[Ansteorra] Seeking Hurdy Gurdy info

[Zach Most]

Hi Bronwen (and anyone else with a similar quest),

  I'm happy to help out.  I've built a gurdy, though honestly the quality isn't great, and I play a better made one fairly well when I have the time.  I got my laurel in part for instrumental music about a year ago.

  Buying early instruments is sort of its own art, particularly for a beginner, and particularly for items in the price range of a hurdy gurdy.  There are lots of moving parts, not many makers, and it's a fascinating beast to many people, so they're not a trivial investment.  Unlike with recorders, cheaper hurdy gurdies are frequently unplayable.  I've found that to be true with double reed instruments too.
  Here's what I recommend- track me down when you can and we can chat about gurdies, and you can play mine.  Honestly it needs a little repair at the moment, and a second melody string installed, but it's allowed in public.  Lurk on the hurdy gurdy mail lists, start asking questions, and getting a feel for good makers and who gives good advice.  They tend to jump on every instrument that hits Ebay in the US, England and France with a run down of where it came from, what its pedigree is, who's owned it, what recordings its been used on, etc.  It's a small community, so someone probably knows the instrument or at least the maker personally.
  I'd be cautious of buying until you get a solid feel for what you really want, and what's possible in your price range.  


  You'll probably find these two groups useful:

http://groups.google.com/group/hurdygurdy
HurdyGurdyForum at yahoogroups.co.uk
  Warmest regards,

  Gaston

 


________________________________
 From: Chelsea Durham <baby_sis_83 at hotmail.com>
To: "Kingdom of Ansteorra - SCA, Inc." <ansteorra at lists.ansteorra.org> 
Sent: Wednesday, May 16, 2012 11:45 AM
Subject: Re: [Ansteorra] Seeking Hurdy Gurdy info
 
Sir Gaston in Bryn Gwlad is fantastic! =) 
-Grainne 

Sent from my iPhone

On May 16, 2012, at 11:21 AM, "Susan Stallman" <bronwens at cableone.net> wrote:

> I am interested in learning how to play the Hurdy Gurdy.  Is there anyone in
> Kingdom who has experience with this instrument who can give me some advice
> and direction in taking up this challenge.  I would appreciate some input.
> 
> 
> 
> Many Thanks
> 
> 
> 
> Bronwen
> 
> The Fox Tail Inn
> 
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