Hughes's News: The Hurdy-Gurdy July 2018

THE HURDY-GURDY

Introduction

Ian’s session in March 2018 about Stockhausen’s “Aquarius” included a version by Erik Baron and Pascal Lefeuvre (1995) playing electric bass and hurdy-gurdy. It was clear that none of us knew much about the hurdy-gurdy, so I’ve done some delving and put together an introduction to the instrument.

You’ll be pleased to hear that this won’t be one of my little seminars’ in which I raise an issue or illustrate an argument; instead, it just introduces us to the instrument and shows various ways to play it.

A ‘ROUND BOW’

The hurdy-gurdy is an acoustic stringed instrument that produces sound by rubbing a hand cranked rosin-coated wheel against the strings. The wheel is equivalent to a violin bow and single notes resemble those of a violin. Like most acoustic stringed instruments, the hurdy-gurdy has a sound board and a hollow body (guitar or lute shaped) to amplify the sound of the vibrating strings.

Originating in the 11^th century, the hurdy-gurdy has taken dozens of different forms. There is no standardised form today, although the 6-stringed French vielle à roue (“Fiddle with a wheel”) is the best known.

Melodies are played on a keyboard that presses small wooden wedges against one or more strings, changing their pitch. Most hurdy-gurdies also have drone strings, giving a constant pitch accompaniment to the melody, resembling the drones of bagpipes and tambouras.

1. Caroline Philips (2010) “Introducing the Hurdy-Gurdy”. 5.38

Good introduction, but poor quality recording.

https://www.ted.com/talks/caroline_phillips_hurdy_gurdy_for_beginners

2. Andrey Vinogradov plus unnamed organist “Medieval Tune”. 3.02

Recognise “Lucy in the sky with diamonds”?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwyznoWJDHI

The ‘buzzing bridge”

As Caroline Philips mentioned in her introduction, between one and four drone strings rest on a loose ‘buzzing bridge’ or ‘dog’. When the wheel is turned regularly and slowly while holding the buzzing bridge in place, the pressure on the drone string creates a drone. However, when the wheel is turned irregularly or forcefully, it lifts the buzzing bridge, making it vibrate against the soundboard in a rhythmic buzz (‘bark’).

3. Harry Wass at Salamanca Market (Unknown tune.) 4.54

This is a good demonstration of the ‘buzzing bridge’ at work. On Harry’s instrument, the ‘machine heads’ to tune the strings are especially prominent.

Note: the child spectator has a longer attention span than his adult carer!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVDkI6neSRE

4. Etienne Pinoteau “Palet”. 3.19

This shows that skillful use of the buzzing bridge can create syncopated rhythms!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9kr8vJiPdc

Ensemble playing

The hurdy-gurdy is played as a solo instrument, but it can also be played as part of an ensemble, as in this example by Loreena McKennitt.

5. Loreena McKennitt (1997) “Marco Polo” on The Book of Secrets. 5.16

Features a hurdy gurdy with buzzing bridge played by Nigel Eaton.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l80FiM2jOgE&list=RDl80FiM2jOgE&t=117

From Medieval to modern

6. Storm Seeker (2016) “The Longing” on Pirate Scum EP. Acoustic version. 4.07

N.B. This starts quietly, then there’s an explosion, then it’s quiet again and will need increasing.

Storm Seeker, founded in 2013, play “Pirate Folk Metal”, mixing the usual heavy metal with a cello and a hurdy gurdy. More metal than gurdy. This is an acoustic version of “The Longing”, featuring cello, hurdy gurdy and voices.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4yVLn_djsE

7. Etienne Pinoteau. Unknown title. 2.29

A hurdy gurdy attached to a loop machine and a special effects pedal.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pp10KNbt7_0

8. Guilhem Desq. “Wizard”. 3.37

An ‘electric’ hurdy gurdy. (Do they mean electrified?)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhTRN0iLm_U

9. Alexis Vacher “Lux Aeterna”. 6.20

Demonstration of building loops of hurdy gurdy ‘sounds’.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7XTHoyECZ4&list=RDQRg_8NNPTD8&index=20

And finally ....

10. Donovan (1968) “Hurdy-Gurdy Man” 3.05