" is proceeding apace. My thanks to everyone who has
contributed time and effort to this project.
I'd like to ask a favor of someone, preferably one of our German or
German-speaking listmembers. I wrote Dr. Br�cker several months ago
asking for her permission to publish the translation on the Web. So far
I've gotten no response from her. I've made inquiries via email at her
university, and also gotten no response.
The favor I am asking is for someone to make contact with both Dr. Br�cker
and the publisher to explain the project and its goals. This would
probably involve just making some phone calls. If you'd be willing to do
this, please contact me off list at hurdy _at_ silverlink.net or this address,
darkstar _at_ u.washington.edu. Thank you.
Alden F.M. Hackmann darkstar _at_ u.washington.edu
Date: Tue, 3 Oct 2000 13:47:12 -0700 (PDT)
From: Chiara Negro <ghiro_chi _at_ yahoo.com>
Subject: [HG] more tekero
Dear List,
I'm Chiara from Italy, I was quiet for a lot of time,
but this subject ( tekero ), is now irresistible.
At St. Chartier, this summer, I buy a tekero from B�la
Sz�renyi : I fell in love with that instrument, with a
powerful, mellow and precise sound.
It is strange, but I appreciate immediately her "
clavier ", for me very easy; I' m not a " virtuoso ",
but I can play faster and with trilli ( sorry for my
english ... ) without difficulty. Certainly it 's
different from my usual hg ( a Coriani in D ) : it's
shorter and the keys smaller ( but I have a little
hand ) perhaps the unique strange thing is just that
space on the top row : at the beginning my finger
fall in that " hole " !
I find also comfortable to keep the forearm on that
large keybox.
Well, it's not the same instrument, is a different one
and you need time to learn .
It's in C : 1 string in G, 1 drone in G and 2 drones
in C. I play at present medieval music, it' s so
beautiful ! And I can hear my sound when I play with a
bagpiper!
I have three difficulties :
- I can play " blind " because the keyhole are not
visible
- The crank is very hard
- It' s difficult the adjustment of the trompette ( it
is a stick of wood )
I' m very jealous of this instrument, I keep it only
for me by a month before show it to my friends, who
are very impressed !
Ciao ! Chiara
Date: Tue, 3 Oct 2000 21:28:42 +0100
From: Nick Nourse <nick.mapworks _at_ frogwell.telinco.co.uk>
Subject: Re: [HG] Inexpensive instruments <g>
> > The Bosch plans are excellent, thanks to Marcello's fine research and
> drawing. Nick Nourse has a very nice website showing his construction of
> a Bosch HG from the plans.
>
Alden, others too,
Thanks for the plug - there are a few minor modifications to Marcello's
drawings that I have recently incorporated, almost all to do with
disconnecting strings one by one for tuning.
http://home.freeuk.net/musicworks/hg_build.htm
Date: Tue, 03 Oct 2000 19:10:39 -0500
From: Rob McConnell <robrmcc _at_ mts.net>
Subject: Re: [HG] Inexpensive instruments <g>
My mistake, I meant Pimpard, not Lambert.
And you are right, the Nick Nourse website is really good.
Rob McC
>
> Does Michael Muskett have plans available for a Lambert lute-back
> now? The last I saw (several years ago) he had a Lambert guitar-shaped
> and a Pimpard lute-back (and several others).
>
>
> Alden
Date: Tue, 03 Oct 2000 18:32:36 -0600
From: arle lommel <fenevad _at_ ttt.org>
Subject: Re: [HG] Hungarian stuff
Just a comment on key spacing on the teker� and a few other odds and ends:
[First off, sorry for retransmitting the message I was replying to.
My e-mail client has a key command for sending messages that is
almost identical to the one for replying, and I slipped and hit two
keys and off went the message before I could do anything.]
The third key on mine is quite wide. The spacing does vary
considerably, and while some sizes may be more common, the teker� is
far from a standardized instrument (as if any HG were...) I do have
to second, however, how weird the key spacing seemed at first to me,
but after playing the instrument for a while you simply forget that
the keys are weird and use them without noticing it.
R.T.'s comments are right on about styles and tunings. The tuning is
quite different from HGs in other traditions, but it fits with other
traditional instruments, especially citera (zither) and duda
(bagpipe). The repertoire for all of these instruments shares a lot
in common, and the similarities in tuning are an essential part of
the music.
At least no one has hit a teker� with "primitive" tuning yet. I don't
know if anyone even uses (or used) it for teker�, but duda makers
often used a neutral tuning with both the third and the sixth
somewhere between major and minor. It wouldn't be hard to simulate
this tuning on the teker� by moving the tangents and ignoring the C#
and F# keys.
My one last comment was that Chiara noted that the only adjustment
for the buzzing bridge on the teker� is a "stick" and that it is hard
to adjust. I have found, on the contrary, that the "stick" (really a
lever, but stick is a pretty good description) is quite easy to
adjust, which makes me wonder if she is using in wrong. The lever
controls the buzzing bridge sensitivity by applying more or less
downward pressure to the string, thereby forcing the bridge to rest
more or less firmly against the soundboard. Pulling the lever out or
rotating it away from the bridge makes the bridge more sensitive (and
more suitable for playing at a low cranking speed), while pushing it
in or rotating it toward the bridge makes the bridge less sensitive
and requires more speed/force for it to lift off and buzz.
It is also possible (and I wonder if Chiara is doing it this way) to
pull the lever out too much, which allows the bridge to lift clean
off the soundboard and not sound. If this is the case then pushing
the lever in would make the bridge *more* sensitive, but also almost
impossible to control.
(If I sound as if I know how this works from experience, I do. I got
my instrument with very little explanation and had to teach myself
from listening to recordings. Figuring out the lever took some time.)
If Chiara still can't get the bridge to buzz correctly with those
guidelines in mind, she may want to look at the pivot the lever sits
under. It should have some sort of point that the lever rests under
to keep it fixed. This is typically a sharp thumb screw that goes
through the wooden piece the lever runs under. If this screw is
either turned in too far or is backed too far out then the lever
would become difficult to work with. Raising or lowering the screw
would help fix this. Without seeing the instrument, however, it is
somewhat difficult to know whether my suggestions are even in the
ball park.
-Arle
Date: Tue, 03 Oct 2000 21:09:57 -0800
From: Dean Cully <dfc _at_ gci.net>
Subject: [HG] Digital images of OTW 2000 & "new to the list"... sort of.
For all of those who signed up (who should already have received a similarly
worded, in part, e-mail notification) for digital photos from the OTW
festival, and everyone else, I've worked my way through about 300 images
(many redundant) seeking the best, which I've posted at:
http://www.photopoint.com
Enter my e-mail address, < dfc _at_ gci.net >
, in the appropriate field and
enjoy, if at all possible.
I suggest against downloading from this site for the purposes of printing
(or otherwise) due to the low resolution of the images. When I uploaded
them to the site I resized them by approximately -50% and saved them at a
very low resolution for quick transmission. Furthermore, regarding images
that required color correcting, I made very fast and rough corrections. You
will find a lot of repetition of certain scenes or subjects. It's easier if
you choose, rather than me. The lighting was more often than not, far less
than optimum, escpecially for a digital camera, i.e., large variations
between bright and dark, and/or low light levels, warm light & cold light &
daylight all in one scene, etc.; neither did this help with resolution and
overall sharpness in general... I proffer my appologies. I prefer to eschew
the flash, especially when it is mounted on the camera; and images with
blurring due to subject motion are often more descriptive than red-eyed
flash-frozen action...
I'll be happy to e-mail whichever image(s) you'd like at whatever size and
resolution you want. Just email me with the image's exact caption (e.g.,
"CSclass.06") and either the length or width (metric is okay) and
resolution, or specify how big a print you plan on making (8.5 x 11 inches _at_
144 dpi maximum) and I'll send an appropriately sized JPEG image file.
Yes, it's FREE! Of course, it may take a while... (days? weeks? months?, it
depends) Fortunately, the world-wide hurdy-gurdy community is small... I'm
assuming.
Additionally, as for photography of western & southwestern Alaska (and some
other categories too) from an aerial (and otherwise) perspective, feel free
to view the other "albums". Since I've only recently discovered this
Photopoint.com service, I've only just begun to add images to the non-OTW
albums and albums-to-be. It is a time-consuming process. Images from the
Aleutian Islands will start appearing in the next several months.
Also: yes, I'm new to the present version of the list (I'm a former "lurker"
on the past listserv.). I was the sole Alaskan (admitedly, I'm originally
from San Luis Obispo California, as featured in Umberto Eco's _Travels in
Hyper-Reality_) attendee at OTW 2000, and had a good and productive time,
learning in four days how to produce a neat little trick called 'le coup de
quartre' (at least some of the time, and probably because I wasn't aware of
how difficult it's supped to be...) on Anna Peekstock's OMI Minstrel vielle,
much to her apparent anguish, amazement, and concern for my soul. Perhaps
I'll be able to continue practicing with the right hand on my own vielle,
which is only good for just that, if anything, while awaiting the delivery
of my Minstrel in about a year from now. Nine years ago I placed my trust
in "Lark in the Morning" in Mendocino, California and was taken for nearly
$1000 on an incorrectly built 6-string instrument, which I kept in storage
for most of that time, wondering if it was possible to obtain instruction on
this continent; then came the internet.
I am employed as an airline pilot in western Alaska (more-or-less since
1991), soon to be based at Dutch Harbor in the Aleutian Islands, nearly 1000
statute miles southwest of Anchorage. I am expecting to pilot a twin
radial-engine 9 passenger amphibious seaplane built by the Grumman Aircraft
Company circa 1944, called a G-21 "Goose" for PenAir, a company I've been
with for two years. It kind of reminds me of what playing an old
hurdy-gurdy must be like, lots of things going on at once in, and
surrounding, one historic package... plenty enough to keep the hands and
brain occupied. Playing this "complex" instrument in a tuneful and pleasant
manner, which, obviously, I can't do yet, seems to have some parrallels with
piloting high-performance aircraft on instruments (which I'm still learning
to do), especially as the tempo is increased. Keeping ahead of the music,
thinking about what my hands will be doing several steps ahead is much like
maneuvering for an approach on flight-attitude and navigational instruments
alone down to mimimum altitude in minimum visibility (generally 200 feet &
1/2 mile). Things happen fast, and pulling it off smoothly and accurately
is satisfying.
Are there any other HG enthusiasts/players in Alaska? Could I be the only
one out of approximately 500,000 people here? It's probable, I suppose.
Nobody I know in my circle (albeit limited, being something of an introvert)
knows what an HG is, unless I tell them, and then their interest is mild, at
best. It's gratifying, however, to be part of a truly unique and peculiar
(in the best sense of the word) group.
My interest in the instrument and the music is hard to explain... there's
something about the drone, be it bagpipes, didjeridu, Tuvan throat singing,
or vielle a roue (or radial aircraft engines, or a properly muffled
Harley-Davidson motorcycle, for that matter) . I first saw depictions of
the vielle when as a child some 25-30 years ago I gazed with fascination at
pictures of the painting by Heironymous Bosch, "The Garden of Earthly
Delights". I love european folk music, from Ireland to Brittany, Spain,
France and the nordic countries, especially Sweden/Finland (Vartina,
Hedningarna etc.), including Saami (Lapplander) Joik (Wimme Saari), and have
been to numerous concerts over the past 10-15 years (almost always alone...
being out of the mainstream can be lonely... but it's worth it). I would
like to attend the St. Chartier festival next year and would appreciate any
suggestions on accomodations, etc. for an "english as an only language"
traveller. (I've got the air-travel angle handled).
So, there you have it.
Dean Cully, Anchorage, Alaska.
Date: Tue, 3 Oct 2000 23:12:54 -0700 (PDT)
From: Alden Hackmann <darkstar _at_ u.washington.edu>
Subject: Re: [HG] Digital images of OTW 2000 & "new to the list"... sort of.
Wow, Dean! All I can say is Wow. What an incredible collection of photos
from the festival!
Alden F.M. Hackmann darkstar _at_ u.washington.edu
Date: Wed, 04 Oct 2000 13:01:40 +0200
From: Neumeier Stefan <Neumeier _at_ geo.wiso.tu-muenchen.de>
Subject: Re: [HG] Br�cker translation update
As far as I know Dr. Br�ker and Kurt Reichman are still in contact, as Kurt
sells also her thesis.
So I would try to contact Mr. Reichmann in Frankfurt. Maybe he can help you
with your problem.
Stefan
Stefan Neumeier
C/o Deutsches Fernerkundungsdatenzentrum
Postfach 1116
D-82330 We�ling,Germany
Phone: 0049-08153-1477
Fax.: 0049-08153-1445
Cel.: 0049-0175-5576834
email: Neumeier _at_ ws.tum.de
Date: Wed, 04 Oct 2000 20:55:07 -0400
From: Henry Boucher <boite _at_ sympatico.ca>
Subject: [HG] St Chartier,
Thanks Dean for the pictures, I wish I can go to the "OTW" next year ,
It may sound strange but for me , in Montr�al , it is less expensive to
go to
St Chartier than to Seatle .
About St Chartier , the first question is : Camping or no camping ? If
you choose
no camping , make sure you have reservation loooong time in advance .
Personnally I liked the camping experience .
Henry Boucher
Date: Wed, 4 Oct 2000 22:07:56 -0700 (PDT)
From: SB/JW <duodrone _at_ earthlink.net>
Subject: Re: [HG] Digital images of OTW 2000 & "new to the list"... sort of.
Thanks Dean, for sharing your hard work and photographic talents with us. I
had great fun going through the sets!
Juan
Date: Wed, 04 Oct 2000 23:37:31 -1000
From: don <donvlax _at_ maui.net>
Subject: [HG] Maui Hurdy Gurdy Festival
> Hi everyone-
I wrote one message to this list announcing the upcoming Hurdy Gurdy
Festival on Maui. It will take place March 7-11, 2001, at the
magnificently beautiful Camp Keanae on the ocean at the Keanae Penninsula.
Helmut Gotschy, Matthias Loibner and Riccardo Delfino will be teaching.
More info can be found at this website:
http://www.mauiviolin.com/Hurdy%20gurdy%20festival
I've not had much response so far, and I'd really like to know how much
interest there is. Please email me if you are at all interested...
Thanks-
Don
donvlax _at_ maui.net
Date: Thu, 5 Oct 2000 12:58:07 +0200 (MEST)
From: Simon Wascher <simon.wascher _at_ gmx.at>
Subject: Re: [HG] Hungarian stuff
Hi all together,
> Just a comment on key spacing on the teker� and a few other odds and
> ends:
>But the top row of keys are still in some
> >positions that seem illogical. Three of the keys are positioned on top
> of
> >the lower row keys instead of between the. These are keys 3,6,7.
there is a simple solution to change these key positions. Just remove the
frets - flags or whatsoever you call them fom the key in question, pull it
out, turn it around and insert it upside down,put the frets in place again.
now the key looks into the other direction an should be in a more "in
between" position.
One main difference between western european style instruments and
hungarian ones is to my oppinion the short crank - about 4cm against 7cm - and
together with this the totally differnt technique for generating the buzzing
sound with the right hand.
Somtimes player think it is the different system for adiusting the chien
that makes it difficult to play on the hungarian instruments but this is not
to blame, it is not better or worse than the french, I used an instrument
with french keyboard, 7cm handle and hungarian chien adiustment for years.
to setup hungarian instruments in G/C tuning is a tribute to the market -
in all german speaking areas and in parts of france this is the only regular
tuning.
#I was - and I am in fact still - offline for some month but I use this
_at_ gmx adress now to keep kontacts, but I can read messages maybee just weekly.#
Simon Wascher, Vienna - Austria
Date: Thu, 5 Oct 2000 13:15:29 +0200 (MEST)
From: Simon Wascher <simon.wascher _at_ gmx.at>
Cc: webmaster _at_ deishovida.com, webmaster _at_ deishovida.com
Subject: Re: [HG] Maui Hurdy Gurdy Festival
I attended and organised classes with Matthias Loibner as teacher. I can
therefore recomend him not just as one of the best players in Europe but also
as a great teacher. about his group: http://www.deishovida.com/
Even for me, with Maui beiing on the other side of the planet, it is a
serious idea to go for this workshop.
Simon Wascher, Vienna - Austria
Date: Thu, 05 Oct 2000 01:37:29 -1000
From: don <donvlax _at_ maui.net>
Subject: Re: [HG] Maui Hurdy Gurdy Festival
Thankyou Simon! Also to note- Matthias and Riccardo perform together frequently
around Europe, and Have written together a great book on the Hurdy Gurdy.
Aloha-
Don
Date: Tue, 3 Oct 2000 21:03:37 +0100
From: Neil Brook <hurdy.gurdy _at_ virgin.net>
Subject: Re: [HG] Inexpensive instruments <g>
Hi Rob. I started off in hurdy gurdy making using the Lambert plan from
Michael Muskett and it is excellent as long as it is appreciated that it is
a set of drawings from an original instrument.
You will find, as I did, that the ribs are not symetrical and various other
features ( possibly through distortion over time) will not line up.
I basically chose one half of the body and duplicated it . Providing the
logical sequence of building is employed, the grey areas become self
evident.
You will certainly achieve a good understanding of the building principles
rather than just cutting the bits to the drawing.
Good luck
Neil
Date: Thu, 05 Oct 2000 22:23:08 GMT
From: Asier Larrinaga Guerrini <asierdbg _at_ hotmail.com>
Subject: [HG] the book
Hi, crew:
Here Asier.
No, I don't have the "Destrem and Heideman book on HG tuning and set-up",
Can I get it here in Spain? If not, Can you provide it to me? How could I
pay it? Thanks.
The plans that I'm going to use I haven't sown them at this moment, 'cos I'm
waiting for them as a present from a friend of mine. He told me that I won't
have to bend too much woods, so I think it's a kind of Volksgurdy design or
similar.
At this moment, I'm finishing the keybox of my coffin-gurdy (I said that
it's like a coffin, and all in black). New photos the next week...
Thanks
Date: Thu, 05 Oct 2000 18:57:42 -0500
From: Rob McConnell <robrmcc _at_ mts.net>
Subject: Re: [HG]Inexpensive instruments <g>
Thanks, looking for ward to it, if a bit apprehensive.
Rob McC
Date: Sat, 7 Oct 2000 06:42:20 +0300
From: Juulia Salonen <ottilia _at_ saunalahti.fi>
Subject: [HG] about pick-ups
Hello, players and makers!
I would like to read all kind of experience about microphone-system you
have tried to use with your instrument. I've been using an AKG 416 -series
gooseneck, and I'm not quite satisfied with it. I was recommended to
install a set of double-bass pick-up system: each string has its own mic
behind the bridge an the whole set is controlled by a small mixer. That
sounds reasonable, but does anyone of you out there have any experience
about this kind of system. How about Ramsa-pick-up for violin then?
Esa M�kinen, Finland
Date: Fri, 06 Oct 2000 00:23:54 -0700
From: Alden & Cali Hackmann <hurdy _at_ silverlink.net>
Subject: [HG] Asier pictures
Asier sent me two pictures, which I posted on the list archive:
http://www.hurdygurdy.com/hg/listarch/asier1.html
Alden
Date: Fri, 06 Oct 2000 08:16:47 GMT
From: Marcello Bono <ghironda _at_ hotmail.com>
Subject: [HG] a wet hallo from bologna
Hi
I'm in Bologna again, it's cloudy, some gentle showers (anyway, I had lot of
sun at the festival....)
....waiting for:
1) calendar(s) from OTW
2) tape from Nara
thanks to:
1) Alden and Cali for ALL (expecially for the MBSignature!)
2) Dean for the pictures
3) Marjy for Indian food (and ALL the rest...)
4) ALL "festival people" for (....you know what!)
I miss you all a lot
ciao
Marcello
Date: Fri, 06 Oct 2000 08:30:39 -0700
From: Anna Peekstok <apeekstok _at_ home.com>
Reply-To: hg _at_ hurdygurdy.com
To: hg _at_ hurdygurdy.com
Subject: Re: [HG] about pick-ups
I use a small microphone that attaches to my HG soundboard with velcro and
plugs into a little box with a volume knob at my waist. It's made by
Microvox (http://www.microvox.demon.co.uk/) and sounds quite good, though it
is a bit temperamental.
The big advantage is that I play several different instruments, and each has
a little piece of velcro on the soundboard. When I switch instruments, I
just turn the mike down via the knob at my waist, move it to the new
instrument, and turn it back up to the correct level for the new instrument.
Cheers,
Anna Peekstok
Seattle, WA (USA)
Date: Fri, 6 Oct 2000 10:07:06 -0700 (PDT)
From: SB/JW <duodrone _at_ earthlink.net>
Reply-To: hg _at_ hurdygurdy.com
To: hg _at_ hurdygurdy.com
Subject: Re: [HG] about pick-ups
Hello Esa,
There are a couple of pages discussing hurdy gurdy amplification (all in
French) at
http://perso.wanadoo.fr/xaime/vielle.html
Look under the heading 'Forum'- Lutherie:
Table d'harmonie et capteurs piezzo-electriques
Amplification d'une vielle a roue
Somewhere out ther there is an article with photos on this very subject,
but all I can remember is that it is on one of the French sites. Perhaps
other list members know what I am referring to.
Good luck
Juan
Date: Fri, 6 Oct 2000 12:04:41 -0700 (PDT)
From: Alden Hackmann <darkstar _at_ u.washington.edu>
Subject: Re: [HG] a wet hallo from bologna
On Fri, 6 Oct 2000, Marcello Bono wrote:
> Hi
> > I'm in Bologna again, it's cloudy, some gentle showers (anyway, I had lot of
> sun at the festival....)
Yes, we got lucky (again) with the weather this year. If we'd been one
week later we would have been soaked.
> > ....waiting for:
> 1) calendar(s) from OTW
I've seen the pictures - this will be great!
For those who were not at the festival, I'll explain. The Over The Water
HG Association decided to do a 2001 calender. It started as "We should do
a picture of 12 different HG's". This was OK, but a little staid. Then
it was "How about the 12 HG's and their owners?" This was better, more
personality, but still lacking in pizazz. Then we thought "How about 12
HG players wearing JUST their instruments?" Thus was the "Men Of
OTW" calender born.
So we'll soon have a calender of the hurdy-gurdies of Pierre Imbert, Cliff
Stapleton, Marcello Bono, Juan Wijngaard, and 8 other players who bared it
all for the sake of art. I've seen the pictures, and they all look great.
We don't have the ordering info on the OTW website just yet, but it will
be there soon.
> thanks to:
> 1) Alden and Cali for ALL (expecially for the MBSignature!)
Our pleasure, as always. We had a lot of fun building it, and it was one
of the most gratifying experiences of my life to hear you play it so
beautifully.
> 2) Dean for the pictures
> 3) Marjy for Indian food (and ALL the rest...)
> 4) ALL "festival people" for (....you know what!)
> > > I miss you all a lot
I wish we got to see you more than once a year! We miss you.
Alden
Date: Fri, 06 Oct 2000 16:10:58 -0400
From: Henry Boucher <boite _at_ sympatico.ca>
Subject: Re: [HG] about pick-ups
Hi everybody,
I can not find the direct link so :
Click on the link given by Juan,( just below )
Click on " Instrument" on the left menu,
Click on "Construction",
Click on the subject of your choice.
If you want some details translated just ask , I will do it.
As far as I know , the perfect electric H.G. is not yet invented ( is there
such a thing as a perfect electric guitar ?<g>) All systems have some
glitches , it is a matter of choosing
the system that fits your style.
Henry
SB/JW a �crit :
> There are a couple of pages discussing hurdy gurdy amplification (all in
> French) at
> http://perso.wanadoo.fr/xaime/vielle.html
> Look under the heading 'Forum'- Lutherie:
> Table d'harmonie et capteurs piezzo-electriques
> Amplification d'une vielle a roue
Date: Fri, 6 Oct 2000 23:34:17 +0200
From: C.Westbroek <bourree _at_ hetnet.nl>
Subject: Re: [HG] Maui Hurdy Gurdy Festival
Hi List,
Last Weekend Matthias Loibner was doing a workshop with the dutch hurdy
gurdy and bagpipe foundation
(visit the the new website )
http://www.antenna.nl/draailier-doedelzak/index.html
and all the people taking part of this workshop were thrilled, so whenever
you find the opportunity to get a class from Matthias, don't hesitate
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Cor Westbroek
From Frank _at_ vickhast.demon.co.uk Tue Nov 7 17:27:08 2000
Date: Sat, 7 Oct 2000 11:00:13 +0100
From: Frank Vickers <Frank _at_ vickhast.demon.co.uk>
Reply-To: hg _at_ hurdygurdy.com
To: hg _at_ hurdygurdy.com
Subject: Re: [HG] a wet hallo from bologna
Hi folks
>So we'll soon have a calender of the hurdy-gurdies of Pierre Imbert, Cliff
>Stapleton, Marcello Bono, Juan Wijngaard, and 8 other players who bared it
>all for the sake of art. I've seen the pictures, and they all look great.
>
>We don't have the ordering info on the OTW website just yet, but it will
>be there soon.
Let us know when they are available - I've got Cliff and Nigel coming to
teach gurdy in Norwich in January. We might be able to sell some copies
for you. It sounds great fun.
Frank Vickers
Norwich, UK
tel +44 (0)1603 505910/443942/441050
mobile 0771 820 4253
fax +44 (0)870 052 3751
http://www.xim.org.uk
Date: Sat, 7 Oct 2000 10:49:20 -0700 (PDT)
From: Chiara Negro <ghiro_chi _at_ yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [HG] Hungarian stuff
Hi list!
Thanks, Arle, for yours observations, now my
adjustment is better, but my lever is not fixed ,I can
take away it! Moreover I have not much rosin on the
wheel!
For r.t. : you say you have a manual in French, where
it is available ? I have the manual of B�la Sz�r�nyi,
in French. I have also Kertunk Alatt, it's
fascinating.
I'm interested in that hg event in Budapest in may
2001 and if are tekero stages in Europe.
Ciao a tutti ! Chiara
Date: Sat, 7 Oct 2000 13:49:35 -0600
From: arle lommel <fenevad _at_ ttt.org>
Subject: Re: [HG] Hungarian stuff
Chiara,
is there anyway you could get a photo of your lever assembly in
electronic format? Either I or someone else might have an idea what
exactly is wrong if we could see a picture.
Despite not seeing a picture, I am going to speculate on the problem.
It sounds like you are missing the pivot, which would make it very
difficult indeed to keep the buzzing bridge adjusted. If this is the
case you might want to consider modifying the instrument yourself to
add a pivot(I know people are loathe to do this, but the modification
would be simple to do). I could draw up plans, based on my
instrument, of how you would do this and post them, but it would be
at least a few weeks before I could get to it. Such a modification is
about the easiest to make and would cost at most a few dollars to do.
Of course, if this is indeed the problem, it might be best to talk to
the maker and see what he or she suggests doing since it is possible
that the pivot has been omitted on purpose and that some other
adjustment method is recommended for your particular instrument.
Not having enough rosin is also likely to make the adjustment
imprecise since it is hard to build the vibration needed to make the
bridge buzz without enough rosin. I think there are as many
preferences for rosins as there are players, so this is my own method
that works reasonable well on my instrument. Most players seem to use
a light rosin, but I have a dark cello rosin I use. I apply it fairly
heavily, which gives a terrible, scratchy tone. I then take a (clean)
cloth and hold it to the wheel for a few turns until enough rosin is
stripped to get a sound I like. I am sure there are those who will
read this who will really cringe at that description, but it works
well for my instrument and it is easier to subtract the proper amount
than to add it.
-Arle
Date: Sat, 7 Oct 2000 13:25:59 -0700
From: R. T. Taylor <rtaylor _at_ amp.csulb.edu>
Subject: Re: [HG] Hungarian stuff
Hello Chiara
As far as I know, B�la Sz�r�nyi has written the only book on how to play a
Hungarian Tekero and how to play Hungarian folk music on it. You can buy it
in either French or Hungarian. So you already have his book. This is a great
book if you want to play Hungarian music.
But since you are currently playing Medieval music and your instrument is
tuned to play in G/C you can use any of the Hurdy Gurdy Method books that
are available. The playing techniques are basically the same. The styling is
different. Let me know if you need to know the names of the other Hurdy
Gurdy Method books in either English, French or German.
Did you buy one of his small or the large instruments?
This year Bela made a smaller, less expensive instrument and sold many of
them at St. Chartier. I think that he put on strings, and tuned them so that
you can play very nicely in G/C and some in C/F. They are small but have a
strong mellow sound.
Are you interested in Playing Hungarian music?
What part of Italy do you live in?
Here are some websites about Hungarian music and dance.
Alden. Maybe I could create a Hungarian section for your Hurdy Gurdy web
pages in a format that is compatible with the rest of your site. And maybe
some of the other people on this list could create sections for other
countries that have a tradition of Hurdy Gurdy playing. I love the music
from France but there are some great players and music in other countries
and it would be nice to have more information
organized about those countries.
Is anyone else interested in this idea?
So here are some links.
HUNGARIAN HURDY - GURDY ENSEMBLE
This is the Group that Bela is the leader of. And there wonderful CD is
called
"Kertunk Alatt"
Other CD's featuring many of the same musicians and the Tekero are
"Tul a Tiszan" featureing Bela and his wife Judit. And "Szent Gellert
Legendaja" by the Group that performed at St. Chartier this year called the
Bokros Zenekar.
http://www.tanchaz.hu/tekero.htm
Traditional Music Dance & Handicraft in Hungary
This has lots of links to music groups etc.
http://www.tanchaz.hu/thmain.htm
This summer, in August there was the first Elso Tekero- �s Dudat�bor ( Hurdy
Gurdy and Bagpipe) Festival in Hungary. I was not able to go but I heard
that it was great. I think that they will try to have it again next year. I
am hoping that it will be moved to start the week after St. Chartier. They
had 3 excellent teachers.
Bartha Z. �goston, Havasr�ti P�l and Szer�nyi B�la.
http://w3.datanet.hu/~teka/tektab.doc
Hungarian dance and music in the Netherlands
http://www.szia.demon.nl/
http://www.tanchaz.nl/
Teka Folk Ensemble.
They have a folk music and dance camp every summer in Hungary. Usually for
1 or 2 weeks in July. P�l Havasr�ti teaches Tekero at this event.
http://w3.datanet.hu/~teka/teka.htm
The web page of Ferenc Tobak and ensemble. Lots of links here.
http://tamburaweb.com/tobak1.htm
Information about Hungarian Dance and music in Austria, England Germany and
the Netherlands
http://www.xyd65.dial.pipex.com/tanc/general.shtml#Romania
Date: Sat, 07 Oct 2000 17:47:36 -0700
From: Alden & Cali Hackmann <hurdy _at_ silverlink.net>
Subject: [HG] Hungarian Website pages
RT said:
>Alden. Maybe I could create a Hungarian section for your Hurdy Gurdy web
>pages in a format that is compatible with the rest of your site. And maybe
>some of the other people on this list could create sections for other
>countries that have a tradition of Hurdy Gurdy playing. I love the music
>from France but there are some great players and music in other countries
>and it would be nice to have more information
>organized about those countries.
>Is anyone else interested in this idea?
Yes, that sounds great! In fact, if people are interested, I'll draw up
some guidelines on adding material to the HG website. The new material
comes in faster than I can keep up with it, so any help will be appreciated.
Alden
Date: Mon, 9 Oct 2000 08:13:08 -0600
From: arle lommel <fenevad _at_ ttt.org>
Subject: Re: [HG] Hungarian stuff
Hello all,
I second R.T.'s request for a Hungarian section and would be willing
to contribute content for it. I started a project some time last year
to produce full-scale plans for a teker�, but these plans have
stalled for lack of time. If I can get the time I will finish them up
(probably about 20 hrs needed) I would gladly contribute them to the
web site for free download. I also intend to sell a printed version
(because the downloadable version would be on paper too big for most
people to print if they want full-scale drawings.)
If this happens, it would be well worth getting Nagy Balazs (name in
Hungarian order, so Balazs is his "first" name) involved. He was not
aware of the website or list until I mentioned it to him (and posted
his instrument ad on the list), but was very interested in the idea.
Balazs is very competent in both French and Hungarian traditions and
would be an ideal contributor, IF he has the time. Obviously I cannot
speak for him, but he should be involved.
One last note is that the Magyar Teker�zenekar (I believe this is
B�la's group which R.T. refers to, although Hungarian Hurdy-Gurdy
Ensemble is not a direct translation -- should be Orchestra instead,
[is it the right group R.T.?]) has another CD out with the Galagonya
Egy�ttes (Galagonya Ensemble), a women's vocal ensemble that includes
musicians from some of the other groups R.T. mentions, called Este a
fon�ban. About half the music is teker� music, and it includes a wide
variety of numbers including a wonderful Christmas number for the
last track. Additional instruments used are bagpipes, and tarogato.
The only problem with the album, in my opinion, is that the recording
comes across a bit flat, probably because of some poor miking and
engineering choices. This is a good album, however, for someone
wanting to get a taste of Hungarian teker� music. Whether it is
available in the U.S. I don't know, but anyone who wants it should be
able to get it through the tanchaz website that R.T. lists. (I
haven't checked availability for this title there, but their
selection is usually pretty comprehensive.)
-Arle
Date: Mon, 9 Oct 2000 16:43:05 +0200 (MEST)
From: Simon Wascher <simon.wascher _at_ gmx.at>
Subject: Re: [HG] Hungarian stuff
Hi list, chiara,
>Despite not seeing a picture, I am going to speculate on the problem.
> It sounds like you are missing the pivot, which would make it very
> difficult indeed to keep the buzzing bridge adjusted.
Non of those hungarian instruments I've used or seen has a pivot for
turning the lever to adjust the buzzing bridge. So, maybe such a pivot is usefull
but surely not essential for the function of the buzzing bridge.
> > from r.t.:
>The playing techniques are basically the same. The
> styling is
> different.
There is one fundamental difference between hungarian and french playing
technique: the way how the buzz is triggered by the right hand. This
playing-technique is related (don't ask me what is cause of what) with the
difference in the lenght of the crank and it is really not easy to switch between
these two different techniques.
>...
> Alden. Maybe I could create a Hungarian section for your Hurdy Gurdy web
> pages in a format that is compatible with the rest of your site. And
> maybe
> some of the other people on this list could create sections for other
> countries that have a tradition of Hurdy Gurdy playing. ...
> and it would be nice to have more information
> organized about those countries.
> Is anyone else interested in this idea?
Yes, I would love to do something "in behalf of the austrian hurdygurdy
league"
;-)
but seriousely, yes I am interested in this idea.
c u
Simon Wascher, Vienna - Austria
Date: Mon, 9 Oct 2000 09:13:38 -0600
From: arle lommel <fenevad _at_ ttt.org>
Subject: Re: [HG] Hungarian stuff
Thanks Simon,
my instrument has a pivot, as relatively sharp thumb screw that
serves to keep the lever from sliding around. It is also useful for
adjusting the general range of pressure. It is certainly possible
that this is not a general feature of the instruments, but mine would
be abominably hard to adjust without it. I may not have explained
myself well either: the pivot merely serves to keep the lever from
moving around. It is very simple and not elaborate at all, really
just a thumb screw.
I did kind of wonder, from what Chiara said, whether she had such a
pivot. The fact that she indicates that she can't keep the lever in
position would show why such a pivot is useful.
I will try to get some pictures of my instrument's set-up and put it
on the internet where someone else could look at it and them we could
discuss the differences from an actual image. It will be a few weeks
as I have to go on a business trip the end of this week. After that I
will see what I can do
-Arle
Date: Mon, 9 Oct 2000 12:26:54 -0700
From: R. T. Taylor <rtaylor _at_ amp.csulb.edu>
Subject: Re: [HG] Hungarian stuff
To pivot or not to pivot,
that is the question.
The French style Chien is controlled by a string that pulls towards the
center of the wheel.
For the Hungarian style, a much larger piece of wood replaces the delicate
Chien and is pressed down towards the bottom of the instrument by a movable
lever.. The pressure of this sliding lever acts as a lever to adjust the
sensitivity of the buzzing bridge.
I have 2 Hungarian Tekeors. The one made by Istvan Meyer has a "thumb screw"
This can put more or less downward pressure to adjust the sensitivity. If
everything is set up correctly, it works the same way as turning the peg
that pulls the string, that adjusts a Chien.
I do not believe that at thumb screw is used on many traditional Tekeros.
But when it is set up correctly it works very well.
The one made by Bela does not have a thumb screw. This allows the lever to
move in 2 directions to adjust the sensitivity. Instead of just vertical up
and down adjustment of the pressure towards the bottom of the instrument,
which is controlled by sliding the lever in and out ( forward and backward
from the player ) It can also move left and right. This works like moving
the string that adjust the Chien from left to right, closer or farther away
from the Chien. This makes very small adjustments in the geometry angles
that make the buzzing bridge work. These small adjustments, both on a French
or Hungarian instrument are the "fine tuning" for the sensitivity.
As with all Hurdy Gurdys you must make adjustments for playing slow or fast.
The lever is pushed a little bit in ( forward, away from the player) when
you play faster. And is pulled a little bit out when you play slower.
There is sometimes one other small adjustment on a Hungarian Tekero. That is
the position of the buzzing bridge itself. Sometimes there are 2 or 3 holes
that the bridge can be inserted into. The hole closest to the wheel will
usually make it easier to buzz for a beginning player. The hole farthest
from the wheel will be a bit more difficult to play for a beginner, but for
a more experienced player it will make a small difference in the sound or
"crispness" of the buzzing.
And just remember this if everything else fails.
More Rosin, More Rosin, More Rosin.!
The most common problem I find with new players is that they are too worried
about putting too much rosin on the wheel because it might make a scratchy
sound.
Add a little at a time, Try it out. Add a little more if necessary etc. etc.
. And just when it might start to sound a little scratchy, you then know how
much to use.
This is the same logic a race car driver must use. You have to go into a
turn too fast so that you can learn what "too fast" is.
And a Tekero is usually played with a lot more rosin than a French style
instrument.
I will take some pictures today and send them to Alden.
r.t.
Date: Thu, 12 Oct 2000 00:59:39 -0700 (PDT)
From: Chiara Negro <ghiro_chi _at_ yahoo.com>
Subject: [HG] Re: Hungarian stuff
Hi list!
Thanks Arle, R.T., Simon.
My tekero is the large one of B�la, this instrument
dont'have a screw,the lever is free. Now my adjustment
is better, after your explanations and after putting
on more rosin ! In fact it seems to me that this
adjustment is more fine and you have more possibility
of change the sound.
I'm born in Turin ( Piedmont ) and live in Ivrea, near
the Aosta Valley, I play hg from'96, especially dance
music and songs from my region and from France. In my
area there are many hg players, and I play often with
others. I' ve the very useful manuals of Marcello
Bono, Maxou and Destrem-Heidemann.
After a stage on baroque hg in may 2000, with Marcello
( great ! ) I started also to play any medieval
pieces.
Right now I don't play hungarian music, perhaps in
future, I prefer to listen ! Thanks for the useful
sites, I try to order any CD.
For Judith : can you send me a photo of your ninera ?
I will take a photo of my instrument and send to
Alden.
Ciao a tutti ! Chiara
Date: Thu, 12 Oct 2000 07:00:53 -0400
From: Henry Boucher <boite _at_ sympatico.ca>
Subject: Re: [HG] Re: Hungarian stuff
Hi Chiara,
Is it possible to find CDs of HG music from your area ?
Henry
Date: Thu, 12 Oct 2000 23:45:52 +0200
From: Wenceslao Mart�nez Calonge <wencesmc _at_ interacesso.pt>
Subject: [HG] Greetings from Coimbra (Portugal)
Hallo everybody:
It seems costumary a brief introduction on joining this list. My name is
Wenceslao Mart�nez Calonge, a happy lurker until now and perhaps time has
come to say I am here learning from you all.
(As for Pello, Xurxo, Luis and many people here) English is not my mother
tongue, so please forgive alI these little mistakes when writing.
I followed some formal training in jazz guitar with Chema V�lchez and spare
lessons in flute. I had to withdraw guitar because of my day life job
(pediatric surgery) and try desperately to fit to any instrument that
doesn't endanger finger sensitivity: flute, recorders, bagpipes,... Since
1997 I've been around HG but it only came serious during the last year. You
would think it is not nice-hearing what I try to play but it was worst one
year ago. As usual, I have not achieved anything worth from right hand
until now.
I play on a borrowed HG made by Portuguese luthier Fernando Meireles and
work on building my own instrument from scratch. My interests encompass
virtually all kinds of music you can play without damaging HG.
I wonder if there is any possibility to get Marcello Bono's "La ghironda"
directly from author or from Arnaldo Forni Editore in Bologna. It seems to
me that commanding it from Seattle is the trickiest way ;-) . Is there an
ISBN? Thank you very much in advance.
Yours,
Wenceslao Mart�nez Calonge
wencesmc _at_ interacesso.pt
Date: Thu, 12 Oct 2000 17:01:50 -0700
From: Patricia A. Lipscomb <plipscomb _at_ uswest.net>
Subject: [HG] desperately seeking hg
Hi,
I am new to this list and new to hurdy gurdies. I just had a lesson this
week, the first time of actually having one in my hands. I am eager to
keep playing but have no instrument. Does anyone know of one that might
be available for sale or rent?
Trish Lipscomb(Seattle, WA)
Date: Thu, 12 Oct 2000 19:42:32 -0700
From: Dominic A White <ick _at_ awenet.com>
Subject: Re: [HG] desperately seeking hg
Hi Trish,
Don't know of one off the top of my head, but if you go to the French dance
tomorrow at 7:30 at the Ballard Community Center somebody might know
something more helpful. I know how frustrating it was waiting for my
instrument and having nothing to play.
Dominic
P.S. Information on the dances is available at
http://members.aol.com/vielle/dances.html.
*****SLUGS! online comic strip! http://slugs.awenet.com
"I live in a neighborhood which is well stocked with young ladies, and
consequently I am excruciatingly sensitive upon the subject of serenading."
--- Mark Twain.
Date: Fri, 13 Oct 2000 06:25:45 GMT
From: Marcello Bono <ghironda _at_ hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: [HG] Greetings from Coimbra (Portugal)
Hi Wenceslao
welcome here!
>I wonder if there is any possibility to get Marcello Bono's "La ghironda"
>directly from author or from Arnaldo Forni Editore in Bologna. It seems to
>me that commanding it from Seattle is the trickiest way ;-) . Is there an
>ISBN? Thank you very much in advance.
of course there is, my book has been reprinted in 1998 and you can ask
directly to the publisher:
ARNALDO FORNI EDITORE SRL.
VIA GRAMSCI 164
40010, SALA BOLOGNESE (BOLOGNA)
ITALY
they have a good mail service but they DON'T use ISBN code....we are
italians :o)....
If you have any problem, please write me again and I'll be able to find a
copy for you.
ciao
Marcello
Date: Sat, 14 Oct 2000 00:17:03 GMT
From: Asier Larrinaga Guerrini <asierdbg _at_ hotmail.com>
Subject: [HG] gira-gira-gira-gira-gira...
Hello, I'm Asier from Spain
This message is for Marcello Bono:
Can I ask for your book "La Ghironda" to Arnaldo Forni ed. ... in the way of
"cash on delivery"? (it means for me to receive the book and in the same
time I pay it in the post-office, so they send the money back to you in the
same moment).
Thanks.
PD: I have the Arnaldo address, so if you answer me the possitive, I'll ask
for the book now. I'm very interested.
I've a good photo of Maurizzio Martinotti playing gurdie in a Spanish town,
taken by me during the show. Do anybody of you want a copy of this photo? If
you agree, I will send it to hg home page.
Good bye.
Date: Sat, 14 Oct 2000 00:52:45 -0700 (PDT)
From: Chiara Negro <ghiro_chi _at_ yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [HG] Re: Hungarian stuff
--- Henry Boucher <boite _at_ sympatico.ca> wrote:
> Hi Chiara,
> > Is it possible to find CDs of HG music from your
> area ?
> > Henry
>
Hi Henry,
you can see at :
http://www.felmay.it/home.html
You can see also at the voice Distributors for other
countries.
In all this CD you may have hg with others
instruments, never alone, the groups from Piedmont in
that catalogue with hg are : La Ciapa Rusa,Ensemble
del Doppio Bordone,Lou Dalfin, La Cantarana,
Abourasqui, Tre Martelli,Meikenut ( I hope I don't
forget anyone !).
I have only three CD from that catalogue ( I've also
other thing but I not know if they are distributed on
line ) : La Ciapa Rusa, Ten da ch�nt l' arch�t che la
sonada l'� longa ; Tre Martelli, Omi e paiz ; Lou
Dalfin, Jan ' d l ' Eiretto.
I confess that my preference is for the Lou Dalfin (
hg Sergio Berardo ): I love things a bit rock !
Ciao , Chiara
Date: Sat, 14 Oct 2000 01:33:05 -0700 (PDT)
From: Alden Hackmann <darkstar _at_ u.washington.edu>
Subject: Re: [HG] Re: Hungarian stuff
Chiara said:
> I confess that my preference is for the Lou Dalfin (
> hg Sergio Berardo ): I love things a bit rock !
Sergio definitely does that! Marcello played me some Lou Dalfin, and I
had to go out and buy some. Since we are confessing, I confess that I
can't listen to their CD's twice in a row - it's quite enough the first
time! But well worth it.
Alden
Date: Sun, 15 Oct 2000 12:14:58 -0700
From: R. T. Taylor <shangrilart _at_ earthlink.net>
Subject: [HG] Bordon Musik Fest report?
Simon.
I might have been asleep.
Did you send a message to the group about what happened this year at the
Bordon Musik fest?
http://bordunmusik99.cjb.net/
How many Hurdy Gurdy players attended this year and where they from?
r.t.
Date: Mon, 16 Oct 2000 06:19:17 GMT
From: Marcello Bono <ghironda _at_ hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: [HG] gira-gira-gira-gira-gira...
Dear Asier
>Hello, I'm Asier from Spain
>This message is for Marcello Bono:
>Can I ask for your book "La Ghironda" to Arnaldo Forni ed. ... in the way
>of
>"cash on delivery"? (it means for me to receive the book and in the same
>time I pay it in the post-office, so they send the money back to you in the
>same moment).
Arnaldo Forni has a good mail service: you just ask for a book and pay THEM
(you can pay in several ways).....
then....they pay me once a year...I earn less than 1.5 EURO per book..so, if
you want to make me rich, please buy 4000 books per week :o)....
and this is for Alden, the listmaster....
I can't see my own message in HG list...
can you see me?!?...
ciao
Marcello
Date: Mon, 16 Oct 2000 17:53:25 -0400
From: David Smith <dtsmith _at_ core.com>
Subject: [HG] Pint and Dale Concert
Hello,
I would like to share a concert experience which took place on October
12 at the Creole Gallery in Lansing, Michigan USA. William Pint and
Felicia Dale performed a wonderful intimate evening concert of mostly
seafaring songs accompanying themselves on guitar, mandola, hurdy gurdy
and pennywhistle as well as their wonderful harmony singing. Pint and
Dale live in Seattle, Washington (which seems to be the hurdy gurdy
capital of the USA) and have been on tour in the USA for the past few
months. Felicia Dale accompanied most of the songs on her beautiful
sounding Michael Hubbert "Volksgurdy" (now produced by Olympic
Instruments). Felicia also encouraged me to attend the incredible OTW
Festival next year! If you would like to see photos I took at the
concert then click on the following URL:
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=380161&a=9380913
You can also visit Pint and Dale's friendly website at:
http://members.aol.com/pintndale
Enjoy,
David Smith
Dearborn, Michigan USA
Date: Mon, 16 Oct 2000 22:59:21 +0200
From: Pello Garcia <pellog _at_ jazzfree.com>
Subject: RE: [HG] Greetings from Coimbra (Portugal)
> It seems costumary a brief introduction on joining this list. My name
is
> Wenceslao Mart�nez Calonge,
Hi Wencelao !!
Welcome to the drone madness list !!! (BZZZZZZZZZ) ;-)
Salud !
N�beda / Sl�inte / Nord�mbuls
http://nebeda.eresmas.com
nebeda1 _at_ jazzfree.com
pellog _at_ jazzfree.com
Date: Tue, 17 Oct 2000 16:23:49 -0700
From: Anna Peekstok <apeekstok _at_ home.com>
Subject: Re: [HG] Pint and Dale Concert
David, thanks for the pictures. It's great to get a glimpse of our pals
while they're away!
Cheers,
Anna Peekstok
Seattle WA
Date: Tue, 17 Oct 2000 21:22:04 -0400
From: Matthew Szostak <gurdy _at_ midcoast.com>
Subject: [HG] Greetings!
Howdy all!
I've finally gotten around to joining up, now that summer's over and I'm
getting back into hurdy-gurdying full time.
I guess I know many of you, but for those I don't know, I live in Maine,
and I build and play hurdy-gurdies for a living... well, some of a living,
anyway.
Looking forward to some interesting exchange here...
~ Matt
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Matthew Szostak - Hurdy-Gurdies
7 Grove Street
Camden, Maine 04843
phone/fax: 207-236-9576
email: gurdy _at_ midcoast.com
website: http://www.midcoast.com/~beechhil/vielle
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Wed, 18 Oct 2000 12:31:29 -0700 (PDT)
From: Alden Hackmann <darkstar _at_ u.washington.edu>
Subject: [HG] Dutch article title
Here's a question from the Br�cker translation project.
...as Joseph Smits van Waesberghe has already pointed out in his article
"De kerkelijke draalier"...
1) The article title is in Dutch, correct?
2) I translate it, by context and my limited Dutch, as "The Hurdy-Gurdy in
Church Music". Anywhere close?
Thanks - more to come '-)
Alden F.M. Hackmann darkstar _at_ u.washington.edu
Web: http://www.hurdygurdy.com/hg/hghome.html
"Beati illi qui in circulum circumeunt, fient enim magnae rotae."
[Editor's note: Personal email sent to the list was deleted]
Date: Wed, 18 Oct 2000 09:28:09 -1000
From: Don V. Lax <donvlax _at_ maui.net>
Subject: Re: [HG] MISTAKE!!!
But it was tres amusant, ce "mistake". I felt like I was reading surreal
French theater.
And if the weather is too terrible over there, come visit Maui. We are
having a Hurdy Gurdy Festival here March 7-11, 2001.
Don
Henry Boucher wrote:
> Sorry,
>
> The precedent mail was sent to the list by mistake .
>
> Could the list master earase it , please ?
Date: Wed, 18 Oct 2000 15:02:41 -0700 (PDT)
From: SB/JW <duodrone _at_ earthlink.net>
Subject: Re: [HG] Dutch article title
>Here's a question from the Br�cker translation project.
>
>...as Joseph Smits van Waesberghe has already pointed out in his article
>"De kerkelijke draalier"...
>
>1) The article title is in Dutch, correct?
>
>2) I translate it, by context and my limited Dutch, as "The Hurdy-Gurdy in
>Church Music". Anywhere close?
Correct on both counts. Well done!
>Thanks - more to come '-)
keep 'em coming, I'm ready.
Saluti,
Juan
Date: Thu, 19 Oct 2000 07:05:16 -0400
From: Henry Boucher <boite _at_ sympatico.ca>
Subject: [HG] Wheel size
I thought than a bigger wheel gives more controll on the buzz bridge (
chien)
is there a maximum size for the wheel ? Is it worth to try to fit a 23cm
(9 " )
wheel in a hurdy-gurdy ?
Date: Thu, 19 Oct 2000 15:50:04 +0200
From: C.Westbroek <bourree _at_ hetnet.nl>
Subject: Re: [HG] Dutch article title
Hello Alden,
You really come close with your translation, in fact if you read the context
you can't translate it any better.
If there's any other "dutch" problem, let me know.
Cor Westbroek.
Van: Alden Hackmann <darkstar _at_ u.washington.edu>
Aan: hg _at_ hurdygurdy.com <hg _at_ hurdygurdy.com>
Datum: woensdag 18 oktober 2000 21:52
Onderwerp: [HG] Dutch article title
Date: Thu, 19 Oct 2000 17:05:24 +0200 (MEST)
From: Simon Wascher <simon.wascher _at_ gmx.at>
Subject: Re: [HG] Wheel size
Hi alltogether, (iI hope you do not get this mail twice, if so please
exuse)
> I thought than a bigger wheel gives more controll on the buzz bridge (
> chien)
> is there a maximum size for the wheel ? Is it worth to try to fit a 23cm
> (9 " )
> wheel in a hurdy-gurdy ?
> Over some years I played an instrument with a 12 cm wheel, and it had a
fantastic sounding, reacting and controlable buzzing bridge (maybe the best I
ever had), so as I see it there is no direct conection between the buzz and
the wheel diameter.
So, how does the wheel diameter influence the hurdy gurdy (sound)? The
bigger diameter the faster is the speed of the wheel surface towards the
strings. At 10 cm diameter the lenght of the surface is about 31 cm, and at 20 cm
63cm so the bowing tempo is doubled at double diameter. the bowing tempo
influences the sound, at higher tempo more energy is put to the string so it
gets louder, also more harmonics are generated, which from a certain speed on
causes that the string sounds in the octacve or higher and the basic note
gets lost.
So there is an indirect but clear connex between the buzzing technic and
the wheel diameter: If you play fast polka in c.4 the bowing tempo should be
within the limits (the melody strings should not go to the oktave), and if
you want to play a slow c.8 the bowing tempo should not be to slow for a
proper sound generation from the melody.
I for my opinion making the wheel as big as you suggested may not work
well if you plan to play traditional music in traditional playing technic.
Another parameter that is worth thinking about is the width of the wheel,
meaning how wide is the area of contact between the strings and the wheel:
this does influence the sound, the generatet harmonics much ( you can make a
wide wheel and then make the area of contact between wheel and strings
narrower by twisting(?) material off). Also the distance between bridge and wheel
has a lot of influence. I learned a lot about this matters by discussing it
with other bowed string instrumentalists as violinists and cellists.
Making the wheen diameter bigger also causes a bigger slot in the
soundboard, which is a mayor constructional problem to the sound of the hurdygurdy,
and generaly causes a higher and larger instrument which may lead to
inconveniences for the player.
As I see it there are other things that are worth to be tried on the
hurdygurdy: soundboard and body construction. the traditional instrument is very
steady but unsounding, compared to a guitar or violin.
xcuse my wordy answer(?)
cu
Simon Wascher, Vienna - Austria
Date: Fri, 20 Oct 2000 06:32:09 GMT
From: Marcello Bono <ghironda _at_ hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: [HG] Wheel size
>From: Simon Wascher
>Over some years I played an instrument with a 12 cm wheel, and it had a
>fantastic sounding, reacting and controlable buzzing bridge (maybe the best
>I
>ever had), so as I see it there is no direct conection between the buzz and
>the wheel diameter.
>So, how does the wheel diameter influence the hurdy gurdy (sound)?
In my opinion a big wheel diameter seems to be a "good" solution for a
beginner, but I think it's not so.
A lot of beginners told me "I can play easily with a big wheel" and I said
"try a big handle instead...it's more easy and less expensive to retrofit a
handle instead of a wheel...."
With a big wheel is difficult to play "not so loud" (that is the REAL
problem, in my opinion) so you can have less dynamic, or less control when
you don't want to play "not so loud".
>As I see it there are other things that are worth to be tried on the
>hurdygurdy: soundboard and body construction. the traditional instrument is
>very
>steady but unsounding, compared to a guitar or violin.
I used to play my 18th century Lambert copies (3.5 mm Spanish cedar
soundboard, little guitar shaped body) with harpsichord, lute, bassoon,
violin, flute, hautbois ecc and I always was the louder one, even with 1
chanterelle....and my Lamberts are really quiet instruments (compared to
other HGs).
I played with guitars too, and I was louder (then they plugged the guitar to
a Marshall tube amplifier....).
I had to put the second chanterelle just when I played Haidn with a little
orchestra (two horns sometimes can play louder than a hurdy-gurdy)....
In my opinion there aren't any "loudness problems"...sometimes the problems
are in "color" of sound, and a little wheel plays "better".
ciao
Marcello
Date: Tue, 24 Oct 2000 20:43:34 +0100
From: Ernst Kainzmeier <kainer _at_ chello.at>
Subject: [HG] may I proudly introduce...
Hello All !
May I proudly introduce to You my new, lute-back hurdy-gurdy!
I made her from a kit (rough prefabricated parts, including the
prefabricated shell) during a one-week workshop (the day with 14 hours of
work!) in july this year. The head was carved from an sculptress at the
Hallstatt "school of music-instrument builders". Now, since one week she's
finally finished, at last she got new pegs and key hoods, both made from
boxwood.
The first three pictures are now ready for viewing, more pictures with more
details will follow soon:
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=1274885&a=9551779 .
Regards!
Ernst
(Vienna)
Date: Tue, 24 Oct 2000 12:08:26 -0700
From: Dominic A White <ick _at_ awenet.com>
Subject: Re: [HG] may I proudly introduce...
Very very nice, Ernst. What a beautiful instrument. You should post a .wav
file so we can hear how it sounds!
Dominic
Date: Tue, 24 Oct 2000 12:43:35 -0700
From: sheilaann <sheilaann _at_ email.msn.com>
Subject: Re: [HG] may I proudly introduce...
Very beautiful!
What kit did you use and where did you purchase it?
Sheila Donoghue
Seattle
Date: Tue, 24 Oct 2000 22:08:01 +0100
From: Ernst Kainzmeier <kainer _at_ chello.at>
Subject: Re: [HG] may I proudly introduce...
Hi Sheila!
I'm sorry, but the kit was special designed for this workshop and it
isn't available in trade.
Ernst
Date: Tue, 24 Oct 2000 16:53:02 -0600
From: arle lommel <fenevad _at_ ttt.org>
Subject: [HG] Hungarian HG for sale
Hello,
I already tried sending a message about this once yesterday and it
didn't go through, so here goes again. I hope this one makes it
through
I am in contact with an individual in Hungary who is trying to sell a
Barsony teker� made in the early 70s. Barsony was the last of the
great traditional HG makers (versus those who learned it as part of
the tanch�z revival that began in the 70s).
The individual selling the instrument is named Bal�zs Juh�sz. The
asking price is $600 (U.S.), not including shipping, and I do not
know if it is negotiable. I am not currently in a position to
purchase the instrument, so I am passing this information on to
anyone who might be interested.
Pictures of the instrument are available at the following URLs. (I
did not take the pictures -- they were supplied to me)
http://www.ttt.org/arle/HG/tekero.jpg
http://www.ttt.org/arle/HG/tekero21.jpg
The instrument appears to be in generally good shape with some minor
"chewed" areas on its edges (the instrument was used quite a bit I
understand) and a few scuffs in areas where you expect them, such as
under the sliding adjustment peg for the bass drone.
The 1 melody string, 2 drone configuration you can see in the photos
is the typical one for the teker� and produces a richer sound than
someone unfamiliar with the teker� might suppose. The fourth peg at
the head of the instrument is a dummy peg to keep the instrument
looking balanced.
(For anyone following the recent discussion of the buzzing bridge in
Hungarian instruments, you can see a good picture of adjusting lever
at the base of the tenor drone. This particular setup does not use a
thumb screw.)
I cannot personally vouch for any characteristics of this particular
instrument but I would be willing to forward any requests for more
information to Mr. Juh�sz in Hungarian (i.e., I would translate the
request from English into Hungarian). If anyone on the list speaks
Hungarian you can reach him directly at the address in the Cc: field
of this message (tflock _at_ mail.alba.hu)
This would be a good opportunity for someone interested in the teker�
to purchase an instrument from one of the best-known traditional
makers at a reasonable price. As stated above, I am willing to help
facilitate the sale of this instrument, provided it does not take too
much of my time.
If anyone is interested please contact me via e-mail or talk to Mr.
Juh�sz directly.
Thanks,
-Arle Lommel
Date: Tue, 24 Oct 2000 17:47:55 -0700 (PDT)
From: Alden Hackmann <darkstar _at_ u.washington.edu>
Subject: Re: [HG] may I proudly introduce...
Nice job, Ernst! That's a lot of work.
Alden
Date: Tue, 24 Oct 2000 19:07:47 -0700
From: Patricia A. Lipscomb <plipscomb _at_ uswest.net>
Subject: Re: [HG] Hungarian HG for sale
Hi, Arle,
I am VERY interested in the HG you wrote about. I am looking for a
chromatic instrument and would prefer one with 2 full octaves. Does this
one fit that description? Is there any way to get any better idea of the
condition of the instrument other than what the pictures show, e.g., the
actual sound?
Thanks,
Trish Lipscomb
Date: Wed, 25 Oct 2000 19:21:08 -0700
From: R. T. Taylor <rtaylor _at_ amp.csulb.edu>
Subject: Re: [HG] Hungarian HG for sale
This is an incredible opportunity for someone to buy an instrument of great
historical importance. If I did not already have 2 other teker�s and a bunch
of others to keep running I would buy this sight unseen in an instant.
The price is incredibly reasonable. A new teker� from Bal�zs Nagy or Bela
Szerenyi will cost almost double. Although I would love to see this
instrument go to someone that will play Hungarian music on it, there is no
reason that you could not put on the proper strings to play in other keys. I
have listened to the instruments of Bela with the melody stings tuned to
C,D,E,F and G. It will have a full rich sound.
For piece of mind for anyone that is interested in buying this instrument,
you might offer to pay to have Bela give it a "tune-up" before you take it
out of Hungary. Bela was Barshonys prot�g� and received everything from
Barshonys workshop after his death.
I looked at the pictures. It looks like it is in normal paying order. I
would not be concerned about the "normal" wear that it shows. A lot of the
older Nigot, Pajot, Tixier Hurdy Gurdy look like hell, have cracks etc. but
still sound great. And that is the most important thing.
r.t.
Date: Sat, 28 Oct 2000 01:37:28 -0700
From: Alden & Cali Hackmann <hurdy _at_ silverlink.net>
Subject: [HG] Information for list members
This is the information that is supposed to be attached to the email that
is sent to all new list members:
The address to post to the list is hg _at_ hurdygurdy.com.
The general subject of the list is hurdy-gurdies: their music, players
maintenance, recordings, events, construction, and anything else that
seems pertinant. Discussions of all aspects of the instrument are welcome.
This list is maintained by Alden and Cali Hackmann of Olympic Musical
Instruments hurdy-gurdy builders and players, and founders of the Over the
Water Hurdy-Gurd Festival. For more information about us, our instruments,
and links to the festival pleas go to www.hurdygurdy.com/hg.
This list has just a few rules and customs:
It's customary to introduce yourself to the people on the list when you
join, giving a short history of who you are and your interest in the
hurdy-gurdy.
This is an unmoderated list: no one edits or clears the posts before they
go out. If someone misbehaves, they will be banned from posting. Personal
attacks, slander, profanity, childish petulance and anything else the
Listmaster considers to be "misbehavior" are forbidden and will be dealt
with. Common sense and courtesy are a sure way to avoid any trouble of this
sort. This is not a democracy - it's an benevolent autocracy. Posting on
the list is a privilige, not a right.
Please do not send graphics files or pictures to the list: there are people
who are subscribed can't open them, and they often take a great deal of time
to download. If you have something that you want to show people on the list
and you don't have website space of your own, please contact the listmaster
(Alden) at hurdy _at_ silverlink.net and we can discuss what to do.
More information about the list, including archives from the list's earliest
days, may be found at www.hurdygurdy.com/hg/list.html.
Alden the Listmaster
PS from the listmaster - if your mailbox fills up, or your mail starts
bouncing for some other reason, I get a bounce message. I'll probably let
it go for a few days or a week, and then I'll unsubscribe you. You're
welcome to resubscribe at any time, but I have to keep a handle on this
aspect of list administration somehow.
Date: Sat, 28 Oct 2000 10:46:31 -0700
From: R. T. Taylor <rtaylor _at_ amp.csulb.edu>
Subject: [HG] The Rosetta Stone of Pouces
I asked Maxou one small question and I get the Rosetta Stone of
information.
If you have ever wondered what those "Pouces" mean for French bagpipes,
well you don't have to wonder anymore.
Correct me if I am wrong, but I think pouces means " fingers" and is a
form of measurement to describe how long the chanter is.
r..t.
_____________________________________________________________________
Hello !
10 pouces = high D/G, drones in D (it exists !)
11 pouces = high C/F, drones in C
13 pouces = Bb/Eb, drones in Bb (old "Gas du Berry" pipes)
14 pouces = A/D, drones in A
16 pouces = G/C, drones in G
18 pouces = F/Bb, drones in F
20 pouces = D/G, drones in D
23 pouces = C/F, drones in C
26 pouces = low A/D, drones in A
Here it is !
Maxou
_____________________________________________________________________
I wonder if anyone has ever made a band of D bagpipes in 10,20 and 26
pouces.
Could be interesting. Or maybe painfull?
r.t.
Date: Mon, 30 Oct 2000 14:27:37 +0100
From: Philippe Viron <pviron _at_ club-internet.fr>
Subject: Re: [HG] The Rosetta Stone of Pouces
----- Original Message -----
From: R. T. Taylor
[...]
> but I think pouces means " fingers" and is a form of measurement to
describe how long the chanter is.
pouces = inches.
[..]
--
Philippe Viron
Date: Mon, 30 Oct 2000 14:34:20 +0100
From: Philippe Viron <pviron _at_ club-internet.fr>
Subject: Re: [HG] The Rosetta Stone of Pouces
| [...]
|
| > but I think pouces means " fingers" and is a form of measurement
to
| describe how long the chanter is.
|
| pouces = inches.
Sorry. I answered too quickly.
I don't know if "pouces" _really_ equal inches ( 2,54 cm ) but the
"pouce" is an old form of measurement in France like the lieue ( = 4
Km ), the brasse ( = 6 feet ), before the use of the meter unit.
--
Philippe
Date: Mon, 30 Oct 2000 17:14:31 -0500
From: Henry Boucher <boite _at_ sympatico.ca>
Subject: [HG] More on lenght,
Hi everybody ,
A "pouce " could be translated either as a thumb or an inche .
12 inches are a foot , or a "pied" on both French or British imperial
system.
3 feet ( 36 " ) are a yard or in French une " verge " , the word verge
also means
a stick or a.........er... lets go back to the pouce .
The French inche or "pouce" is 2.256mm long and divided in 12 " lignes"
or lines.
The British inche is 2.54mm and divided in half, quarters,1/8, 1/16 ,
1/32 ,1/64 etc.
I am not quite certain if the tonality of the bagpipe relates to the
lenght of the
chanter ( it is quite close anyway , my 16po. chanter is really 17.5")
or the lenght of the church organ tube of the same note ? The chanter
is conical so it could vary a bit, the organ tube is cylindrical .
While in the subject of lenghts and tones , I have the plan of a 1761
Varquain HG
and the chanter lenght is only 29cm instead of the 34 common on most
instruments.
Were these tuned to G with smaller diam. strings or tuned to a higher
pitch ?
Henry
Date: Mon, 30 Oct 2000 23:58:31 -0500
From: John Roberts <anglo _at_ albany.net>
Subject: Re: [HG] More on lenght,
>Hi everybody ,
> A "pouce " could be translated either as a thumb or an inche .
>
>12 inches are a foot , or a "pied" on both French or British imperial
>system.
So does this mean Frenchmen have 12 fingers? No wonder Patrick
Bouffard is so good! :-)
Date: Tue, 31 Oct 2000 06:56:23 -0500
From: Henry Boucher <boite _at_ sympatico.ca>
Subject: [HG] (pas d'objet)
John, following your remark those 12 fingers would be all thumbs <g>
.
Date: Tue, 31 Oct 2000 08:32:30 -0700
From: arle lommel <fenevad _at_ ttt.org>
Subject: [HG] Zither music for teker�
Hi,
some months ago I promised someone on the list (in the Seattle area,
I believe) that I would send some photocopies of zither music
suitable for the HG to them. I lost all my e-mail and with it the
address, so I never sent the music off. Could whoever that was please
send me a message and I will then send that off.
If there is interest I could also scan a few pages of the book
showing a few tunes in both zither and teker� arrangements and post
them to the web for list members to download and print.
As a general note, just about anything you can play on Hungarian
zither is also ideally suited for the teker� because the tuning and
musical possibilities of the two instruments (in terms of usable
range--the actual range of the zither is greater, but rarely used)
are very similar. With some amplification of the zither the two could
even perform nice ensemble work together.
-Arle
Date: Tue, 31 Oct 2000 09:13:29 -0800 (PST)
From: Roy Trotter <rtlhf _at_ yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [HG] (pas d'objet)
--- Henry Boucher <boite _at_ sympatico.ca> wrote:
> John, following your remark those 12 fingers would
> be all thumbs <g>.
>
I was thinking that, and given that the thumb9s0 would
be on the keybox lid.....<hmmm>
__________________________________________________
Date: Tue, 31 Oct 2000 21:38:39 -0500
From: kidz _at_ prexar.com
Subject: [HG] intro
...new to list. I was beyond lurking, lurking from a campus computer (for
almost a year.)
This is a great web site. What an amazing resource.
I saw the movie Captian's Couragous and was truely never the same.
gurdy status: very new for me. I mean that I have learned a lot, but only
saw one once in my life.
I absolutly loved it. I have about 20 Cds; I went crazy.
family backgroud; themes of large family, homeschooling, religious
background, and a dome house.
job background, none..just kidding. 20 years jazz trombonist, formerly
clinical lab tech, currently small business owner.
Plans...to really see if I can play one; to buy one.
That's my intro.
me=jim
winters
177 stillwater ave dome
orono, ME 04473
USA
kidz _at_ prexar.com
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